SUTHERLIN, Ore. - The scar from the knife wound goes from one side of his neck to the other.

He was burnt badly on his right arm and leg in the fire that burned in his home.

After several skin grafts and a month at a Portland burn center, Craig Riley said he's healing faster than the doctors thought - a combeback from an unthinkable crime that claimed the life of his wife, Lindi, and implicated their son.

The Rileys had been married almost 27 years, and they had been making plans for Lindi's retirement. 

"I kind of told her, well if that's the case, I might only fish a couple of more seasons then sell the lodge, and we can go do some things and stuff," Riley said. "So we were talking about some things that we were going to do, and then all of a sudden she's gone."

A violent act destroyed those dreams on March 10, 2008.

Gabe Riley, 28, the adopted son of Lindi and Craig Riley, faces extradition from Palm Springs, Calif., to stand trial in Oregon for the attack on his parents. He faces charges of murder, attempted murder and arson.

Lindi, a popular counselor at Sutherlin Middle School, died in the incident.

Riley spent most of a month in a burn center in Portland. He returned home a few weeks ago.

"The healing process has been going along really well," Riley said. "I mean everything that comes along as far as they put the timeline, I'm kind of ahead of that, so I'm just thankful for all the prayers that everybody's given for me."

Riley said the community support has been overwhelming, and he can't even believe the number of people's live that his wife touched.

"Gosh, I can't believe the support that rallied around and people that make meals for me and different things, its just been awesome," Riley said. "It was like, wow, boy we touched a lot of people and a its been really supportive."

Lindi's death left a hole in his life.

"You have your moments you know, but I also have my moments that we had a lot of great times together, so I just kind of get a little weepy on that and then I just try to remember something good that we did," Riley said.

He owns the Chinook Cove Fishing Lodge in British Columbia, and he is not sure what he's going to do with the lodge yet. He is forcing himself to take it easy and continue to do what the doctor says, and so far it's been paying off in a stunning recovery.