Diana Berinice Moreno Gomez, 16

Diana Moreno Gomez, a 16-year-old Latina, died on Wednesday, Sept. 2 after her throat was slashed in the 7800 block of Irvine Avenue in Sun Valley, authorities said.

Her sister, Edith Moreno Gomez, an 11-year-old Latina, was killed in the same incident. [Edith's age was initially given as 12 but, according to coroner's officials,her 12th birthday would have been in October.]

On Friday, Sept. 4 their mother, Antonia Gomez, 38, was arrested on suspicion of killing her daughters.

The following is an excerpt from the full Times story on the killings: Troubles had mounted for mother suspected of killing two daughters

Edith Moreno was only 12 years old, but last week the Sun Valley girl had a serious question for her friend and next-door neighbor Karina Valdez.

What happens when we die?

Karina and her parents are Jehovah's Witnesses. Taking her Bible, 12-year-old Karina explained that death was like going to sleep and waiting to be resurrected by God.

"I didn't really think anything about it because we were teaching her about our other beliefs," said Karina's mother, Irene Bell. "Edith was just a wonderful, happy child. She was the biggest tomboy. She never complained about anything. "

-- Hector Becerra

Top photo: Students from Grant High School in Van Nuys gather outside the Sun Valley house where the throats of their classmate, Diana Moreno, and her sister Edith were slashed. Bottom photo: Diana Moreno, 16. Credit: Stefano Paltera / For The Times