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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A landspout was spotted in Carroll County just after 6 p.m. Monday, bringing a tornado warning to the area.

The Carroll County Emergency Management Agency reported about a half-hour later that no injuries or damage had been immediately found from the tornado.

Indiana Storm Hunters on Twitter shared a photo of the landspout tornado near Flora.

Tornado near Flora, Indiana, on May 8, 2023. (Provided Photo/ Indiana Storm Hunters)

Aryn Coomer also shared photos of the tornado in southeastern Carroll County.

(Provided Photos/Aryn Coomer)

A landspout is a tornado formed as a surface circulation that extends to a cloud in a storm not typically considered to be severe.

Meanwhile, a traditional tornado is a rotating updraft that extends to the surface in a severe storm.

Landspouts are generally weak tornadoes in nature.

Monday’s tornado was the fifth in Indiana since Sunday, when four tornadoes hit Floyd County along the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky.

WHEELING, Ind. (WISH) — An Oxford, Indiana, woman died in the crash of her SUV and a tow truck on Monday morning, the Indiana State Police say.

Ashlena King, 29, died at the crash scene in eastern Carroll County.

Police were called just before 10 a.m. Monday to the intersection of county roads 100 North and 500 east. That’s in a rural area a mile north of State Road 18 and about 3 miles west of State Road 29.

King had stopped at the intersection before continuing to go north when an eastbound 2023 Hino Tow Truck driven by Joshua Cooper, 30, of Gary, hit the driver’s side of the her Ford Edge SUV. The vehicles came to rest in a field on the intersection’s northeast corner.

Cooper was not hurt.

State police helped local law enforcement to reconstruct the crash.

The crash site is about a 80-minute drive north of downtown Indianapolis.

Oxford, a town in Benton County, is about a 90-minute drive northwest of Indianapolis.

FLORA, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — An Indiana-based solar energy company has opened its new headquarters and warehouse in Carroll County, more than doubling the space it had in Kokomo. Green Alternatives Inc. says it invested $300,000 to relocate its main facilities to Flora. The company says it has added two more people to its staff and is planning for further growth.

Green Alternatives says it will keep a sales office in Kokomo.

“As our business continued to expand, we wanted to invest in a location close to our customers and our team,” said Chris Rohaly of Green Alternatives. “With many of our crew coming from the Lafayette area, and customers throughout North Central Indiana, Flora was a great place to re-invest in our company.”

The company serves the agriculture, commercial and residential markets.

Green Alternatives says it is filling internships from students in the Ivy Tech Renewable Energy Program.

Justice for the Girls: Background on the Flora case

FLORA, Ind. (WISH) — More than three years ago, a mom lost all her daughters. A house fire that gutted the home also resulted in the death of four girls, ages 5-11. The mom survived, and the search for answers continues.

If you drove past the corner house at Columbia and Division streets before Nov. 21, 2016, you’d probably see four little faces smiling back.

“They were so joyous,” said Kathy Clendening, one of the women who helped create a cookbook to raise funds for the family after the fire. “They were very happy girls. I never seen them not smiling, always on the front porch waving at everybody that went by. They didn’t know a stranger.”

Now the house is the site of a mystery.

Kionnie, Kerriele, Keyara and Keyana died in a fire in this house. Immediately after, the State Fire Marshal’s Office said it did not suspect foul play. But about two months later, a stunning announcement via email: Investigators now labeled the case arson.

The girls’ mom was the only survivor.

“For me to be right here today, it is just so hard, it’s so hard,” said Tracie Rose, the victims’ grandfather. “But as I continue to teach my daughter, ‘You gotta keep fighting.’”

Fight they did.

The community created a cookbook and raised money, hoping it would draw out someone who knew something. People in Flora held a vigil marking one year since the fire. But that night, the state police did not release a suspect or description.

