A father is suspected of having taken the lives of his entire family in what appears to be a murder-suicide on the day of his son’s high school graduation.
In Nebraska, a father is thought to have ended his own life, along with those of his wife and children, coinciding with his son’s high school graduation day. (Source: KSNB)
DAWSON COUNTY, Neb. (KSNB/Gray News) – Authorities in Nebraska suspect that a father has committed suicide after allegedly killing his wife and children on the same day as his son’s high school graduation.
On May 10, the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence at approximately 9:45 a.m., where they discovered four deceased individuals within the home.
As reported by the Nebraska State Patrol, it is believed that Jeremy Koch, aged 42, fatally shot his sons, Hudson, 18, and Asher, 16, as well as his wife, Bailey, 41, before taking his own life.
According to the Nebraska State Patrol, it is believed that Jeremy Koch, aged 42, took the lives of his two sons, Hudson, who was 18, and Asher, who was 16, along with his wife, Bailey, aged 41, before ending his own life. (Source: Bailey Koch/Facebook)
All four individuals were discovered with fatal knife injuries.
A knife was located at the scene of the incident.
During the 2025 Cozad Graduation Ceremony, Superintendent Dan Endorf addressed the tragedy and its impact on the graduating class.
“As you are aware, our community and our senior class have faced a tragedy in the last few hours,” Endorf remarked. “The bittersweet feelings experienced by the senior class on their graduation day, and indeed throughout this entire gymnasium, cannot be hidden at this moment and reflect the adult lives our graduates are about to embark upon. While our Haymaker pride is being challenged at this time, let us all strive to celebrate the 13-year journey that our graduates are concluding today within the next hour.”
In a public post on Facebook, Bailey’s parents, Lane and Peg Kugler, voiced their frustration regarding the mental health care system in the United States, noting that Koch had long battled mental health issues.
The family indicated that Koch’s mental health struggles had been present since at least 2009 and included several suicide attempts. In 2015, they began to publicly share their experiences to help reduce stigma and advocate for others. Bailey, an author and early contributor to the parenting website Her View From Home, created her own Facebook page to raise awareness about mental illness and provide hope to those in similar circumstances.
Bailey noted that her husband’s condition deteriorated significantly in 2024. On May 3, she reported that Koch had survived at least four suicide attempts.
Bailey recounted that the situation escalated in March when she awoke to find Koch standing over her with a knife, stating, “Something is wrong.” She mentioned that she managed to de-escalate the situation and persuade him to seek assistance.
After discontinuing electroconvulsive therapy treatments earlier this year, Bailey said that the situation had become increasingly concerning.
“Mental health issues are robbing me of my husband, and I implore you to recognize the truth of the mental health crisis that our society is facing,” she stated.
The NSP is the primary agency overseeing the homicide investigation. The Dawson County Attorney has mandated autopsies for all four individuals involved.
The investigation is still in progress.
