Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler reach out to murdered fan’s family

The Chicago Bears are doing all they can to portray themselves as one big extended family after a fan’s murder earlier this month.

Quarterback Jay Cutler hosted Karen Pettry and her three children at Soldier Field on Monday night to watch the Bears beat the Detroit Lions.

“We wanted to reach out and bring them to the game,” Cutler told ESPN Chicago today.

“There’s nothing I or anyone can say that can really ease their pain or bring anybody back. Hopefully we were able to let them have an enjoyable time for three or four hours and kind of forget their loss and just have a good time.”

The jaded among you will brush this off as a PR stunt from a QB who is often slammed for his bad attitude.

But take this at face value.

Christopher Pettry, 42, died October 7 after a barroom altercation in Jacksonville, Florida.

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The Lake Villa, Illinois man was there with a friend to watch the Bears play the Jaguars.

Police say a man saw Pettry talking to his wife, walked up to him and slit his throat. Matthew Hinson, 27, faces murder charges.

Jacksonville County Police Lt. Rob Schoonover said Hinson “became jealous, enraged, whatever you want to call it and approached our victim,” the Chicago Tribune reported.

“He calmly and basically coldbloodedly cut the victim’s throat and calmly walked out of the restaurant.”

Shortly after the incident, Chicago tight-end Kellen Davis enlisted some current and former NFL players to help raise funds for the family.

They appeared at an October 13 fundraiser and donated memorabilia for auction.

The team also helped establish a website for donations. It has raised almost $20,000.

“Our whole family has been reached out to by (people in) Jacksonville, Florida, and the (ultimate) has been being reached out to by players who are taking time out of their own lives and families to help us, and we’re just so overwhelmed with gratitude,” Pettry’s sister, Veronica, told ESPN.

“Of course Chicago is an amazing town. It may be a big city, but it's a big city with heart.”

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