My name is Rae Jenkins.

In the early morning hours of June 4, 2025, my brother was murdered in his home. A home he built with his loving and beautiful wife, my blood-related sister, Sarah Heringer. A home they invited me to live in with them so that they could mentor me, coach me, and support me in a way I had never received starting from childhood. Patrick and Sarah saw something in me. They saw that I was bright, kind, capable, and hardworking. But I had never had a true system of support. A healthy and loving system of support. Sarah knew this from growing up in the same dynamics and places I had to, and Patrick knew this because he too had not always had people who supported him in a way that could set him up for success in life. They both knew if someone had offered them the mentorship and support they were willing to provide to me in their twenties, then they would have gotten to build their loving home, impressive careers, and find purpose in caring for others much sooner than they were able to. So they extended that to me and (eventually) I said yes. After almost a year of living with them, working hard, intently listening to their advice, and carefully watching how they operated as people, I was the healthiest, strongest, and most set up for my future that I have ever been in my life. Then, on June 4, 2025, Patrick was murdered in his home and I was there. I was a witness to his murder. He not only saved my sister's life that night, his actions saved mine too.

I'm trying to move back to Colorado, where I met Patrick and where I can be in the one place where it is easiest to feel him everywhere, the mountains. Where his closest friends, whom I now consider family, live. To a place where I might be able to heal or recover even though there is no moving on. The ghosts that loom in Cincinnati bring only turmoil and rage to my heart. I know that's not what Patrick wants for me. The trauma of his murder and the grief combined has put my body and mind in a position where I can't function on the level I would need to function in order to make this move happen. Although I am doing my best to function as well as I can. I continue to work, exercise, participate in therapy, and hold space for the others around me. I continue to choose gratitude and hope despite living through the worst nightmare I have had to endure so far. I continue to do my best and no matter what, I will continue, because that is what Patrick would want for me. I'm starting a GoFundMe because Sarah and Patrick taught me that I was worthy of help and support, we all are. If you feel called to support financially, then I thank you from the depths of my heart, and if not but you can send your strength and prayers, then they are welcomed with open arms also. Whatever your noble cause is in this life, in the words of Patrick Heringer:

"Stay fighting."

Rae Jenkins