Indiana
Murder investigation puts eyes on small Indiana town after bones found in search for kids
Sexual abuse: How you can help protect a child from harm
Indiana has double the rate of child abuse than the national average, a federal agency reported. Here’s how to protect children from sexual abuse and other harm.
Dwight Adams, dwight.adams@indystar.com
Outside of a house in Wheatfield, Indiana, officers from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office discovered several partial bone fragments on Sept. 30, after being alerted that two children may have been killed on the property.
On Sept. 20, officers received a tip that a parent had allegedly confessed to an acquaintance that they had killed two of their children and burned their bodies in a backyard fire pit, the sheriff’s office announced in a social media post one day after the bones were found.
After receiving this tip, detectives launched an investigation and located the children’s parent at a hotel in Newton County later that day.
Detectives interviewed the parent, who denied any involvement. Before detectives left, they seized the parent’s cellphone as evidence, which gave detectives evidence in the case. They have not said what that evidence includes.
With this new evidence, detectives confronted the parent, but the parent continued to deny any involvement or knowledge about the case. The sheriff’s office has not said which parent they were interviewing.
The Indiana Department of Child Services was called to take custody of a third child who was in the care of the parent.
The children were born at home and never received birth certificates or attending school, law enforcement said.
On Sept. 30, the Jasper County Sheriff’s detectives, alongside personnel from the Jasper County Coroner’s Office, Indiana State Police, Wheatfield Police Department, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security searched the property with the assistance of two cadaver dogs.
The dogs alerted officers to three separate locations where the partial bone fragments were found.
On Oct. 1, officials transported the bone fragments to a specialist in Indianapolis to determine if they were from an infant or an animal.
Wheatfield is a town of fewer than 1,000 people located in northern Indiana, roughly 130 miles northwest of Indianapolis.
If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, officials recommend contacting the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 219-866-7334 and ask to speak with one of their detectives.
Indiana
Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport
(WXIN/WTTV) — An EMT working for an Indiana ambulance service has been arrested after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old while transporting them to the hospital.
Ronald D. Elliott Jr., 37, was officially charged Wednesday with a slew of child sex crimes. Online jail records show Elliott, who lives in Dunreith, was arrested Thursday and booked into Delaware County Jail without bond.
The arrest stems from accusations made by a 14-year-old who told police that Elliott sexually assaulted her in the back of an ambulance during a February transport from Muncie to Monroe County.
The alleged victim came forward on March 16 and told Indiana State Police investigators that an EMT had forced her into sexual contact while taking her to a medical facility in Bloomington.
The juvenile said that Elliott, who is listed as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service, began showing her pictures and videos on his cell phone during the transport. The files reportedly included photos of Elliott’s genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activities.
Elliott is then alleged to have groped the teenager under her clothes and exposed himself to her. The girl said this led to Elliott sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while en route to Bloomington.
The 14-year-old said that, after the assault, Elliott provided her with his “Mr. Fogger” nicotine vape as well as his phone. The girl told officers she signed into her Instagram account on Elliott’s phone, and court documents state she failed to log off after leaving the ambulance.
It was through the girl’s Instagram account that Elliott allegedly found a second juvenile victim. Identified as Victim 2 in court documents, Elliott reportedly began messaging the 13-year-old girl on Instagram. Throughout his conversations, the 37-year-old EMT is alleged to have:
- Called the juvenile a “young sl-t”
- Lied about his age, claiming he was 18 years old
- Sent a picture of himself only wearing a towel
- Made “sexually suggestive” comments about “good naughty girls”
- Told the 13-year-old girl she “looks cute”
During an interview with Elliott conducted on March 25, the EMT reportedly admitted to letting the 14-year-old use his phone and nicotine vape. However, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and said that any nude images she may have seen on his phone were an accident.
After uncovering “corroborating evidence” from both Elliott’s cell phone and the victim’s Instagram account, police requested that a warrant be filed for his arrest. Online court records show that the warrant was granted on Thursday.
Indiana State Police said that Elliott was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop. Delaware County Jail records show Elliott was booked around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He now faces the following several Level 4 felony charges including child seduction, child solicitation, and sexual conduct with a minor.
No other information was included in the probable cause affidavit filed against Elliott.
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever continued their 2026 WNBA regular season with a 100-84 loss against the Portland Fire on Saturday, May 30.
Clark, a former Iowa women’s basketball star, and the Fever are 4-4 after the first eight games of the regular season.
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Here’s a look at how Clark fared in Saturday’s game in Portland:
Caitlin Clark stats today in Indiana Fever vs Portland Fire
Former Iowa Hawkeyes star Megan Gustafson scored a game-high 22 points for Portland in the Saturday victory.
Former Iowa State Cyclones star Bridget Carleton scored 14 points for the Fire.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever upcoming games
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Caitlin Clark’s stats in Indiana Fever vs Portland Fire today
MOORESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — A Mooresville police officer was involved in a “serious crash,” Saturday afternoon, officials say.
According to a Facebook post made by the Mooresville Fire Department, officers are advising the public to avoid the area of the 200 block of East Main Street due to a “serious crash” involving a Mooresville Metropolitan Police officer.
East Main Street is currently closed between Maple Lane and Franklin Street.
Police say the roads will remain closed while a crash investigation is being conducted.
Police did not provide details on the officer’s condition.
This is a developing story.
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