They are grieving, but the wife, children and close friends of William “Bo” Kirk are sticking together, remembering the murdered man with love and laughter.

“Because that’s what he would want,” said Mike Lehman, Kirk’s best friend.

Lehman and others were at the Kirk home in Coeur d’Alene Wednesday evening, by Amanda Kirk’s side, as she spoke publicly for the first time since her husband’s death.

Amanda said she is grateful to those who searched for Kirk, who have donated food and money, shared stories and supported her family.

“Bo was, is, the love of my life. I have known for 23 years how amazing Bo is, I just didn’t know how many others knew it, too,” Amanda said.

Kirk, 41, was found dead Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the Hayden Creek area of the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. He went missing Oct. 22 after leaving his job at Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls around 7 p.m. His truck was found burning that night on Rimrock Road in the northern section of the county.

Police arrested David Earl Hutto Friday. Police have not released details of the investigation, but Monday in court, when Hutto was charged with second-degree murder, the prosecuting attorney said the killing came after a road rage incident. The prosecutor accused Hutto of then following Kirk home, kidnapping him and shooting him to death.

A media maelstrom that began in the days following Kirk’s disappearance intensified after Monday’s hearing.

Amanda Kirk said Wednesday she is a private person, and it is difficult for her to come forward, but she feels it is necessary.

The tipping point came Tuesday, when a Spokane TV station began reporting it is working to unseal the court file. A judge ordered it sealed Tuesday, a day after Hutto was charged in court.

“We’re pleading that they drop that,” Amanda said.

That plea went unheard. The Idaho State Judiciary’s online repository of court file activity shows Hutto’s case was unsealed sometime Wednesday.

Amanda said she understands the public wants answers, and that people are struggling to make sense of what happened to her husband.

“Believe me, I have my own questions. I, however, trust our detectives and everyone that has worked day and night to protect my family, bring Bo’s killers to justice, and serve our community,” Amanda said.

She said the detectives have kept her informed and explained why they are not releasing investigative details.

The court files need to remain sealed, she said, to ensure a fair trial takes place with an unbiased jury.

“We need to stop persecuting people on Facebook, stand together, and have faith in our judicial system,” Amanda said.

She has seen the news reports about her husband’s death and the hundreds of comments about it posted by many people on social media. Amanda said she found many offering encouragement and expressions of love for her husband and family.

“But many are speculations and accusations that only hurt. I love my husband. He was my entire life,” Amanda said. “Because I don’t shout, interview, post, and complain doesn’t mean I am not devastated and grieving. Until you go through something like this, you have no idea how you will respond.”

Since the prosecuting attorney said Hutto followed Kirk home after the road rage incident, many on social media have wondered why Amanda did not hear anything outside her home the night Kirk disappeared.

Best friend Mike Lehman said it’s not surprising Amanda didn’t hear anything. Lehman pointed out the home has a garage in front and the kitchen and living room areas are at the back of the house, with windows and doors facing the backyard.

Others on social media have indicated it’s suspicious Amanda called the police so quickly when her husband didn’t come right home from work. The night he went missing, Kirk sent a message at 6:50 p.m. that he was leaving to head home.

Bo always told the kids, “Family first,” and he lived it, Amanda said.

“My husband is a very faithful, dependable man,” she said. “He texted when he left from work and got home about 15 minutes later, it was routine. That’s how I knew something was wrong.”