FAMILY OF 4 FOUND DEAD IN APPARENT MURDER-SUICIDE ON SON’S GRADUATION DAY

The Nebraska State Patrol announced that a man is believed to have killed his wife and two children before taking his own life.

By FamilyToday Contributors

What was meant to be a day of celebration turned into a tragedy for a Nebraska family when four members were found dead on May 10, 2025. Authorities believe the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide. The discovery came just hours before Hudson Koch, 18, was scheduled to graduate from high school.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), 42-year-old Jeremy Koch is suspected of killing his wife, Bailey Koch, 41, and their two sons, Hudson and Asher, 16, before taking his own life. All four were found with fatal knife wounds inside their home at Johnson Lake, Plum Creek Canyon. A knife was discovered at the scene. The incident remains under investigation, and autopsies have been ordered for all four family members.

Just days before the tragic incident, Bailey had created a GoFundMe page titled “Jeremy’s Battle: Mental Health Support Needed,” where she opened up about her husband’s struggles with treatment-resistant depression. She wrote that Jeremy had been battling depression since his diagnosis in 2009 and had made multiple suicide attempts. In one harrowing instance from March 2025, Bailey recounted waking up to find Jeremy standing over her with a knife. She managed to talk him down, and he agreed to seek treatment.

“May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so here we are… making you aware,” Bailey wrote on the fundraiser page. She described her husband’s mental health as a “roller coaster of ups, downs, highs, lows, hope, and no hope,” highlighting how his depression had worsened in July 2024 when he struggled to get out of bed, affecting both their business and finances.

Bailey’s final updates on Facebook reflected a sense of cautious optimism. On May 7, she shared a photo of herself and Jeremy, writing, “Thank you for praying and for your unwavering support as I take Hottie Hubby HOME in time for our son’s high school graduation! We still need lots of prayers as we try and carry on with life and find our new ‘normal.'”

However, just one day later, she revealed that Jeremy was “reacting negatively” to new medication and was again struggling. “This is mental illness…a roller coaster of ups, downs, highs, lows, hope, and no hope,” she wrote. Bailey also shared that she was trying to keep Jeremy out of a mental health hospital so he could attend their son’s graduation.

In one of her last posts, Bailey expressed hope for a new treatment option, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, which she hoped would bring some relief. “Please pray for insurance approval and that we can get started ASAP. Thank you!” she wrote.

The tragic deaths of the Koch family have deeply affected the communities of Holdrege and Cozad. Bailey was a beloved special education teacher at Holdrege Public Schools, while Hudson and Asher attended Cozad Community Schools. Both schools opened their doors to offer support and counseling.

“Our Holdrege school community is grieving after a tragic event that has deeply affected us all. Our hearts are with everyone impacted,” read a statement from Holdrege Public Schools. Cozad Community Schools shared a message of solidarity, noting that support staff would be on hand for grieving students and staff.

During the Cozad High School graduation ceremony, Superintendent Dr. Dan Endorf acknowledged the heartbreak, saying, “The bittersweet emotions felt by the senior class on their graduation day, and by this entire gymnasium for that matter, cannot be concealed in this moment.” He encouraged students to “hug your loved ones,” emphasizing the importance of community support during such a painful time.

The heartbreaking event underscores the importance of addressing mental health challenges openly. Bailey’s poignant words from the fundraiser ring with urgency: “Mental illness is taking my husband from me, and I’m begging you to open your eyes and see the reality that is this society’s mental health crisis.”

As the community mourns, the Koch family’s story serves as a tragic reminder of the toll untreated mental illness can take and the need for compassion and support for those who are struggling.