An ordinary welfare check led to a grim discovery in Wolcottville, Indiana, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Officers responding to the call found four bodies in a residence, triggering an investigation by the Indiana State Police (ISP).

The welfare check was initiated around 11:20 a.m. at a South Main Street home, in close proximity to the Wolcottville United Methodist Church. The Wolcottville Police Department officers on the scene discovered an adult woman and three children dead inside the house.

The victims have been identified by the Noble County Coroner as Rebecca Hughes, 32, and her three daughters, Evelyn Newell, 8, Allison Newell, 6, and Amelia Newell, 5. Autopsies and toxicology tests are pending and the cause and manner of their deaths are yet to be disclosed.

After the bodies were discovered, the Wolcottville Police Department reached out to the Indiana State Police, who sent detectives and crime scene investigators to the scene. The ISP is now leading the ongoing inquiry, with support from the Noble County Sheriff’s Office, the Noble County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Noble County Coroner’s Office.

Although authorities have advised that there is no immediate threat to the public, they have not revealed additional details regarding the circumstances of the deaths.

The incident has left a significant impact on the small community of Wolcottville, with slightly over 1,000 residents. The loss of the young family has left neighbors in shock and grief. A memorial outside the Hughes’ home has steadily grown since last Tuesday as the community comes together to grieve.

Jonathan Newell, the father of the three girls, has started a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs. The fundraising effort has received substantial backing, raising $47,000 in a short time span. On the GoFundMe page, Newell hinted that Rebecca “took them with her when she passed,” but officials have yet to confirm any specifics related to the nature of the deaths.

Neighbors recall seeing the three girls playing outside and are struggling to come to terms with their sudden absence.

“I wish it could have been me instead of those girls because I’ve lived my life, and they didn’t even have a chance,” said Pam Laughlin, who knew the girls through Vacation Bible School.

Flowers and stuffed animals have accumulated on the doorstep of the home where the bodies were found on Tuesday.

The tragic incident has reverberated beyond Wolcottville, drawing statewide attention. Local officials are encouraging anyone with potentially relevant information to the investigation to contact the Indiana State Police.