A mother reportedly issued a plea for help over her husband's mental health just days before he allegedly killed her and their two teenage sons in a triple suspected murder-suicide.
On May 10, at around 9:45AM, deputies from the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home at Johnson Lake in Plum Creek Canyon, where they discovered the bodies of Jeremy Koch, 42; his wife Bailey Koch, 41; and their sons, Hudson, 18, and Asher, 16.
All four were found in their beds with fatal knife wounds. Authorities recovered the murder weapon at the scene.
The Nebraska State Patrol said in a press release that the deaths are being investigated as a triple murder-suicide, with evidence suggesting Jeremy fatally stabbed his wife and children before turning the knife on himself. Autopsies have been ordered, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The horrific discovery was made by Bailey’s parents, Lane and Peggy Kugler. In a heart-wrenching Facebook post, Lane wrote: “I found our two grandsons, Hudson, 18, and Asher, 16, and our daughter Bailey, and our son-in-law Jeremy, dead laying in their beds. What I saw will haunt me the rest of my life.”
Lane continued, explaining that Jeremy had “been fighting mental illness for many, many years. His depression had turned into psychosis. It was not Jeremy that committed this horrific act. It was a sick mind".
Just days prior, Bailey had shared a raw and emotional plea for help on a now-deleted GoFundMe page titled “Jeremy’s Battle: Mental Health Support Needed," Law and Crime reported.
She wrote of the years-long struggle her husband faced with severe depression and her growing desperation as his condition deteriorated. “But my husband tries to kill himself… a lot,” Bailey reportedly revealed.
The late mom explained that her husband had first been diagnosed with severe depression in 2009 and had survived at least four suicide attempts, including a horrific crash involving a semi-truck that left him with multiple life-threatening injuries, such as broken bones, a brain bleed, a punctured lung, and more.
The couple, high school sweethearts who had been together for over 25 years, were raising their two sons while running a landscaping business. But by July 2023, Jeremy was no longer able to work, and Bailey’s teacher salary was all they had.
“In March, just a couple months ago, I woke to Jeremy shaking me awake saying, ‘Something is wrong,’” Bailey wrote. “He was standing over my bed with a knife ready to end his life. I was able to talk him down and into accepting help.”
Despite several hospitalizations, Electroconvulsive Therapy, and even considering ketamine treatment, Jeremy’s condition did not improve. He stopped eating and drinking, and Bailey feared he was “slowly completing suicide.”
In her final update, shared just two days before her death, Bailey wrote that Jeremy was back home but struggling with side effects from new medication.
Despite this, she remained hopeful, explaining that they planned to visit a nearby hospital on Friday to see if he qualified for a different treatment option.
The couple's son, Hudson, had been set to graduate from Cozad High School the same day the bodies of the four family members were discovered. The 18-year-old had planned to move to California for a three-year bonsai apprenticeship.
His brother, Asher, has been described as bright and creative. Meanwhile, their mom was a beloved educator and mental health advocate who frequently contributed to the site Her View From Home.
In a tribute, the site wrote: “Bailey would be the first to tell you her story is not an easy one to hear. But the world needs it… As she liked to say, mental illness does not win. Hope does.”
Cozad Community Schools issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy: “Our thoughts are with all those impacted during this incredibly difficult time.” The graduation ceremony went ahead as planned, with grief counseling provided for students and staff.
Holdrege Public Schools, where Bailey worked, also shared their condolences, describing her as “a passionate educator, a caring colleague, and a bright presence in the school community.”
The Nebraska State Patrol is continuing the investigation with assistance from the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Eustis Fire & Rescue, and the Dawson County Attorney.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.