A candlelight vigil was held on Nov 22, 2017. (WISH Photo)

“As long as I’m breathing air, we’re going to stay here,” said ISP Superintendent Doug Carter, on the one-year anniversary of the fire. “So we’ll continue to move forward, we’ll continue to drive and to drive, and to talk and to talk and to talk.”

That month, Carroll County Prosecutor Rob Ives announced he would step down, and Flora Fire Chief Adam Randle resigned.

Timeline of events

What happened remains a secret

The biggest mystery in Flora lies inside the corner house. State investigators have said the fire that killed the girls was arson, but what exactly happened is shrouded in secrecy.

A man named Mike Vergon is one of the people who has been inside the house since the fire. He runs his own fire investigation company. He was hired by the mom of the four girls and her attorney. He has not worked with them for months but said he still thinks about the house and the case often.

Justice for the Girls: Fire investigator speaks

Vergon spent more than 15 years as a certified fire investigator with the ATF before starting his own company. He has been to more than 1,000 fire scenes and investigated this one just weeks after it happened. There are still things he does not want to share.

Here is an exchange from an interview with Vergon and I-Team 8’s Stephanie Zepelin.

Vergon told I-Team 8 he believes the fire was an arson but that the goal was not to kill the children. He is also not sure whether everything possible is being done to solve the case.

“I just hope someday there’s an answer.”

Mike Vergon, former atf fire investigator

“I don’t think it’d hurt to call all the agencies in,” said Vergon. “It never hurts to have a fresh set of eyes look at something and share all of the information, not just some of the information.”

The case has already been reviewed by Indiana State Police, the State Fire Marshal and the Indianapolis Fire Department. However, Vergon thinks more fresh eyes will be needed for the case to be solved.

He also wants the family to know people still care.

“I just hope someday there’s an answer,” Vergon said.

Vergon says working smoke alarms may be the only thing that could have saved the girls.

The girls’ mother has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against their landlord, claiming there were no working smoke detectors. I-Team 8 reached out to the mother for an interview, but she declined based on the advice of her attorney.

Community looks back on tragic fire

The Flora community is finding new ways to keep their people safe as they look back to the tragic loss of the four girls.

Justice for the Girls: Community looks back on tragic fire

Community members say the girls barely get brought up these days outside of the anniversary of the fire. But just like the house, thoughts of the girls and who may have set the fire are still there today.

Kionnie, Kerriele, Keyara and Keyana were killed in the fire on Nov. 21, 2016.

The town came together after the loss of the sisters. Every year, they still gather to place flowers on the home’s porch in remembrance.

“It was a shock to the town,” Joyce Simpson said. “These four little girls would always step outside and wave at you when you were going by. They were on a cheerleading squad. They were beautiful little girls. And I can’t imagine somebody doing this to them.”

Many people rallied around fundraisers like Flora’s “4 Angels” cookbooks.

“We’ve raised $20,000,” Simpson said.

That money is supposed to go to anyone who can help lead to an arrest. It will go to the town if no answers come by 2025.

The family has moved away, the fundraising has died down and hope is fading that answers will ever come.

“As long as it’s been, I don’t think anybody will come forward,” Simpson said. “I’m hoping there is, but I don’t think … I think it’s too late.”

Flora’s 4 Angels cookbooks are sold to help raise tip money for an arrest. (WISH Photo)

But that doesn’t mean what happened to the girls has been forgotten. As the investigation continues, the house still stands on the town’s main street – boarded up and charred – serving as a daily reminder of tragedy.

“You’d be very hard pressed to find one person in the town of Flora that doesn’t want to figure out what happened to the girls,” Carroll County Councilman Ethan Brown said. “That’s for sure. Everybody still is working to try to solve this mystery and all that and what happened and I think we’ll get there.”

Brown runs a restaurant down the street from the home. He says ever since the Flora arson and the double homicide of teen girls in neighboring Delphi, the town has been working hard to ensure yet another tragedy doesn’t happen this close to home.

