Slain Brothers Recalled in Somber Rites

The three young brothers played together, laughed over movies together, wrestled together and looked out for one another.

On Wednesday, Joseph, Michael and Christopher Caro were blessed by their family priest and buried together after a funeral attended by about 1,000 family members, friends, schoolmates and parishioners.

The boys’ mother has been arrested on suspicion of killing them in their Santa Rosa Valley home.

“We are here to mourn the tragic loss of three lives,” said the Rev. Jarlath Dolan before the audience seated in a circle beneath the expansive wooden dome of Padre Serra Church in Camarillo, the Caro family’s parish.

Gazing at the boys’ father, sitting ashen-faced in the front row, Dolan said, “You know you are remembered in our prayers.” Xavier J. Caro is a prominent Northridge rheumatologist.

The traditional Catholic funeral Mass began with a procession of brown-robed altar girls and boys, followed by priests and three small, white caskets, with family members walking slowly behind them.

In his arms, Xavier Caro held his remaining son, 13-month-old Gabriel, who, with his dark, bright eyes, resembles his older brothers.

Gabriel was spared in the Nov. 22 shootings that left Joseph, 11, Michael, 8, and Christopher, 5, dead in their beds. Their mother, Socorro “Cora” Caro, was found in the master bedroom bleeding from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to her head. The motive for the shootings is not clear.

Cora Caro, who was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of the boys’ murders, was recovering Wednesday at a Ventura hospital.

Draped over each coffin at the funeral was an infant gown worn by each boy on his baptismal day. Tiny crucifixes and Bibles were placed on top, symbolic of how the brothers had an “appreciation of the Scriptures well beyond their years,” Dolan said. Three wreaths of white roses stood at the foot of the altar.

After the Mass, the boys were buried at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo.