Hundreds Attend Funeral For Robert Cipriano

FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) - Family, friends and students gathered at St. Fabian Church Wednesday to say their final goodbyes to Robert Cipriano, the father and school administrator who was beaten to death in his Farmington Hills home.

About 1,500 people attended Wednesday's funeral, including family friend Ryan Dwan.

"It's one of those things where you're just surprised. It's like you hear about things happening but never to this extreme," he said. "For most people it doesn't set in for a couple of days and you don't really grasp what happened."

Nick Soniac, a student at Catholic Central High School, attended the funeral services and had kind words to say on Cipriano's behalf.

"We consistently have a couple of parents that help out at the football games and all of our other functions throughout the year and he is one of those parents that were always there for us," said Soniac.

Cipriano, a Dearborn Public Schools administrator, was fatally beaten with a baseball bat last Monday -- allegedly by his 19-year-old son Tucker and 20-year-old pal Mitchell Young.

Cipriano's wife and son were also badly beaten and remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Tucker Cipriano and Young have both been charged with murder and attempted murder in the attack. Police said Tucker Cipriano has a history of drug problems.