Family of murder victim feuds with town over memorial

The family of an Aberdeen man who was murdered nearly two years ago is feuding with the town over a memorial constructed in his honor.
“They want us to take down the memorial. Next thing they’ll probably want us to take down the sign at our house. It’s just not fair,” says Rebecca Karecki, the sister of the victim.
Billy Karecki was found shot to death in a parking lot in September 2015. His murder has not been solved. Rebecca Karecki says the memorial is a reminder that her brother’s murderer is still out there.
“There could be some people that did witness it that didn't feel the need to come forward at the time,” she says.
But Aberdeen is building a new park and has plans to pave the parking lot near where the memorial stands. The family has been told that they need to take it down.
Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini says he feels for the family, but worries that heavy machinery could damage the memorial.
“We can’t begin to understand the grief that they have, especially that it’s unsolved,” the mayor says.
The mayor says that the town is not opposed to a different memorial, such as a bench with a plaque nearby.
“What we would like very much to do is have a memorial for this young man,” Tagliarini says. “We feel for this young man. We feel for the family.”
Rebecca Karecki says she fears that her brother’s case is going cold. Her family says they want the memorial up until the case is solved.
“I don't think any person murdered deserves to be forgotten about that easily,” she says.
Mayor Tagliarini has said that work to repave the parking lot could start on July 11.