Randy Ertman was one exception. A bear of a man, he suffered a loss strikingly similar to Carreiro's. In June 1993, Ertman's 14-year-old daughter, Jennifer, was raped and beaten to death along with her 16-year-old friend, Elizabeth Pena. Ertman and Carreiro met at a victims' meeting about three days after Ertman's daughter had turned up missing -- and before her body had been located. The two men became good friends. If anyone in the victims' rights movement knows Bob Carreiro, it's Randy Ertman.
Like Carreiro, Ertman also filed a number of lawsuits, including one against the owner of the railroad tracks. He says he now regrets his litigious ways -- although he is still suing the liquor store that allegedly sold alcohol to his daughter's underage killers.
Ertman refuses to comment on whether he believes Carreiro is right or wrong or hypocritical for filing suit against the Wileys. But he can't imagine suing Adolph and Elizabeth Pena, whose daughter was killed along with Ertman's.
"I would never file suit against the Penas," says Ertman. "The Penas would never file suit against me. I can't understand any victim suing another victim's family. That's my answer."
Next week, lawyers for the Wiley family will go before state District Judge Tracy Christopher to argue that Bob Carreiro's lawsuit against the Wileys is without merit and should be dismissed.
"In our motion for summary judgment," says the Wileys attorney, Brian Chandler, "it's our position that it's just not foreseeable that your next-door neighbor is going to come to your house and brutally murder your daughter. It doesn't stand up in the eyes of the law, and it doesn't stand up in the eyes of common sense."
Carreiro and his attorney obviously disagree -- just one of the many differences between Kip Wiley and Bob Carreiro. Carreiro has structured his life around his daughter's death. Wiley and his family want to put their tragedy behind them and move forward; even Jeremy recently expressed a desire for counseling.
"I feel sorry for Bob," says Rebecca Wiley, "because it's like he's chasing the wind to make himself happy."
Kip Wiley's opinion is less charitable.
"He's not honoring his daughter's memory this way," he says. "You don't replace a child. But as time passes, you have to learn to live with it. I know my daughter's in Heaven. And I'd love to see her. But you go on with your life. If you don't, you become very bitter."
With that, Kip Wiley's voice begins to trail off again. He pauses for a moment and makes one last request.
"Please, don't paint me the same color as Bob Carreiro.
