In a heartbreaking event that has shaken the small community of Wolcottville, Indiana, a mother and her three young daughters were discovered deceased in their residence. The incident, which transpired in the late summer of 2024, has been officially classified as a murder-suicide by local authorities.
On September 17, 2024, local law enforcement officers were dispatched to a home on South Main Street, roughly 40 miles north of Fort Wayne, for a welfare check. Upon arrival, they found the lifeless bodies of 32-year-old Rebecca Hughes and her three daughters, Evelyn Newell, 8, Allison Newell, 6, and Amelia Newell, 5.
The Noble County Coroner’s office, in a report shared with local media outlets, confirmed that Hughes had ended her own life and those of her children. The cause of death for all four was determined to be inert gas asphyxiation. Additional information regarding the circumstances leading up to the deaths has yet to be disclosed.
Jonathan Newell, the father of the deceased children, had harbored suspicions that his daughters had fallen victim to a violent act. In a heartfelt interview with local reporters, Newell shared his sorrow and bewilderment over the devastating incident. He pondered whether his restricted visitation rights may have played a role in the tragic outcome.
Newell, who was working a night shift on the day of the incident, remembered receiving a distressing call from his mother about his daughters’ absence. As the day progressed, he saw unsettling comments on social media and grew increasingly worried when police refrained from sharing information over the phone.
Upon deciding to visit his children’s home, Newell was greeted by two detectives. In the wake of the tragedy, Newell initiated a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs, raising approximately $47,000 in less than a week. He later asked people to cease donations, stating that his daughters deserved more than he could provide for their funerals.
In his sorrow, Newell expressed the hope that the tragic loss of his children could spur increased awareness and treatment of mental health issues. He underscored the need for improved access to mental health resources for mothers and children.