Police in Wolcottville made a heartbreaking discovery on September 17: the bodies of 32-year-old Rebecca Hughes and her daughters Evalynn, 8, Allison, 6, and Amelia, 5. Autopsies and toxicology tests are pending, though police confirmed there is “no immediate threat to the public.”

Their father, Jonathan Newell, shared his devastation. He said he had been seeking more visitation and was asleep after a long shift when his mother called with alarming news. At first, he reassured her, but after seeing troubling social media posts, he contacted police. “Just as I was about to go to Rebecca’s house, they knocked on my door,” he recalled.

Jonathan described feeling disbelief, guilt, and anger, saying it still feels like his daughters are “at their mother’s home.”

The small community is mourning deeply. Neighbors left flowers, stuffed animals, and notes, while a GoFundMe for funeral costs surpassed $45,000 in just 12 hours.

Friends also remembered Rebecca as a loving mother who may have struggled with emotional challenges, urging compassion and understanding.