Longtime Colorado Victim Rights Advocates Hospitalized, Raising Money for Medical Bills

Joe and Kaye Cannata have dedicated their lives to helping Coloradans through the most difficult experiences imaginable. Now, it is the Cannatas who need help from their community in Denver and beyond.

The husband and wife started Voices of Victims in 2007, a nonprofit inspired by their experience navigating the criminal justice system after their daughter, Lynn, was murdered in 1987. They soon became a staple of Colorado's victim rights community, participating in Parents of Murdered Children and the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, and helping to pass a state law requiring that violent offenders serve more of their sentences.

Nearly four decades after Lynn's murder, Joe and Kaye tirelessly continued their work until late last year, when unexpected health issues landed both of them in the hospital. The Cannata family is now raising money to help cover their medical expenses.

"Any help at this point is a huge deal for our family," says Matt Cannata, Joe and Kaye's grandson. "The last thing I want is for my grandpa to come out of the hospital and be bankrupt. They're two of the most caring people. Anyone who knows them knows exactly the kind of people they are."

Kaye, 68, was admitted to the hospital with sepsis in November. She returned home a few weeks later, requiring 24-hour health care to this day, Matt says.

Joe, 78, initially tended to her but soon began experiencing his own health issues, including fainting episodes. He was hospitalized in December, at which point doctors discovered that he had suffered multiple strokes. Joe has lost the ability to speak, walk and eat, staying in a rehab facility for the last month as he works to regain his functions.

"They're people who will always help others but never ask for help," says Jennifer Mikelson, who organized the fundraiser and shares children with Matt. "After giving everything they possibly could for their entire lives, it's time for people to help them. ...It's hard to ask other people for money when everyone is struggling, but if anyone is deserving of a hand from the community, it's them."

Joe and Kaye are described as pillars of their community and their family. They raised Matt since he was two years old, after his mother, Lynn, was murdered. Lynn was stabbed to death in front of Matt by her boyfriend, Lawrence Garcia. She was twenty years old and pregnant with her second child during the fatal attack.

Garcia was sentenced to 24 years in prison but released for good behavior after eighteen years. Throughout those eighteen years, Joe and Kaye repeatedly appeared in court during the appeal and parole processes, describing them as "complicated" and "intimidating." They started Voices of Victims shortly after Garcia was released to provide the support they wished they had at the time.

With their nonprofit, the couple walks victims and families through the criminal justice process, informing them of their legal rights, answering questions and providing transportation to court hearings, in addition to advocating for legislative reforms at the State Capitol.

"Joe goes to hearings with people just to sit there and hold their hand and show that they can get through it," Jennifer says. "Before they got sick, they were still involved day-to-day [in the nonprofit]. Joe always joked, 'I'll retire when I'm 100. You can't stop me until then.'"

Joe and Kaye were each honored with the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance's Wendy Preston Family Award (in 2015 and 2019, respectively) for crime victims who have improved victim services, rights or treatment. The Denver District Attorney’s Office also gave Joe its Civil Courage Award, recognizing those who stand up against injustice at personal risk for the good of the community.

Voices of Victims continues to operate while Joe and Kaye are out of commission, with the board of directors leading the nonprofit.

In addition to advocating for victims, Joe has worked with the Department of Corrections to help offenders, Matt says. He gives speeches to prison inmates and assists in connecting them to therapy, outreach and other rehabilitation programs.

"A lot of them have done similar acts that caused my grandparents to start the nonprofit," Matt says. "You could see the compassion grow in the later stages of their lives. They're very, very caring people and extremely hard-working. ...It was a night-and-day difference that happened with my grandfather. One day, he was going to work every day, still advocating and essentially running the nonprofit completely. And then, all of a sudden, everything changed."

Matt is moving in with Kaye to help care for her, saying the family cannot afford to continue paying for 24-hour in-home nursing care. Kaye is expected to make a full recovery, but they don't know when; she still cannot walk or get out of bed by herself.

Joe's prognosis is less optimistic, but he is working with a speech therapist and seeing signs of improvement.

"I think it's a very long road for both of them, which is a little scary," Matt says. "But there are definitely reasons for me to have hope."

Donate to the fundraiser for Joe and Kaye at gofundme.com.