In the quiet community of Bagdad, Kentucky, the life of 40-year-old Jessica Hager, a dedicated nurse and mother of four, was tragically cut short in the early morning hours of October 5, 2024. Responding to a call for an 'unknown emergency' at a residence on Bagdad Road around 3:30 a.m., Shelby County Sheriff's deputies discovered a grim scene. Inside the home, they found two adults deceased, shattering the peace of the small community located about 40 miles east of Louisville.
The
investigation soon revealed the incident to be a murder-suicide. Jessica Hager had been fatally shot by Michael Rahmlow, a 42-year-old resident of Franklin County, who then took his own life. The tragic event stemmed from a dispute earlier in the day involving Rahmlow and Jessica's sister-in-law, whom he had been dating in an on-again, off-again relationship. In the dead of night, Rahmlow returned to the Hager residence, broke in, and committed the violent act.
Jessica's husband, David Hager, was present during the home invasion and managed to escape the house to seek help from a neighbor. He recalled the terrifying moments when his wife woke him, believing someone was breaking in. He instructed her to go to the basement for safety while he went to investigate, but shortly after, he heard the fatal gunshots. David Hager later described Rahmlow as a family friend and a former U.S. Marine who had been struggling with his mental health.
The Shelby County Coroner's Office confirmed the identities of both Jessica Hager and Michael Rahmlow. The investigation into the heartbreaking event is ongoing, leaving a family and community to grapple with the sudden and senseless loss of a woman described by those who knew her as a fantastic person.
