CHARLOTTE COUNTY - It's hard to find a picture of Yana Huss where she isn't with her children. Pictures are the only way Elena Kuchinskaya can see her daughter and grandchildren every day.

"I cannot sleep. I cannot. I always think about this big big drama," said Russian native Kutchinskaya.

In Russian terms "big drama" translates to American heartache.

Her daughter, Yana, was murdered and her son-in-law, Scott Huss, is accused of the crime.

Scott Huss has a history of domestic abuse against his wife and children.

The last report came on April 25, when Charlotte Sheriff's deputies found Yana stabbed to death. According to reports, Huss murdered his wife in front of his 8-year-old stepson. Reports also say Scott Huss then dropped the boy off at his mother's home in central Florida, then fled to Tallahassee, where he was arrested.

Kuchinskaya says she talked to her daughter five times a day, and knew something was wrong when she didn't hear from her for two days. She learned of her Yana's death through a friend.

"My daughter always said, 'mother mother please help me!' But, what can I help?" Kuchinskaya said fighting back tears.

The only way she knows how to help is to get custody of her two grandchildren: Piter and Katrina, who are currently with a foster family. Right now, Kuchinskaya can only see them one day a week for two hours.

"We're big family. In Russian tradition our parents live always together with children because that's Russian tradition," she said.

It's hard for her to communicate, and that's part of her frustration. She lives in Russia and flew to Charlotte County after she learned of her daughter's death.

Kuchinskaya knows all of her battles will have to be won in court, but right now, she doesn't have a lawyer, money, or know how to fight for Piter and Katrina. She is also here on a visitors visa, so she cannot work while she's in the United States.

"I need a lawyer, for a lawyer, I must pay. Without a lawyer, I cannot do anything" she said. "The first interest now is the children. Children must be with family. And, I can stay in this country however long they need me."

The only thing she does have is support from Yana's best friend, Stella Giordano. The two didn't know each other before the incident, but have now become very close.

"We know this is not going to be resolved overnight," said Giordano. "We're plowing through all the different agencies and looking for places to assist us. We need as much help as we can get."

Giordano says "there aren't enough words to describe the magnificent woman" Yana was. She called her "the hardest working woman," also the most generous and the quickest to smile.

Yana was going to school to become a nurse, and was just about to graduate. She had plans to move into a home of her home, and finally separate herself and children from her husband.

"It's heart breaking to me how close she was to achieving all of her dreams and goals," said Giordano.

Now their dream is to see the family reunited.

When she's not fighting this fight, Kuchinskaya goes back to her photos. She has hundreds. She also created a memorial to her daughter, spread out throughout the baron home she's now staying in, along with her two daughters who also live in Russia.

"I think when you see photo of my family in Russia, American people will understand," said Kuchinskaya.

For her, a picture really is worth a thousand words.