[TWIAR] Ham radio couple killed in Nebraska

[Greg Williams]

Slaying victims took time for others
BY PAUL HAMMEL
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10403953

LINCOLN — For a former Lincoln couple, their acreage northwest of town 
was a heavenly place to live.

On a huge prairie-grass lot at a gravel intersection, Carolyn Baily 
built a one-acre fenced dog run for her energetic boxers. Steven Baily, 
a whiz with computers and electronics, erected a tall metal transmission 
tower for his ham radio calls.

The Bailys' bodies were found shortly after noon Sunday in their rural 
home. Brandon C. Crago, a 34-year-old transient with a history of 
methamphetamine dealing, was in custody on suspicion of murder.

Friends and co-workers expressed shock and sadness that the Bailys' 
rural paradise was the site of an apparently random crime.

"These are good people. What did they do? Why did they deserve something 
like this?" asked Matt Anderson, a member of the Ashland Amateur Radio Club.

"I know there's evil in the world. But I'm having a hard time 
understanding what happened here."

Investigators believe that the killer acted alone, selecting the Bailys 
by chance.

"We're trying to apply our thought process to this whole mess, and that 
just doesn't work," said Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner.

Those who knew the Bailys described a couple who were passionate about 
their hobbies, enjoyed rural living and would drop everything to help 
others.

Steven Baily, 60, who commuted to an Omaha job as a computer-printer 
technician at Datatronics Inc. near 130th and R Streets, volunteered to 
maintain the "repeater" transmitter for the Ashland Amateur Radio Club 
near Mead.

He and his wife helped found the club, acting as storm spotters and 
assisting with club events.

"They enjoyed the country life," said Anderson, the fellow club member. 
"When Carolyn was driving home, you'd hear her call Steve and talk about 
the events of the day — what's for supper, did you get the mail?"

Arnie Putler, owner of Datatronics, said Steve had worked there since 
1987 and was one of the firm's six senior technicians.

"Technically, he was very, very savvy," Putler said. "He could pick up 
on just about any aspect of electronics, computers or printers."

The couple had two grown daughters, Jennifer and Heather, who live in 
New York and Washington states, respectively.

Carolyn Baily, 61, who battled diabetes most of her life, was the more 
avid dog lover, training and breeding boxers for shows, leading 4-H 
clubs and teaching others how to train dogs.

She was a judge of dog showmanship contests and had judged at the 
Lancaster County Fair on Friday. She had trained one of her boxers, 
Buddy, as a Delta Society dog to provide therapy for people in nursing 
homes and hospitals.

"She loved people and she loved dogs. She would drop everything she was 
doing if someone needed a Delta dog," said a close friend, Linda Graham, 
who traveled with Baily to dog shows in nearby states.

"Dogs in Lincoln and Lancaster County lost a good friend when we lost 
Carolyn," said Jill Morstad, a member of the Cornhusker Kennel Club, of 
which Baily was a board member and former president. "She was a constant 
presence for the club."

Graham picked up Carolyn's two prized boxers, Buddy and Annie, on Monday 
at the humane society.

Graham said Steve and Carolyn Baily met at Fort Bragg, N.C., and had 
been married about 40 years. Steve Baily was from Omaha, and the 
couple's daughters had attended Lincoln Northeast High School, she said.

Graham, who lives only a couple of miles from the Baily home, said 
everyone locked their doors Sunday night after hearing of the slayings.

She posted a photo of the couple on the radio club's Web site and said 
there hadn't been time yet to plan a more fitting memorial.

Said Graham, "I don't think anyone's gotten beyond the shock yet."

World-Herald staff writers Jon Nyatawa and Lynn Safranek contributed to 
this report.


• Contact the writer: 402-473-9584, paul.hammel at owh.com

-- 

Gregory S. Williams
gregwilliams(at)knology.net
k4hsm(at)knology.net

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