“This stuff never happens here,” Brown said. “To have it happen back-to-back with the Delphi murders is just horrible.”

Community members say if you know anything, please come forward and bring these girls justice. If you’d like to contribute to the Flora’s “4 Angels” cookbook fund, you can purchase one from Joyce Simpson by calling her at 574-967-4858.

Where the investigation stands

Indiana State Police is leading the investigation. I-Team 8’s Richard Essex recently sat down with ISP Superintendent Doug Carter.

Carter says that detectives have not completely cleared anyone in the case and that they are still following tips and re-examining evidence.

“Flora has been very personal matter to me. There are many people that probably don’t believe that’s the case, I have a rock over there. I see those four little girls’ names every day, I believe that case is solvable but we have got to be able to talk to everybody involved,” said Carter.

Carter would not talk to News 8 about any specific evidence that has been collected.

BOYLESTON, Ind. (WISH) — A body was recovered Tuesday afternoon in Clinton County has been identified as a missing Flora woman.

Indiana State Police said in a news release that no foul play is suspected in the death of 25-year-old Kyra L. Boehning. No information was given on the cause of death. 

Her body was found shortly after 2:50 p.m. Tuesday on Clinton County Road South 500 East, a rural area about a half-mile north of State Road 28. Investigators with the Flora Police Department, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police had been seeking the public’s help finding Boehning. 

Police said last week that Boehning allegedly had taken her boyfriend’s blue 2006 Dodge Caravan minivan from their home in Flora. Police last week found the minivan on South 500 East at the Norfolk Southern Railway, a mile west of Boyleston in eastern Clinton County. The railroad tracks are about a half-mile north of State Road 28.

Kyra’s identification and other personal items were found locked inside the minivan, but she was not found in the immediate area after a search last week by Flora and Clinton County authorities. 

BOYLESTON, Ind. (WISH) — A body was recovered Tuesday afternoon in the area where a vehicle driven by a missing Flora woman had been found, police said. 

Indiana State Police said an autopsy will be conducted Wednesday to identify the body and attempt to determine the cause of death. No foul play was suspected at this time, the state police said in a news release issued Tuesday night.

The body was found shortly after 2:50 p.m. Tuesday on Clinton County Road South 500 East, a rural area about a half-mile north of State Road 28.

Investigators with the Flora Police Department, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police have been seeking the public’s help finding 25-year-old Kyra L. Boehning. 

Police said last week that Boehning allegedly had taken her boyfriend’s blue 2006 Dodge Caravan minivan from their home in Flora. Police found the minivan on South 500 East at the Norfolk Southern Railway, a mile west of Boyleston in eastern Clinton County. The railroad tracks are about a half-mile north of State Road 28.

Kyra’s identification and other personal items were found locked inside the minivan, but she was not found in the immediate area after a search last week by Flora and Clinton County authorities. 

Boehning was last seen at 11 p.m. Oct. 8. She was described as being from 5-feet-5 to 5-feet-7 and weighing from 125-150 pounds with brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt with “Fat Kid Inc.” printed in black lettering on the back. She was also wearing denim capris and flat bottom sandals. Kyra has tattoos on the left side of her neck and the name “Mark” tattooed on the right side of her neck. She also has the name “Greene” tattooed across her stomach.

Police did not believe she has any immediate medical issues, but she was believed to be in possession of a 9mm handgun.

Anyone having information was asked to contact the Flora Police Department at 574-967-4457, the Carroll County E911 Center at 765-564-2413, option 1; the Indiana State Police Lafayette district at 765-567-2125, or the nearest law enforcement agency.

BOYLESTON, Ind. (WISH) — Investigators with three police agencies are seeking the public’s help finding a woman after her car was found. 

The Flora Police Department, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police are looking for help finding 25-year-old Kyra L. Boehning of Flora. 

