A devastating loss has rocked the small town of Cozad, Nebraska. On what should have been a joyful graduation day, a family of four was found dead in their home on May 10 in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide linked to long-term mental health struggles.

Jeremy Koch, 42, is suspected of fatally stabbing his wife, Bailey (41), and their two sons—Hudson (18) and Asher (16)—before taking his own life. Police discovered their bodies that morning, just hours before Hudson was to graduate from Cozad High School.

The tragedy cast a deep shadow over the ceremony. Superintendent Dan Endorf addressed the crowd with emotion, encouraging the community to lean on one another during the heartbreaking time.

Bailey’s parents later shared that Jeremy had battled severe mental illness since 2009, with multiple suicide attempts. Bailey, an advocate for mental health awareness, had been open about their family’s struggles, often writing to educate others and plead for greater understanding and support.

Just weeks before the incident, Bailey described a terrifying moment when she woke to find Jeremy standing over her with a knife. Despite this, she continued to fight for his care, even as he declined after stopping treatment earlier this year.

“Mental illness is robbing me of my husband,” she wrote in a final plea for help.

Autopsies are underway, and the investigation continues. But the pain left behind is unmistakable—and so is the message: mental illness is real, and families need help before it’s too late.