Boston suspects: Immigrant dream to American nightmare

Wayne Drash, Moni Basu and Tom Watkins, CNN
11 minute read
Updated 10:49 AM EDT, Sun April 21, 2013
Dias Kadyrbayev, left, with Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsamaev in a picture taken from the social media site VK.com. Kadyrbayev is expected to plead guilty August 21 to charges in connection with removing a backpack and computer from Tsamaev's dorm room after the April 2013 bombing, according to a defense lawyer.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Dias Kadyrbayev, left, with Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsamaev in a picture taken from the social media site VK.com. Kadyrbayev is expected to plead guilty August 21 to charges in connection with removing a backpack and computer from Tsamaev's dorm room after the April 2013 bombing, according to a defense lawyer.
from vk.com
Bombing suspect <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/21/us/tamerlan-tsarnaev-timeline/index.html">Tamerlan Tsarnaev</a> was killed during the shootout with police in Watertown, Massachusetts, on April 19, 2013. He is pictured here at the 2010 New England Golden Gloves.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed during the shootout with police in Watertown, Massachusetts, on April 19, 2013. He is pictured here at the 2010 New England Golden Gloves.
lowellsun.com
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/28/us/boston-attack/index.html">Dzhokhar Tsarnaev</a> was captured in a Boston suburb on April 19, 2013, after a manhunt that shut down the city. In July, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/10/us/boston-bombing-case/index.html">he pleaded not guilty</a> to killing four people and wounding more than 200.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured in a Boston suburb on April 19, 2013, after a manhunt that shut down the city. In July, he pleaded not guilty to killing four people and wounding more than 200.
FBI
From left, Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev went with Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to Times Square in this photo taken from the social media site VK.com. A federal grand jury <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/justice/boston-bombing-obstruction-charges/index.html">charged Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev</a> with obstructing justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice relating to the removal of a backpack from Tsarnaev's dorm room after the bombings. Tazhayakov was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction charges in July 2014. He faces up to 25 years in prison at his sentencing in October. He has filed an appeal.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
From left, Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev went with Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to Times Square in this photo taken from the social media site VK.com. A federal grand jury charged Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev with obstructing justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice relating to the removal of a backpack from Tsarnaev's dorm room after the bombings. Tazhayakov was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction charges in July 2014. He faces up to 25 years in prison at his sentencing in October. He has filed an appeal.
From VK.com
Robel Phillipos, a U.S. citizen, was also <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/01/us/boston-attack/index.html">arrested on May 1, 2013</a>. He was charged with lying to federal agents about the bombing, according to court papers.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Robel Phillipos, a U.S. citizen, was also arrested on May 1, 2013. He was charged with lying to federal agents about the bombing, according to court papers.
from youtube
Phillipos, Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev are accused of removing items from Tsarnaev's dorm room after the bombings on April 15, 2013. The items they took included a backpack containing fireworks that had been "opened and emptied of powder," according to the affidavit.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Phillipos, Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev are accused of removing items from Tsarnaev's dorm room after the bombings on April 15, 2013. The items they took included a backpack containing fireworks that had been "opened and emptied of powder," according to the affidavit.
USDOJ
The FBI released photos and video on April 18, 2013, of two men identified as Suspect 1 and Suspect 2 in the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon. They were later identified as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, and his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
The FBI released photos and video on April 18, 2013, of two men identified as Suspect 1 and Suspect 2 in the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon. They were later identified as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, and his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26.
FBI/Courtesy lowellsun.com
Boston Police released surveillance images of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev at a convenience store on April 19, 2013.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Boston Police released surveillance images of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev at a convenience store on April 19, 2013.
Boston Police Dept.
The FBI tweeted this photo on April 19, 2013, and urged Watertown residents to stay indoors as they searched for the second suspect.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
The FBI tweeted this photo on April 19, 2013, and urged Watertown residents to stay indoors as they searched for the second suspect.
FBI
The FBI released photos and video on April 18, 2013, of two men it called suspects in the deadly bombings and pleaded for public help in identifying them. The men were photographed walking together near the finish line.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
The FBI released photos and video on April 18, 2013, of two men it called suspects in the deadly bombings and pleaded for public help in identifying them. The men were photographed walking together near the finish line.
FBI
A man identified as Suspect 2 appeared in this photograph by bystander David Green, who took the photo after completing the Boston Marathon. Green submitted the photo to the FBI, <a href="http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/19/david-green-on-his-likely-photo-of-suspect-2-i-took-one-picture-and-that-was-the-picture/">he told Piers Morgan in an interview.</a>
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
A man identified as Suspect 2 appeared in this photograph by bystander David Green, who took the photo after completing the Boston Marathon. Green submitted the photo to the FBI, he told Piers Morgan in an interview.
Courtesy David Green
The man identified as Suspect 2 appears in a tighter crop of David Green's photo.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
The man identified as Suspect 2 appears in a tighter crop of David Green's photo.
Courtesy David Green
Authorities later identified Suspect 1 as Tamerlan Tsarnaev.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Authorities later identified Suspect 1 as Tamerlan Tsarnaev.
FBI
Suspect 2 was identified as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Suspect 2 was identified as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
FBI
Suspect 1 walks through the crowd.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Suspect 1 walks through the crowd.
FBI
Suspect 1 walks through the crowd.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Suspect 1 walks through the crowd.
FBI
Suspect 1 walks through the crowd.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Suspect 1 walks through the crowd.
FBI
Both suspects are seen walking through the crowd.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Both suspects are seen walking through the crowd.
FBI
Suspect 2 walks through the crowd.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Suspect 2 walks through the crowd.
FBI
Suspect 2 walks through the crowd.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Suspect 2 walks through the crowd.
FBI
A photo released by the FBI highlights Suspect 2.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
A photo released by the FBI highlights Suspect 2.
FBI
A photo released by the FBI highlights Suspect 2.
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
A photo released by the FBI highlights Suspect 2.
FBI
Suspect 2 walks through the crowd. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/us/boston-bombings-galleries/index.html">See all photography related to the Boston bombings.</a>
Suspects tied to Boston bombings —
Suspect 2 walks through the crowd. See all photography related to the Boston bombings.
FBI
Suspects tied to Boston bombings

Story highlights

The two brothers came to America with their family to start a new life

The older brother was a good boxer who quit college, got married and had a baby

The younger brother won a scholarship and wrestled

"I don't have a single American friend," says a website post in older brother's name

Boston CNN  — 

They might have fulfilled every immigrant’s dream, fleeing a war-torn part of the world and settling into a quiet life in America, one buoyed by aspiration and a will to succeed.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, loved to box. And he was talented. At 196 pounds, he represented New England as a heavyweight in the National Golden Gloves boxing tournament. He wanted to make it on an Olympic team.

His brother, Dzhokar, 19, graduated in 2011 from Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, the alma mater of actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The city awarded Dzhokar a $2