Following Bryant’s death, Wally Tennelle found that he felt no anger or desire for retribution; “[i]nstead, there was only pain. Inescapable pain” (131). Other family members had similar experiences, grieving in (to them) odd, unexpected ways. Wally and Yadira resolved to be strong, to endure, and “not to let the murder of their son darken their souls” (132). Tennelle even largely refused time off from work, taking just three days before returning. However, it was others who seemed to be unable to process their grief: coworkers unable to act or talk normally around them, unsure what to say to the people who had just lost their son. It eventually became so frustrating for Wally that he had to ask Prideaux to ask his colleagues to stop offering their condolences so that he could get some work done.

Armando Bernal had gotten the case. He was an experienced homicide detective; however, he was not aggressive, and the case eventually stalled. Like Skaggs, he worked tirelessly on the case; unlike Skaggs, however, his style was more reserved. As the case stalled, resentment rose—RHD still felt it should have received the case and bristled at the fact that it had gone to Bernal.