Man charged in 1982 killing of teenage Milwaukee girl pleads not guilty

MILWAUKEE -- 50-year-old Jose Ferreira Jr., the man charged in the disappearance and death of a seventh-grade girl who went missing back in 1982, entered a plea of not guilty and waived his right to preliminary hearing Tuesday morning, October 27th.

Carrie Ann Jopek

Carrie Ann Jopek went missing on March 16, 1982. After being suspended from school, Carrie Ann Jopek never made it to her home a block away.

In September 1983, police earthed the body of Carrie Ann Jopek, buried underneath a neighbor's back porch on the city's south side

Jose Ferreira Jr. is charged with second degree murder/felony commission in this case.

"He did have intercourse with her while she was dead," Jopek's mother, Carolyn Tousignant said.

Tousignant tells FOX6 News she's disgusted and angered by what she's learned about her daughter's death.

Jose Ferreira Jr.

Prosecutors say Ferreira and Jopek were at a house party, and they were about to go down into the basement when Jopek said: "I don't know if this is a good idea."

She had second thoughts," Tousignant said.

Reports say that's when Ferreira looked at her sternly and said: "You are going downstairs" -- before pushing Jopek down the stairs and having "his way with her."

"Thought she was unconscious," Tousignant said.

After realizing her neck was broken, Ferreira then opened the basement door, grabbed a small shovel and buried Jopek underneath the neighbor's porch.

A year later, Jopek's body was found by a carpenter doing construction work.

"I wanted to know. I always prayed to God -- 'let us find out who did it and why,'" Tousignant said.

Carolyn Tousignant

Tousignant is finally getting some answers. Earlier this month, Ferreira fessed up to his wife, who contacted police.

"I'm happy she did that," Tousignant said.

Jose Ferreira Jr.

Ferreira then called authorities and admitted he was involved.

"Why'd he wait 33 years to do that, and say 'I did it?' I don't know why, unless she was haunting him or his conscious -- he couldn't handle it no more," Tousignant said.

Ferreira is being held on $200,000 cash bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 4th.