We learned Monday of the tragic story of a Chicago Bears fan murdered at a bar in Jacksonville.
Chris Pettry had traveled to Florida to see his favorite team play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The night before the game, he had his throat slit by Matthew Hinson, who later confessed to the crime. Hinson's motive remains unknown.
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Crimes of this nature have a heavy ripple effect, and Pettry's wife, Karen, is still trying to pick up the pieces.
"It's shocking," Pettry told the Chicago Sun-Times this week. "I feel like I'm going to wake up from this dream and it's going to get back to normal.
"But I can't believe this is happening. My kids don't have a daddy, and I don't have a husband anymore. All because of him (Hinson)."
Pettry and her three young children have been overwhelmed by support from the community, including members of the Bears. Tight end Kellen Davis set up a fundraiser Saturday night at John Barleycorn in Wrigleyville to raise money for the family. Brandon Marshall and his wife, Michi, also pledged support.
"She was concerned about not having a job," Marshall said. "I told her to take her time and get through this. Use the people around her. Use us to breathe and take the time she needs and be there for her children. Don't worry about any of that because we got her."
It's nice to see the Bears rally around a family blindsided by tragedy.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.
