The small town of Wolcottville, Indiana, is still in shock after a terrible tragedy earlier this September.
Rebecca Hughes, who was 32 years old, was found dead along with her three children: 8-year-old Evelyn, 6-year-old Allison, and 5-year-old Amelia.
On September 17, police went to check on Hughes at her home and found her body along with her children’s.
The Indiana State Police sent detectives and crime scene investigators to the home. Police stated that the information and evidence they have shows there is no threat to the public.
While the investigation is still going on, authorities have not yet figured out what caused the tragedy, according to WSBT22. The Noble County Coroner’s Office has not released the cause of death or a toxicology report.
This heartbreaking news has deeply affected the close-knit community of Wolcottville, which has about 1,000 residents. As people learned the names of the family, many gathered to mourn and pay their respects. Main Street was filled with candles and stuffed animals, creating a touching tribute to the lost family.
Local pastor Mike Stanley told WSBT22, “Everybody’s grieving in their own way. If we come together and share that love… there are people here that I don’t know from the community, and I’ve lived here for twenty-some-odd years. But if we share the hurt, we share the burden; it all gets a little lighter for all of us.”
The children’s father, Jonathan Newell, set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs. He also shared a moving statement. “These kids deserve so much more than I can provide for their burials. Rebecca, their mom, took them with her when she passed on 09/17/2024. If you can, everything helps. If you need to be paid back after, I can make payments. I’ll do whatever it takes,” Jonathan wrote.
The community came together to support Jonathan and the children. By the end of the fundraising campaign, he had received an amazing $47,000 in donations. “People who didn’t even know me or my kids started just giving money and sending messages,” Jonathan told ABC57.
On Sunday, September 22, funeral services were held at Hite Funeral Home for the girls, followed by a burial at Swan Cemetery. In another update on September 24, Jonathan wrote, “The funeral was beautiful, and my daughters were laid to rest in peace. Please stop donating now; I appreciate everything, but others need this now. Tomorrow I will start personal thank yous again.”
At this point, no one knows for sure what happened to the girls, as nothing has been made public. However, interviews with Jonathan, the father, and Rebecca’s friends show that Rebecca struggled with mental health issues.
Friend Ashley Gross posted on Facebook, describing Rebecca as “quiet and shy” around strangers but “so funny and bubbly” with friends. She added, “Rebecca did love her kids, and unfortunately, I don’t think anyone was there for her as she was going through something, mentally and emotionally.”
In the wake of the tragedy, Jonathan has shared an important message. He expressed regret for not being more present and hopes others can avoid feeling the same way. “If you are a parent, and you have kids, and you need help, then get it. Because you don’t know when it’s going to be the last time you can,” he pleaded.
NFL reporter confirms passing of 2-year-old daughter after cancer diagnosis
Reporter for the NFL Doug Kyed disclosed that his daughter, who was two years old, died nine months after receiving a devastating diagnosis of leukemia.
Little Hallie Kyed reportedly suffered the devastating blow in April 2023. Doug, her father and a Boston Herald employee, announced on Instagram that his daughter had lost her battle in January 2021.
After Hallie underwent a bone marrow transplant and relapsed, Kyed disclosed that things had become worse.
Doug writes, “On Sunday morning, while Jen and I were holding her hands in bed, Hallie passed away peacefully in her sleep.””Without Hallie, we’re sad and totally lost. Never again will our lives be the same.
Doug stated in a letter after Hallie’s relapse that the family was making an effort to maintain optimism in spite of the clear challenges facing his daughter.The reporter stated at the time, “I’m choosing to stay positive.”
“Hallie has overcome every challenge that AML has set in her path thus far. This will undoubtedly be her hardest test yet, but our spirited little Hallie Bear is more than capable of taking it on.
Nevertheless, Doug acknowledged that “we held out hope for remission because of how brave, strong, and resilient Hallie had been through her entire nine-month battle with acute myeloid leukemia and all of its complications,” adding that “the whole family spent special time at the hospital last week.” Doug added, “Knowing the prognosis was poor when she relapsed after her bone marrow transplant.”
Acute myeloid leukemia, according to the American Cancer Society, begins in the bone marrow and swiftly spreads to the blood. After that, it may spread to the central nervous system, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.
Doug told the Boston Herald that since his daughter’s diagnosis last year, he had spent over half of his nights at Boston’s Children Hospital.
He clarified, “My wife and I have alternated between taking care of Hallie and our 5-year-old, Olivia, at home.
Jen, Doug’s wife, on the other hand, said that losing her daughter left a void in her heart.
Jen Kyed said, “There is an enormous hole in my heart, and the pain is unbearable.” “I’ll never be able to comprehend how or why something so terrible could occur.”
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