PORTSMOUTH
Robert E. Kiesewetter had told his friend several times that he didn’t like delivering pizzas in the Edgefield area of Churchland.
Sometimes, Tom Parker said, Kiesewetter felt like he was being set up for a robbery, especially when he’d get those late-evening calls.
One of the last things Kiesewetter said to Parker last Thursday was that he was thinking of quitting that job. Parker believes it was partly because of safety.
The following night, around 10:30 Friday, Kiesewetter was shot at Edgefield Apartments, not far from Churchland Park, while dropping off food. He later died.
His job with Papa John’s Pizza was one of three regular delivery jobs he held down. He also delivered newspapers for The Virginian-Pilot and worked for Parker’s flower shop.
“He was more than an employee,” Parker said of Kiesewetter, whom he’d known for about five years. “He was part of my family.”
While Portsmouth police continued looking for suspects, family and friends were grappling with the loss of Kiesewetter, 50 , whom they called a dedicated son and friend.
Kiesewetter worked practically around the clock, said his mother, Margaret Chipman. Larry Swafford, a zone manager for The Virginian-Pilot, had worked with Kiesewetter for about six years and said it was hard to find a more committed worker.
Kiesewetter delivered papers seven days a week in the Western Branch area of Chesapeake and was always at work around 2 a.m. Pulling that shift is difficult for most, Swafford said, but, “he did a great job of keeping it professional and making the most of it.”
When he had free time, he liked to spend it with his mother, taking her to the Williamsburg Pottery Factory or to breakfast and dinner at their favorite spot, a spaghetti and steakhouse, Chipman said.
“My boy was a super-duper guy,” she said. “A wonderful person, a loving person.”
Kiesewetter, her only child, never married, Chipman said. Growing up, he was “all boy,” joining the Scouts, playing Little League baseball and bringing home animals.
Chipman recalled a time when he was about 12 and he caught a duck at a pond near their Churchland home. He brought it home and put it in a box on the washer, without her knowing. She opened the door, the duck popped out, and scared the daylights out of her, she said. On Monday, she laughed heartily at the memory.
“He just wanted a pet.”
As an adult, he still cared about animals, Chipman said. They would buy nuts for the squirrels in the yard and even named a few – Booger, Baby, Boo Boo and Scrapper – that would follow Kiesewetter around the yard for their share.
Parker said Kiesewetter loved to talk politics and to help people. He often fretted about crime.
“People that were violent and took from others,” Parker said. “That really bothered him.”
Staff writer John Hopkins contributed to this report.
Denise Watson Batts, (757) 446-2504, denise.batts@pilotonline.com
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I've said some negatives, now let me say the positives
Great Job Portsmouth Police Dept.
In catching the suspects in this good man's murder.
The Portsmouth Police dept is doing an outstanding job considering they are the least paid law enforcers in Hampton Roads. Also good job working with your hands tied while city coucil caters to pet projects and shipping lobbies.Stop using our tax money to fund private companies building projects. Raises for teachers but not cops!
The murder rate needs to drop in this city before they can say our property values increased. we need to increase the size of the police dept. We need a cop on every corner in order to control the bad apples that walk among us.We do it in other countries why can't we do it at home. Now some people will complain about a police state. But there is nothing to worry about as long as you follow the law.
I live in Edgefield, this doesn't surprise me
Gun shots are so common in my neighborhood that the police don't seem to respond to gun fire calls anymore. Teenagers throw rocks at passing cars and peoples houses, smash apart fences and spray paint anything.
I am sure there are dozens of people in the neighborhood who know who did this. Street thug mentality prevents anyone from stepping foward.
Corrupt Council members also contribute to the crime problem.
It has gotten so bad that I now am looking to move out of Portsmouth.
After all, City Council is so consumed in thier pet projects of shopping centers and hotels that the people suffer. Stop the un needed projects and beef up the police dept. The city with the worst crime rate should have more policemen. But you don't get that if Portsmouth policemen are the least paid in the area.
No body wants to live in a town that isn't safe. Hey my property values just went up, was that because of the muliple murders in my town that have become common.
Take my advice, move out of Portsmouth before you become a victim of violent crime. The city isn't safe.
I also worked for Papa Johns
I also worked for Papa Johns for many years and first met Rob over 12 years ago. He actually worked at that Papa Johns probably about 15 years. He was a great guy,he could make friends with anyone. He was a hard worker and would cover other peoples shifts without complait. Rob always had something to say about anything to anyone.Everybody he met was his friend. Shortly after I started working at Papas I had car trouble and could not afford to fix my car. Rob loaned me the money I needed so I could continue to work. Another time he offered to have his mechanic do a diagnostic check on my car and said he would cover the $150 bill(of corse I did'nt let him). He never had a second thought about helping someone out,he just did it. The cowards who did this will get whats coming to them eventually. How could such a good mans life be worth a few measly dollars? I stopped delivering about 2 years ago after being robbed. I had transferred to a Norfolk Papa Johns. I had a gun to my head for 2 pizzas,13 bucks,and my cell phone. They did not need a gun for that,I would have given it to them. Rob would have done the same, they shot him because they were cowards who value money more than life.
