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.
This Kid’s Halloween Surprise for an Elderly Neighbor Will Leave You in Tears
Kevin had already made his Halloween costume with his mom, helped his dad put up decorations around their house, and dreamed about all the candy he would collect. But there was one house on his street that didn’t have any decorations, and it kept bothering him. He couldn’t understand why someone would skip celebrating, so he figured maybe they needed a little help.
Halloween was just around the corner, and the whole neighborhood was filled with excitement. Every yard seemed to be competing to be the scariest one on the block.
Pumpkins with sharp, grinning faces lined the sidewalks, plastic skeletons swung from trees, and fake spider webs covered front porches.
The air smelled like dry leaves and candy, and eleven-year-old Kevin soaked it all in, his heart racing with excitement.
Halloween was Kevin’s favorite day of the year—a day when you could be whoever you wanted. He loved how everything seemed to change for one magical night.
As he walked down the sidewalk, his eyes moved from one house to another, each one decorated with glowing jack-o’-lanterns or spooky ghosts. Kevin couldn’t help but smile.
Some houses even played creepy sound effects like witches cackling or doors creaking.
But as he went farther down the street, something didn’t look right.
One house stood dark and empty, totally different from the others. No pumpkins, cobwebs, or skeletons. Not even a tiny decoration. Kevin frowned when he realized whose house it was—Mrs. Kimbly’s.
He stopped, staring at her bare front porch. Mrs. Kimbly was an older lady who lived alone and kept to herself. Kevin had helped her before, mowing her lawn in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter. She never said much, just paid him and went back inside.
But today, her undecorated house didn’t fit in with the rest of the cheerful neighborhood.
Why hadn’t Mrs. Kimbly decorated for Halloween? Kevin couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Halloween was about having fun, and it didn’t seem fair for anyone to miss out, especially someone who lived alone like Mrs. Kimbly.
Kevin’s heart felt heavy. Maybe she just needed help. Maybe she couldn’t decorate by herself.
Determined, Kevin ran across the street to her house. The leaves crunched under his feet as he climbed her porch steps.
He paused for a moment, then knocked. The sound echoed, and Kevin felt nervous. Finally, the door creaked open.
Mrs. Kimbly stood there, frowning, her eyes squinting behind her glasses.
“What do you want, Kevin?” she asked in a low, sharp voice.
Kevin swallowed. “Hi, Mrs. Kimbly. I noticed your house isn’t decorated for Halloween, and I thought maybe you forgot. I could help you put some decorations up if you’d like.”
Mrs. Kimbly squinted even more. “I didn’t forget,” she snapped. “I don’t need decorations, and I don’t need help. Now, go away.” She started to close the door.
“I could do it for free!” Kevin quickly added. “You wouldn’t even have to do anything.”
Mrs. Kimbly scowled. “No!” she shouted and slammed the door.
Kevin couldn’t believe it. How could someone hate Halloween so much?
If her house stayed undecorated, other kids might prank her with toilet paper or worse. Kevin sighed and started walking away, but a plan formed in his mind.
At home, Kevin found his mom in the kitchen, cooking. The smell of soup filled the air, but Kevin could only think about Mrs. Kimbly’s undecorated house.
“Mom, something weird happened,” Kevin said, sitting at the table. His mom turned, wiping her hands on a towel.
“What is it?” she asked.
Kevin told her about Mrs. Kimbly’s house and how she had slammed the door when he offered to help.
But when he said Mrs. Kimbly’s name, his mom’s face softened.
“Maybe it’s best to leave her alone,” his mom said gently. “She might be going through something we don’t understand.”
Kevin frowned. “But, Mom, she’s not mad, she’s just sad. Halloween should be fun. She shouldn’t feel left out.”
His mom smiled but looked concerned. “You have a kind heart, Kevin. Just be careful. Sometimes people aren’t ready for help.”
Those words stuck with Kevin, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Mrs. Kimbly.
With determination, he gathered all the Halloween decorations he could find—lights, spiders, toys, and even his favorite pumpkin—and loaded them into a wagon.
He hurried back to Mrs. Kimbly’s house and began decorating. As he worked, the house slowly transformed, but just as he finished, the door creaked open.
Mrs. Kimbly stormed out, looking furious.
“I told you not to decorate my house!” she shouted.
Kevin froze, his heart racing. “I just wanted to help,” he whispered. “It’s Halloween…”
Before he could finish, Mrs. Kimbly grabbed the pumpkin he had carved and smashed it on the ground.
Kevin watched in shock as his pumpkin shattered into pieces. His heart sank.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, then turned and ran home.
That evening, Kevin put on his vampire costume, but he couldn’t enjoy Halloween.
As he trick-or-treated with friends, his mind kept drifting back to Mrs. Kimbly’s dark house.
He worried the other kids might prank her, so Kevin decided to go back.
When he got to her house, he sat on her porch, handing out his own candy to the kids who came by.
“Mrs. Kimbly’s not home,” he told them, trying to keep her house safe.
After a while, as Kevin sat alone, the door behind him opened. Mrs. Kimbly stepped out, her face no longer angry.
“What are you doing here, Kevin?” she asked quietly.
“I didn’t want anyone to mess with your house,” Kevin said. “I just wanted to help.”
Mrs. Kimbly sighed and sat beside him. She was quiet for a moment, watching the kids on the street.
“I’m sorry for earlier,” she finally said. “I wasn’t mad at you. Halloween just reminds me of how alone I am.”
Kevin felt sad. “You don’t have to be alone,” he said. “You can still join in.”
Mrs. Kimbly smiled softly, her eyes teary. “Thank you for what you did today. And I’m sorry about your pumpkin.”
Kevin smiled. “It’s okay. I’ll bring another one, and we can carve it together.”
For the first time in years, Mrs. Kimbly felt the warmth of Halloween again, thanks to one kind boy.
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