Statement from family and friends of attack victims

The following is a statement from the family and friends of Christopher E. Rogers Sr. (who went by “Chris”) and Elann Moren. Rogers was killed and Moren critically wounded in a Dec. 2 machete attack allegedly perpetrated by Rogers’ son, Christopher Erin Rogers Jr. (who goes by “Erin"):

PRESS RELEASE:

As friends of Elann Moren and Chris Rogers, Sr., we feel that is important to express our deepest sympathy for the great sorrow and loss now felt by everyone whose lives have been torn by this tragic week. Elann and Chris were engaged, and busy planning their wedding for next summer solstice. We were all happy for the love and joy they were experiencing, and excited, as were they, for the future they had planned together. Saturday night, they had just celebrated their first year of being together with a quiet dinner at home with a couple of friends, and Erin. All five people toasted their relationship that evening, with a glass of non-alcohol champagne. There were no outward appearances of imminent danger after their guests left and they went to bed.

Elann is a care-giver for physically challenged patients, and Chris operated his own construction business. Both life-long Alaskans, and both generous and giving people. Chris and Elann are the type of personalities who truly touch people’s lives in positive and lasting ways. We flatly reject suggestions that any actions by either Chris or Elann instigated this attack, or that Erin was “treated badly” by them. For those who know this situation, know that both Chris and Elann are loving parents who were attempting to help a troubled 28 year old man; a man that we now know is much more troubled than anyone could have realized. The reality is that Chris had no chance to defend himself against Erin, because he and Elann were attacked as they lay sleeping. Elann credits their dog, and her hero, “Bear” with saving her life. “Bear” is also recovering from injuries he sustained by coming to Elann’s rescue.

As we struggle to deal with our grief over Chris’s death and our horror at the brutal attack and maiming of Elann, we also would like to offer our sympathies to the other families in Anchorage who have been brutalized by these senseless acts of violence committed by Erin Rogers. We also extend our condolences to the other “sons” of our friends, who now exhibit extraordinary courage and strength, in light of the horrible suffering and loss, they are also enduring.

On behalf of those sons, Elann, and all of their friends, we would like to thank the paramedics and emergency personnel who arrived to offer aid on Sunday morning, as well as the awesome surgeons, and medical staff at Valley Hospital. Additionally, we thank the Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department officers who worked tirelessly in the investigation and apprehension of Erin Rogers. Our thanks are also extended to Anchorage District Attorney Adrienne Bachman, and Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak, along with other personnel from the district attorney’s offices, into whose professional able hands this matter will now proceed.

As Elann’s son recently expressed; we can’t cry enough, can’t rage enough, and can’t hate enough, to undo these deaths and reverse the harm to our love ones. We won’t waste the space in our hearts on hating Erin, but will fill our hearts with love and positive attitudes to help our love ones through this difficult time. Our dreams for the future may not be what we had expected, but we will someday again have dreams.