July 14, 2019

Kate Rafferty Petrocco, a mother of 10-year-old twins suffered years of documented domestic violence and is now dead at 36, leaving her children without a mother. The unofficial COD ruling is suicide but her family and all who knew her adamantly disagree.

In Jan 2018, the victim's spouse was charged with six counts - all related to domestic violence. In April 2018, he plead to two counts of domestic assault, revering a deferred judgment sentence for two years. The victim endured years of documented physical, verbal and financial abuse and was threatened with her life if she left the marriage. The divorce was days away from being finalized at the time of her death. The victim's spouse has not been named a suspect nor POI in the death investigation. One of his associates is now threatening the victims family which started less than two months before her death.

The victim's spouse now has full custody and control of all decisions made re: the children, including when/if Kate's parents can visit them. He has yet allowed that to happen - not even as much as allowing them to receive a care package.

There has been no news coverage on this case and only one written article.

Kate served as a Victims Advocate, working for the Adams County DA Office. In addition to the DA being her boss, she also dated him from Dec 2018 - Mar 2019. The DA is responsible for making decisions about whether or not there's enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. Her death is being investigated by her former coworkers. The people she bumped shoulders with and whom she engaged in small talk at the water cooler every day - her work family.

Kate’s husband David operates Petrocco Farms - a multi-generational family-run business that supplies produce across Colorado’s Front Range and several Western states. The farm business is owned by David Petrocco Sr. The Petrocco's are influential in the community and have long standing relationships with law enforcement and elected officials. The agricultural sector contributes more than $40 billion to the state's economy each year. Petrocco Farms has been in business in Brighton for more than 100 years.

Due to the evident conflict of interest, Adams County should be required to defer this case to an outside agency or sister county. The family deserves peace in knowing that decisions are being made out of the best interest of the victim and her children and based on evidence, not relationships.

Please note that this petition was not initiated nor condoned, endorsed or supported in any way by the Rafferty Family and it's author does not represent the Rafferty Family in any capacity.