Suspect in Millsboro homicide kills grandmother to get high; Community reacts

MILLSBORO, Del. –  Many people living inside the Rehoboth Shores Community were left in disbelief, after learning about the murder of a 69-year-old woman who was found dead inside her home early Saturday morning.

“I couldn’t believe it to be honest,” said Richard Melvin, a resident of Rehoboth Shores.

When friends of 69-year-old Lorraine Bradley hadn’t heard from her in almost a week, they began to worry. Officials say they went to check on Bradley, but found her dead inside a bedroom. Police say she had been strangled to death. Many people in the area we spoke to told us they were shocked to hear the news, but others weren’t as surprised.

“It doesn’t shock me it happens every day, some that we don’t even know about. That’s the world we live in,” said another resident, Brian Pink.

Police say further investigation revealed that Bradley’s grandson, 30-year-old George Bailey, was a main suspect. According to court documents, Bailey was questioned by police and admitted that he had strangled his grandmother after she fell while walking towards the front door. He told police he squeezed her neck until she was no longer breathing. Then told her “I’m sorry, you’re going to a better place.” After choking Bradley police say Bailey drug her to the bedroom he had been staying in and laid her on the bed face down with her head at the foot of the bed. Bailey then told police he removed her cell phone from her purse and took her keys. He put covers over top of her and left the home with her car. When asked why he choked his grandmother, Bailey said when he saw her fall to the ground, he saw an opportunity to get high, and be by himself.

“It was just one of those things that it was out of nowhere and I just couldn’t believe it because it’s a great community,” said Melvin.

Residents in the area add that situations like this never happen, and despite everything, it’s still a community they love.

“It’s a very nice quiet community, good neighbors, good people. It shouldn’t have happened, but it shouldn’t reflect on the community because one situation that happened, it shouldn’t be held against them,” said Melvin.

Bailey is facing multiple charges including murder in the first degree. He’s since been committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $1,002,000 bond.