An Eye for an Eye

Here is something crazy. It really happened. Here are the main characters you need to know:

Robert Golub—the 21-year-old convicted of murder

Kelly Tinyes—the 13-year-old murder victim

John Golub—Robert’s father

Richie Tinyes—Kelly’s father

Vicki Tinyes—Kelly’s mother

Several years ago, a national magazine reported that in Valley Stream, N.Y., 21-year-old Robert Golub, an unemployed body builder, murdered 13-year-old Kelly Tinyes, in the house of his parents. He then hid the body in the basement. He is now serving a 25 years-to-life sentence.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, his parents thought that he was innocent. Somewhere along the way, they began to feel that their son was a victim and denied justice.

Tension started immediately after the murder, when the Golub's son was a suspect. It elevated when the Tinyes felt hurt that the Golubs never expressed their condolences. Meanwhile, the Golubs felt under siege because a week after Kelly's funeral, a crowd began gathering outside their house screaming, "Murderers! Devils! Get out!" From there, things escalated.

Frustrated and angry, the Golubs began to taunt the Tinyes family, who happened to live five houses down the street. The Tinyes family struck back—with the result being that over the next 5 years, there were more than 100 complaints from the two families against each other. From the collateral damage, neighbors filed dozens more.  

There were also six arrests based on complaints by both parents—and one trial. In 1994, Robert Golub’s dad, John, was charged with criminal mischief and assault for allegedly ramming the back of the pickup truck belonging to Richie Tinyes, the father of the victim.

At the trial, Golub admitted throwing rocks at Kelly Tinyes’ mother, Vicki, and shouting obscenities at her and her husband. He was acquitted after explaining that he was afraid of the Tinyes family.

Later, Golub was arrested again for steering his car onto the Tinyes' lawn and narrowly missing Vicki. His defense: she squirted water from the water hose on his car. The charges were later dropped for lack of evidence.

The Tinyes family charged the Golubs with various crimes; meanwhile, John Golub claimed that members of the Tinyes family doused his car with paint, threw garbage on his lawn, set off a cherry bomb in his yard, and put dog droppings in his mailbox.

Of the Tinyes, John Golub said, "In the beginning I cried for them. But yell at me, I'll yell back. Spit in my face, I'll spit back."

Maybe this is one of many reasons Jesus said,

 38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you (Mt. 5:38-42.)