On a tragic Saturday evening, the life of 44-year-old Monica Lee Newlin was cut short. On January 10, 2015, Monica found herself in a harrowing situation inside her Russiaville home, a small community about 45 miles north of Indianapolis. In a moment of fear, she reached out for help, dialing 911 to report that her husband, Anthony L. Newlin, had locked himself in a bedroom. She conveyed to the dispatcher that he was armed with a gun and was in a state of despair following the recent death of his mother.
The situation escalated rapidly. While on the phone with the dispatcher, a commotion could be heard in the background. The line of communication with Monica was abruptly lost, seemingly after her 46-year-old husband emerged from the bedroom. When Howard County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered a grim reality. Anthony Newlin was found deceased inside the residence from a gunshot wound. Monica was critically injured, also suffering from a gunshot wound. She was rushed to the emergency room at Community Howard Regional Health, but tragically, she succumbed to her injuries later that evening.
The investigation into the couple's deaths pointed to a murder-suicide, with authorities indicating that Anthony Newlin's death was self-inflicted. No other suspects were sought in connection with the incident. Monica was remembered as a people person, a loving mother, wife, and homemaker who had also worked in sales at various local businesses. Her sudden and violent death left her family and friends to grapple with the devastating loss of a woman described as having a sweet soul. Both she and her husband, who had worked for the City of Kokomo for nearly three decades, passed away on the same day, leaving a community in shock and mourning.
