Accused Tamaqua killer discarded knife
Robert D. Bailey, 52, of Tamaqua, is escorted to his preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges related to the Nov. 26 murder of his wife, Diane Bailey. He was accompanied to court by Tamaqua Cpl. Henry Woods, the investigating officer, and (rear) Patrolman Karl Harig. KATHY KUNKEL/TIMES NEWS
There was one bit of a surprise discovered during Tuesday’s preliminary hearing for accused murderer Robert D. Bailey, 52, of 325 Lafayette St., Tamaqua. The kitchen knife found on Bailey at the time of his arrest on Nov. 26 wasn’t the knife he allegedly used to kill his wife, Diane Bailey. Instead, Robert had tossed the pink-handled folding knife, with a chipped tip, as he fled out the rear door of his residence. Investigators found the small knife early the next morning, after Bailey confessed to the crime and provided information on where the knife could be found.
The hearing was held in front of District Magisterial Judge Stephen Bayer, who bound over all the charges after listening to testimony from an eyewitness, the Bailey’s biological daughter, Kaleigh Hiles, and Tamaqua Police Cpl. Henry Woods.
Bailey will now face trial in the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas on charges of first and third degree murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and possession of instruments of crime.
