Police in Wolcottville, Indiana, discovered the remains of Rebecca Hughes, 32, and her three daughters, Evalynn, 8, Allison, 6, and Amelia, 5, on September 17 after conducting a welfare check at their home. The reason of death has not yet been revealed by the investigation, which is still being conducted by the Indiana State Police, because the autopsy results are still pending. Authorities have informed the public that there isn’t an immediate threat.
Jonathan Newell, the father of the daughters, spoke openly about the devastating loss. He described how, upon hearing the news, he was taken aback and initially disregarded his mother’s concerns. “Don’t worry, she’s fine, the kids are fine,” Jonathan reassured her, only to find out later that his daughters had departed. “You get angry sometimes,” he clarified. Sometimes you feel down. Other times, you feel so cut off from yourself that you can’t even identify yourself.
The community has united in support of Jonathan through a GoFundMe campaign, contributing nearly $45,000 to help cover funeral expenses. “This is really the last thing I get to do for them,” Jonathan said, inspired by the support from strangers.
While the community mourns, Jonathan has made the decision to use the tragedy to raise awareness about mental health and to encourage parents to get treatment when necessary. In an attempt to prevent similar tragedies in the future, he stated in an interview, “If you are a parent with children and you need help, then get it.”
