Sgt. Leonid Milkin looked out across Forbes Lake that backs out onto his brand new home on Slater Avenue on a bright Wednesday morning. He thought about the memories he had of his two sons playing and swimming there during the summer months.

“I can almost hear my kids laughing,” said Milkin, who is finally coming home since his family was murdered.

It was just over four years since his wife, Olga Milkin, 28; sons Justin, 5 and Andrew, 3; and sister-in-law, Lyubov Botvina, 24, a move-in college student, were stabbed to death on July 17, 2006 by Conner Schierman. Schierman, a neighbor, set the home on fire after claiming that he woke up from an alcoholic blackout. Schierman was found guilty of the murders in April and was sentenced to death.

After watching those initial images from a skycam of a smoldering home in ruins, the community felt they couldn’t just stand back and watch. They have since stepped up to help Milkin rebuild his home.

Now that the trial is behind him, Milkin will most likely move into the house this coming weekend before the work is officially complete – exactly four years after his family was murdered.

“I’m very honored that the whole community came together,” said Milkin, who was fighting in the Army National Guard in Iraq at the time of the slayings. “I was very surprised at first, but then it became clear to me: This is how America would respond to any tragedy.”

Milkin thinks of the new home as a memorial to his family and it resembles nothing of the residence where the murders took place, nor does the place where Schierman lived, he points out. Now the site is full of exquisite townhouses.

Milkin says his home will help him start a life restoration with the hope of a new family.

“I’m conscience of what happened here, but I’m not going to shy away from it completely … what they (his deceased family) felt, I felt as well,” Milkin said.

Volunteers put finishing touches on the Slater Avenue home’s interior, installing the cabinets and window coverings on Wednesday.

The brand new home is three levels, complete with a basement; a main floor with a great room and kitchen and an upstairs with a master bedroom, bath and guest room.

“There’s no one that’s more deserving than Leo,” said Andre Glinsky, a stone worker involved in the project.

CDK Construction Services, Whirlpool Inc., United Wholesale Supply Inc., European Stone Works and Northwest Window Coverings were some of the local businesses who pitched in. The businesses that donated are responsible for the majority of the items and labor for the house, which, to date total more than $50,000, according to project coordinator Michele Yousef.

“I am honored to be able to give something back in some small way to a man who has lost more then anybody should ever have to while defending our great country,” said Robert Sarzanini, who works for Renton-based Northwest Window Coverings.

Originally, Olga bought the couple’s first home while Milkin was doing basic training. She renovated the tear-down property in time to surprise her high school sweetheart when he visited his family.

Now, Milkin can only imagine what his late wife would think of the new home: “She would be very proud and very happy. This is what she would want me to do.”

To pay for the Slater Avenue rebuild, Steven Pyeatt, a long-time resident of Kirkland who pioneered the project, set up the “Milkin House Fund” account at Sterling Savings Bank. The fund, Pyeatt said, has raised a “modest” amount of money, about $1,600.

Stacy Reddy and her husband, of Kirkland, held a community garage sale at their home where they donated 100 percent of the profits from the garage sale. They used it to purchase a $530 Target gift card for Milkin to purchase interior items needed for the house.

But a few more things are still in limbo. The “Milkin House” rebuild group needs community members to help with landscaping and rebuilding a garage that is separate from the home. Pyeatt said smaller, basic everyday appliances and furniture are still needed for the home.

“While we’re getting the house occupied, it’s still going to be a pretty empty place,” Pyeatt said. “(Leonid) once told me, ‘I’m a military man. I learned how to survive with just the basics and a pack around my shoulders.’ I said that may be true but if you want to have a guest over, you at least want them to have a towel for them to wipe their hands with.”

The project had been delayed in part because a dispute with a contractor over a damaged foundation led to a lawsuit that left Milkin’s home in disrepair. Pyeatt was able to start the rebuild in January, just weeks before the criminal trial for Schierman got underway, which also had its share of delays. Milkin has lived in his parent’s home in Mill Creek since his family was killed.

Project coordinator Michele Yousef has watched over the development of the house so that Milkin could focus on the trial.

“It’s been a huge community effort, not just the Kirkland community, but his family (and) the church really stepped up and donated material and labor,” Yousef said. “I hope he is happy (with the project) … the intent is to bring him some peace in what has been a very long nightmare for him.”

To celebrate the completion of his home, Milkin will invite the community to a barbecue. Details are in the works.

“I’m very excited because this has been a long process,” Milkin said. “I’m just relieved that the trial is over … all that stuff is behind me now. I wanna go into the future without forgetting the past. It means a lot to me.”

How you can help

A “Milkin House Fund” account is set up at Sterling Savings Bank. Donate in person at the branch, or via mail to: 230 Main Street, Kirkland, WA 98033. Reference “Milkin House Fund” and account No. 59980279836.

Sign up to volunteer or track progress by typing in “Milkin House” on Facebook.

For more information on any of the accounts, e-mail Pyeatt at milkinhouse@gmail.com.