but what happened to erma goff, the wife and mother from potomac, maryland, who survived that event is also tragic and inspiring. wendy reariheendy rieger joins the story of mrs. goff, rebuilding a life after a horrible death. >> reporter: 17 years ago this summer but the murders still reverberate. how do you go on after your husband and three beloved drawers killed in your home? for the first time in almost 17 years, erma goff is revealing what that journey was like, the journey for survivors coming took li back to life after death. >> i was lucky to have my son. i was lucky to be functional. so i focused on that. i focused on what i have. not what i didn't v do i miss my family? oh, absolutely. does day go by i don't think of them, i don't pick up something or talk to somebody and think about them? doesn't happen. just doesn't happen. silly things, you know that remind me of david and the girls. but you have to -- you have to move forward. you can't -- you can't be a victim. >> erma goff tells her story tonight on news4 at 11:00. she is a remarkable, gutsy woman who will surprise you

erma is sharing her story with wendy rieger. wendy joins us now with more on the story. >> anyone who has been in this town for any length of time knows the goff murders. these are the potomac, maryland, murders where a house painter hired by their contractor killed her husband, david, and killed her three daughters, elise, 15, sherry, 19, and andrea who was 22. erma and her only remaining son, child, scott, who was 17 at the time were at the beach. that's why they survived. this is a story about how do -- first time she's spoken. this summer will be the 17th anniversary. how do you come back from that? we always, as reporters, do stories of trauma and tragedy in our area. and we cover it and then we leave the people. with her, wondered how did you survive this? what was that journey like? >> i want to know how you were able to talk her into 17 years it has been, how you were able to -- >> i saw her at a restaurant just -- i was with a friend of mine who i didn't know was a mutual friends of hers and i saw this woman walk in with her new husband and she was gregarious and fun. i told her later she looked like sunlight. >> did you recognize her

his wife, erma goff and son, scott, survived because they were out of town, she was faced with something most of us fortunately will never have to endure, rebuilding your life after that, moving on. how did she do it? >> i was lucky to have my son. i was lucky to be functional. i focused on that, what i had, not what i didn't v do i miss my family? absolutely. does a day go by i don't think of them, i don't pick up something or talk to somebody and think about them? doesn't happen. just doesn't happen. silly things, you know that remind me of david and the girls, but you have to -- you have to move forward. you can't -- you can't be a victim. >> tonight on news4 at 11:00, you can see my full interview with erma goff as she describes that journey back to life after those awful deaths. she is a remarkable, gutsy woman who has a story that may surprise you. please join in, tune in tonight at 11:00. >>> when we come back on news4 at 5:00 tonight, the first lady announces changes designed to make it easier for military spouses to get a job in a new state. >>> and what's your workout? [ female