Las Vegas Family Mourns Two Losses in One Month | News

LAS VEGAS - David Pettis was murdered in cold blood December 8. His body, covered in plastic, was left by a construction equipment storage yard near Nellis Boulevard and Carey Avenue.

This chilling crime remains a mystery. Pettis' loved ones, gripped by sadness, have since suffered another devastating loss. David's 80-year-old grandfather, also named David, died ten days later from a lung disease.

Joe Deeken works at the Cosmopolitan with the younger Pettis' father Ron Pettis.

"It's just more horror on top of the horror he's already experiencing with the loss," Deeken said.

Ron had to bury his son last week and immediately rushed to west central Texas to say goodbye to his father.

"The timing, it couldn't be worse," Deeken said. "It's two devastating blows in basically the same week."

Word spread among Ron Pettis' coworkers about this double tragedy. They are collecting money for their beloved colleague.

"About 30 or 40 of the facility workers have already donated money, and it's spreading through the whole casino," Deeken said. "So as a group, as a family - a Cosmopolitan family of workers - everyone's doing their part and pulling together to help."

Reached by phone in Texas hours after his father's funeral, a grieving Ron Pettis thanked his coworkers for helping his family in their time of need.

"It's just so unbelievable how much love there is with the people I work with," he said. "I'm almost without words. The love, the prayers they're sending to us, it's really helping us keep going right now."

Ron Pettis says he will now turn his attention to fighting for justice for his slain son.

If you would like to help the family, you can donate to the Benefit Memorial Fund for David Pettis at any Wells Fargo branch. The account number is 3318876640.

Homicide detectives, meanwhile, are still taking tips on David Pettis' murder. If you have information, you are urged to contact Crime Stoppers.