In a heartbreaking turn of events, police discovered the bodies of three young sisters and their mother in their Wolcottville home. The police are still investigating, while the girls’ father, Jonathan Newell, opened up about the devastating incident.
On September 17, Wolcottville Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence on South Main Street for a welfare check after concerns were raised about the occupants.
After being dispatched at approximately 11:20 a.m., officers made a grim discovery. They found the lifeless bodies of a woman and three young children inside the home.
Authorities immediately contacted the Indiana State Police to take over the investigation. The Noble County Coroner identified the residents as 32-year-old Rebecca Hughes and her three daughters, Evalynn Newell, 8, Allison Newell, 6, and Amelia Newell, 5.
Autopsies were conducted to determine the cause of death, but the results, including toxicology reports, remain pending as of the latest update.
Police have indicated that there is no immediate threat to the public, though the investigation details are still unfolding.
While the community is left shocked and heartbroken, the authorities have not yet disclosed the circumstances leading to the tragic deaths. Meanwhile, the girls’ father, Jonathan Newell, opened up about his feelings regarding the devastating incident.
In an interview, Jonathan recalled the time before he learned about his girls’ tragic deaths. He said, „I had prepared myself to think that she [Rebecca] had ran with the kids. She didn’t show up. She’d done some other stuff that would sort of indicate that she wasn’t going to go along with it. [sic]”
Jonathan Newell talks about his feelings, as seen in a video dated September 20, 2024 | Source: YouTube/ABC21 WPTA
Jonathan revealed he had requested visitation for one hour twice a month to spend more time with his daughters. He diligently attended court dates while juggling a demanding work schedule that included three shifts each day.
On the day of the tragic discovery, Jonathan was exhausted from his grueling work routine. He had just fallen asleep after his third shift when his mother’s frantic call jolted him awake.
Despite her obvious distress, Jonathan tried to reassure her, saying, „Don’t worry, she’s fine, the kids are fine.”
Jonathan Newell reveals what happened that day, as seen in a video dated September 20, 2024 | Source: YouTube/ABC21 WPTA
It wasn’t until he noticed a flurry of concerning posts on Facebook that Jonathan realized something was seriously wrong.
Worried, Jonathan immediately called the police for answers, but they refused to disclose any details over the phone. That’s when he decided to visit Rebecca’s house to find out the truth, unbothered about the consequences.
As he was about to leave, Jonathan opened his front door to find two police officers standing there. It was at that moment he learned the heartbreaking reality of what had happened to his beloved daughters.
Jonathan Newell recalls how he learned about the tragedy, as seen in a video dated September 20, 2024 | Source: YouTube/ABC21 WPTA
When asked about his feelings regarding the incident, Jonathan didn’t hesitate to share the raw moments of his grief.
„Sometimes you’re mad. Sometimes you’re sad. Other times you’re so dissociated you don’t even feel like you’re there,” he confessed during an interview.
Jonathan described the surreal moments when reality seemed to slip away, saying it often felt like the kids were at their mom’s place and he could see them by just driving there down the road.
But then the harsh truth would hit him. His daughters were no longer alive.
Rebecca Hughes’ house as seen in a video dated September 19, 2024 | Source: YouTube/ WSBT-TV
While expressing profound sadness for his children, the heartbroken father grappled with feelings of guilt for his own grief. He thought feeling sad while missing his kids was greedy because it was a „me emotion.”
„What I get most is the guilt,” he added. „I feel like there’s a lot that can be blamed on me.”
He couldn’t help but wonder if things might have been different had he made other choices. Different scenarios played out in his mind, making him think that things would’ve been different if he wasn’t grumpy and tired after returning from work. The endless „what-ifs” now haunted him.