Rob, won't find a better man
I worked with Rob at Papa John's for a year and a half, I now work for another chain in the same area. Hard working, honest, simple, a good man. He would be "Grumpy" if he was 7 dwarf. Always looking upset, but always having your back. You won't find a better man than Rob.
This wasn't the first time he had been robbed. About 2 years ago he was held up at gun point at The Pines (name is changed now)on Town Point Road (not to far from this location). There have been many robberies at that location, several at gun point. Doing this job in the Churchland area for about 3 years, I know of at least 2 dozen robberies/attempts. Being involved in three attempts myself, but fortunate the criminal didn't have a weapon in my circumstances. My first experience getting robbed was at the same apartments Rob was murdered at.
Those who live in this area, and think it's "quite" and "safe", the Edgefield, Peachtree/Town Point Road, and Bangor/Meadows Drive/Dunedin areas are anything but safe. They look nice enough driving by, but anytime have to deliver to those areas send the heart pumping and anxiety levels up. Two to three weeks ago, the Domino's Store in Churchland was robbed a
So Ridiculous.
This man delivered pizzas to my house many times, and he always had something to say about something. Hehe, I used to joke with my wife "that man talks my head off!" But he was always cheerful and managed to make me smile. When I ordered from Papa John's I always hoped he would be the delivery guy because he was so friendly. Not once did it seem like he didn't want to be working. Such a shame. When I heard about this I welled up a little bit because it is so senseless and it's always the people that are the happiest and friendliest that these things seem to happen to. Condolences to his family from the bottom of my heart.
Too Close to Home
I have relatives out Edgefield and things seemed pretty quiet. I am sorry to hear about this. I live around the corner from Edgefield and never knew the area was bad. My prayers are with the family
My Condolences to Kiesewetter Family
My condolences to the Kiesewetter family and relatives for this deplorable crime. There’s no excuse for these kinds of events to take place anywhere in Portsmouth or around Hampton Roads. I hope Portsmouth residents start realizing that the Mayor Holley and his City Council cronies are NOT creating SOLUTIONS to PREVENT CRIME and BRING JUSTICE to those who commit these heinous acts. This is another perfect example why all incumbents should be VOTED OUT OF OFFICE this 6 May 2008.
Again, my condolences to Kiesewetter family.
Management doesn't get shot at
I used to work for Papa John's in Norfolk. Once all the drivers at out store signed a letter to our regional manager, who was also in charge of Portsmouth, saying we did not want to deliver to a certain area because it was very dangerous. When he read the letter he called our manager and told him to fire every driver who refused to deliver to that area saying “Drivers will not tell us where we deliver.” This same regional manager when informed that one of our drivers had been severely beaten his only comment was, “how much money did they get?” Drivers know where the dangerous areas are but have no say in going there. Managers have the power but never have to worry about going to those areas. For drivers its take the risk or lose your job.
Hard worker killed by ????
This is another example of an average hardworking guy that was murdered for a few dollars. How about the random shooting of the Navy Lieutenant near wards corner last week, for what? I know the investigators have their hands full with a murder or 2 a day in almost all Hampton roads cities. We need to find a way to clean up our streets. Where is Charles Bronson when you need him?
A good man
He used to be my newspaper carrier. I never saw him, but my paper was always there. I bet he even delivered my pizza. What a waste. I hope they get the cowards who murdered him. Condolences to family and friends.
You can't shoot them
Except in Colorado where they have a choice to die by firing squad, we can not shoot them, unless we are unfortunate enough to be their victim and we act in self defense. We need to use the death penalty for every life that is taken. The juries should be determining who lives and who dies, not an attorney that first decides if he will prosecute it as a capital murder case. Every person charged with the death of another should automatically be tried in a capital case. If found guilty they should not be allowed to set on death row forever because commonwealth attorney's don't want to spend the money to enforce the death penalty. We need to start setting an example and spread the word. When these people that killed this pizza guy are found they should face the ultimate, even when we find out they are only 15-18 year olds. We can no longer afford to allow them to hide behind their age. They know what they are doing, and they know we are not going to do anything to them. Enforce the death penalty, prosecute everyone equally using juries!
I Agree About P-mouth Trash!!
I can't believe the amount of petty crime. Maybe we should shoot all the punks that think it's cool to kill innocent people. May peace be with this family and friends of this nice man.
Portsmouth Trash
More Portsmouth street trash leeching from society at a high cost to the law abiding and hard working citizen.
Deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
Street punks, I hope you're found and that justice is swiftly served. Your being put away for life would not be a loss but a gain for society. You do not even deserve that.
Robert..
We at Papa John's Pizza in Murray, Utah, would like to sincerely express our condolences to Robert's family.
We did not know him personally, but all of the Papa John's team is family and when we heard the news of his passing this morning, the team here in Utah was deeply saddened by his loss.
We will keep Robert and his family in our thoughts and prayers.
JoEllen Silver
Papa John's Pizza
Store 2121