8-Year-Old, 6-Year-Old, and 5-Year-Old Found Dead Inside Their Home by Mom in Suspected Murder-Suicide

Lifestyle
Paul Johns
February 12, 2025
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8 minutes read

(Image: GoFundMe)

Three young sisters in Indiana were gassed to death by their mother in what authorities have ruled a murder-suicide, sending shockwaves through the small community of Wolcottville. The Noble County Coroner confirmed that 32-year-old Rebecca Hughes took her own life, while her daughters—8-year-old Evalynn Newell, 6-year-old Allison Newell, and 5-year-old Amelia Newell—were victims of homicide, all succumbing to gas asphyxiation.

Authorities discovered the devastating scene on September 17 during a welfare check at their home, marking one of the most heartbreaking cases the town has witnessed. In an emotional interview with WPTA, the girls’ father, Jonathan Newell, struggled to comprehend the horrific act.

“What struck me the most was the question of ‘why?’ You find yourself asking, why did this happen? Was it because of the visitations? Did my desire to see my kids lead to their deaths?” he said. Newell, who had limited contact with his daughters and was only permitted supervised visits twice a month for one hour, expressed anguish over the situation.

“That’s simply not an acceptable reason,” he declared, vowing to advocate for mental health awareness and improved support services to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The tragedy has deeply affected not only the family but also law enforcement officers involved in the investigation.

The death of the 3 sisters were ruled a homicide (Image: GoFundMe)

Sergeant Wes Rowlader of the Indiana State Police spoke to Express US about the mental toll such cases take on officers. “Think about the law enforcement officers, detectives, crime scene personnel, and police officers who do go into these types of crimes and these types of scenes; not only are they going into a small community, but a lot of times it’s their own small community,” Rowland explained.

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He emphasized the emotional weight officers carry when investigating such heartbreaking incidents. “So not only does it affect the citizens of that town and that small community, personally it does affect the officers that are responding as well. They’ve got a job to do, and they do a great job at overcoming those mental and psychological battles to do their job… we hurt with you.”

The case has reignited conversations about mental health resources, custody disputes, and the need for stronger support systems for struggling parents. As the grieving family and community seek answers, the tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences of untreated mental health struggles.