Ham radio couple murdered in Nebraska

Authorities in Nebraska have a 34-year-old homeless man in custody who they suspect was involved in the weekend deaths of a ham radio couple living in rural Lancaster County.

Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the details of the arrest following a rather horrific crime:

Lancaster County Nebraska Sheriff Terry Wagner says that Brandon Christopher Crago has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and vehicle theft. He is also being held in connection deaths of Steven Baily, N0US and his wife Carolyn, N0LAL.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, its deputies were called to the Baily residence around noon on Sunday August 10th at the request of a neighbor. That’s when authorities found the remains of the two murdered radio amateurs.

Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, lives in Lincoln. He knew N0US and N0LAL. He tells Newsline that the local ham radio community is in horrified by what happened to their friends::

Eisenberg: "The first reaction is total and utter shock and disbelief that something like this could happen right here in Lincoln, Nebraska, let alone to two such wonderful people and totally at random. Its just a total shock to us and there is great sadness and heavy hearts amongst all of us here."

According to news reports, the story began to unfold early Sunday morning. At about 7:20 a.m. Central time, Lincoln police were called to a robbery in the Northeast area of the city. That’s where a armed man entered a home and demanded the keys to a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

An hour later, deputies found the Jeep idling at an area Southwest of town. The residents of the property reported their blue and silver 2005 Toyota Camry was missing.

Later on Sunday, detectives were able to connect the Bailys' deaths to the robbery as well as the two vehicle thefts. Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, says that Crago was a wanted man before the alleged Sunday crime spree:

Eisenberg: "He lived here in town as a homeless person and was in and out of drug rehabilitation and was being sought by the Feds on multiple drug charges. In fact, he was just about to be arrested by the Federal authorities on drug distribution charges."

Police also believe Brandon Christopher Crago may have been involved in an additional crime on Sunday morning. A man matching his description broke into a home between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m.. The suspect assaulted a 46-year-old man who was sleeping on a couch and stole about $80 cash.

According to a police report, Crago attempted suicide at a motel where he was staying before being taken into custody. He allegedly stabbed himself in the chest in an attempt to pierce his own heart, but the injuries were not life-threatening.

Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF
Amateur Radio Newsline

About the victims
And what about the victims of this seemingly senseless crime? According to Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, both Steve Baily, N0US and Carolyn Baily, N0LAL, were in their early 60's and were well liked. They were also heavily involved in the local ham radio community:

Eisenberg: "They were very nice people. They would go out of their way to help out. He was an active storm spotter and they were active members of the Ashland Amateur Radio Club and helping to put on the annual hamfest, and they were always very supportive of their club and of amateur radio."

K0NEB says that he and Steve Baily, N0US, had something in common. Like Eisenberg, Baily was a computer service technician by trade. Both traveled the region and quite often chatted on the air:

Eisenberg: "Almost every day we would talk with him and his wife over the Ashland Radio Club repeater or the Lincoln repeater. Sometimes we wound even talk on .52 simplex because I would run across his car as we were driving along down the Interstate and I would wave hi."

As to Carolyn Baily, N0LAL, her other interest was dogs.
A longtime 4 H leader, she served a number of terms as an officer with the Cornhusker Kennel Club. Her favorite breed were Boxers and she had two as pets.

The Baily's are survived by their grown daughters Jennifer Baily of New York and Heather Burns in Washington along with her husband Greg, and their two children.

Source: ARNewsline, K0NEB, published news reports