Desperate hours

Maybe what makes the horror in Cheshire so chilling is that the family in the photo could have been any of us.

Dave Altimari: It seems to have been a random act, it could have been anybody going to Stop and Shop to get some groceries. It could be anybody, you know, anybody in a suburban town anywhere in America.

Dr. Petit had been brutally beaten with a baseball bat. He'd lost so much blood in the seven hours he and his family were being terrorized that it wasn't a certainty that he'd survive.

The Rev. Ron Rising, a family friend, was a visitor during Dr. Petit's four days in the hospital.

Rev. Ron Rising: It was not the physical wounds and injuries as much as the emotional and how hard it was going to be to get over those. It was just devastating to him.

While Dr. Petit was recovering from his grievous injuries, a tailor came to measure him for a new suit to bury his family in. He'd lost all his clothing in the house fire.

Jennifer Hawke-Petit, daughter Hayley and Michaela -- her father's "K.K." -- were laid to rest in a private service.

Three days later, Dr. Petit lit candles at a public memorial for his family held outside his medical practice.

Hundreds gathered to support the doctor and pay tribute to a wife, a mother and two admired and loved young girls.

His father-in-law, the Rev. Richard Hawke, was among those who addressed the crowd.

Hawke: When they and if they did molest the children and our daughter, mother and wife, they were molesting god.

At another memorial an overflowing auditorium listened to pastors, classmates, and relatives assemble a touching portrait of a loving, humble family. But it was Dr. William Petit's eulogy to his murdered family that will remain etched in the memory of the mourners that day.

Dr. Petit: I met Jen at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh … I was trying to correct Jen on how to take the blood pressure the correct way. Because I'd had about three minutes of experience at that point.

With humor and heart-aching remembrances, he reclaimed his wife and daughters from the final seven hours of their life and restored them as they'd been before they'd walked innocently into the beams of two killers.

Dr. Petit: Hayley, as you've heard, is the first born. Daddy's little girl. She was a lot smarter than me. K.K. Rosebud. She was a wonderful, wonderful little girl. Was going to grow up to be a beautiful woman … If there's anything to be gained from the senseless deaths of my beautiful family it's for us to all go forward with the inclination to live with a faith that embodies action: help a neighbor, fight for a cause, love your family. I'm really expecting all of you to go out and do some of these things with your family in your own little way. To spread the work of these three wonderful women. Thank you.

Toxicology tests indicate the two suspects were not on drugs when they allegedly committed the crimes.

A foundation has been set up to honor the family:
The Petit Family Foundation
c/o Farmington Savings Bank
32 Main St.
Farmington, CT
06032

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