In February 2009, Carrillo Dean shot and killed his wife, Elizabeth Dean, 45, and his two stepchildren, Connor Kirk, 13, and Brittany Kirk, 15.
The year before in 2008, the children's father, Kevin Kirk, was with his kids at a Lego convention.
Artist Brian Korte spoke with Kevin Kirk about making a portrait of Brittany and Connor Kirk out of Legos.
The children were excited about the idea.
The conversation ended, and months later, Korte got a package of Connor Kirk's Lego collection and a note from Kevin Kirk about the murder of his children.
It was too difficult for the father to keep the colorful bricks.
Carrillo Dean came home one night and shot his family members with a .45 caliber handgun after a reported domestic dispute, according to police.
A detective later testified in court that Carrillo Dean said he snapped and "just couldn't take it anymore."
Elizabeth Dean and Connor Kirk died instantly. Brittany Kirk was airlifted to a nearby hospital and died in her father's arms the next morning.
Carrillo Dean plead guilty and is serving three life sentences with no chance of parole.
"There are a lot of years there after my children were murdered that I don't remember," Kevin Kirk told The Washington Post. "I was completely numb."
"Every moment of the day, it's always there," Kevin Kirk said "It's always there in the back of my mind, no matter what I do."
Using the bricks Kevin Kirk gave him, Korte made a 12,000-piece Lego portrait of Connor and Brittany.
"I designed this portrait to capture the energy and spirit of Connor and Brittany in Lego and used elements from Connor's own Lego collection to make the border as vibrant as they were in life," Korte said in a Facebook post.
Kevin Kirk said that although he continues to struggle with the death of his children, "people like Brian have helped me."
Korte unveiled the Lego portrait on Feb. 12, the seventh anniversary of the children's deaths.
"It almost has a spiritual feel to it," Korte said. "It is emotional."
The unveiling is part of a larger exhibit that is a tribute to other children who died young.
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