The Day's news staff looked back at the biggest local headlines of 2013. We begin on a sad note:

What started as a grandmother picking up her two grandchildren turned into one North Stonington family's nightmare. Debra Denison, 47, picked up her grandsons Alton Perry, 2, and Ashton, 6 months, on Feb. 26. But she wouldn't take them to her daughter's home, as she had promised.

The boys' mother, Brenda, reported her children missing, and a statewide Amber Alert was issued, but the Perry children would not be found safe and sound. Police said Denison drove them near the Lake of Isles boat launch and shot them to death before taking her own life.

The murder-suicide shook the community. Residents rallied behind Brenda and her husband, Jeremy Perry, and held vigils, prayer services and fundraisers to help the young family during what continues to be a difficult time.