Former Dixon woman victim of murder-suicide

BROOMFIELD, Co. – A former Dixon woman, now a dentist in Colorado, was killed by her husband, who then killed himself, the coroner confirmed in a news release Tuesday.

Police found the bodies of Kate McDowell, formerly Brokaw, 40, and her husband Thad in their home about 8:47 Monday morning. Hers is a homicide, his a suicide, Adams County Coroner Monica Broncucia-Jordan said in the release, which was posted on the Broomfield Police Department Facebook page.

The manner of death was not released.

Broomfield police called the deaths "a domestic violence situation." They, too, have not released how the couple died.

Friends and family of Kate McDowell, daughter of Dr. Kim and Mary Brokaw of Dixon, confirmed her death and spoke about her this afternoon.

"There's a hole in our family now that she's gone," Mary Brokaw, told the Broomfield Enterprise. "I just don't have words to tell you what it's doing to us."

Jones Funeral Home in Dixon will be handling her arrangements.