Police said Kyra allegedly had taken her boyfriend’s blue 2006 Dodge Caravan minivan from their home in Flora. Police found the minivan on South 500 East at the Norfolk Southern Railway, a mile west of Boyleston in eastern Clinton County. Kyra’s identification and other personal items were found locked inside the minivan, but she was not found in the immediate area after a search by Flora and Clinton County authorities.

Boehning was last seen at 11 p.m. Monday. She was described as being from 5-feet-5 to 5-feet-7 and weighing from 125-150 pounds with brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt with “Fat Kid Inc.” printed in black lettering on the back. She was also wearing denim capris and flat bottom sandals. Kyra has tattoos on the left side of her neck and the name “Mark” tattooed on the right side of her neck. She also has the name “Greene” tattooed across her stomach.

Police do not believe she has any immediate medical issues, but she is believed to be in possession of a 9mm handgun.

Anyone having information was asked to contact the Flora Police Department at 574-967-4457, the Carroll County E911 Center at 765-564-2413, option 1; the Indiana State Police Lafayette district at 765-567-2125, or the nearest law enforcement agency.

FLORA, Ind. (WISH) — The review of a fatal fire in Flora confirmed the fire that killed four young girls was set intentionally.

Last November, the Indiana State Police requested the Indianapolis Fire Department conduct a peer review of the origin and cause of the fire that happened Nov. 21, 2016 in Flora. The review, which started in December 2017, was finished Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018.

According to the Indiana State Police, the review focused on examining witness reports – including firefighters, law enforcement, and civilian witnesses. Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) investigators also conducted a physical examination of the fire scene.

Investigators with IFD also looked over previous reports on the fire: one by former Deputy Fire Marshal Dennis Randle, representing the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office, and another by Michael Vergon, of Vergon & Associates Fire Investigation, which was retained by legal counsel representing the mother of the four girls who died in the fire. Both of those reports concluded the fire was intentionally set.

Because IFD’s investigation also said the fire was intentionally set, ISP will continue its criminal investigation. Anyone with information regarding this arson fire is asked to call 1-800-382-4628. Callers may remain anonymous.

FLORA, Ind. (WLFI) — A Lafayette fire inspector has been named the new fire chief in Flora. He’ll be assisting with the investigation into a house fire that killed four sisters.

“It’s a true honor to become a Flora volunteer fire department chief,” said Lafayette Fire Inspector Todd Trent.

Trent is taking on the role as Flora Fire Volunteer Department’s fire chief.

“It’s a huge honor to be able to give back to your community and lead the men and women that serve under you,” said Trent.

In addition to his other duties as chief, Trent will be assisting with the Flora fire investigation that killed four young sisters. Trent was the assistant chief before he was nominated to chief. He’s been working on the Flora fire investigation since the beginning.

“I think anybody that stays in the fire service for a period of time in the volunteer world would like to be chief at one point in time,” said Trent.

He is replacing the former fire chief, Adam Randle. Randle resigned a week before the day marking a year since that fire, for what were cited as personal reasons. His father, Dennis Randle, who was with Homeland Security, also resigned.

“My position will be maintaining the Flora fire department and making sure that our training station is up to date. Making sure our equipment is up to date,” said Trent.

Trent isn’t the only new face to the team of investigators working the Flora fire: the prosecutor who was working the case, Rob Ives, has also resigned. Nicholas McLeland has replaced him as Carroll County prosecutor.

“Change is good,” said Trent. “As human beings, we don’t like it. As we get older, we don’t like it. But I think change is good.”

Trent said as the Flora fire investigation moves forward, justice for the four sisters is his top priority.

“We want to make sure these girls get due diligence,” said Trent.

Indiana State Police asked the Indianapolis Fire Department to conduct a peer review on the Flora fire investigation.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Officials with the Indiana State Police have asked investigators with the Indianapolis Fire Department to conduct a peer review of the fatal Flora fire that claimed the lives of four sisters.

The inquiry came in the first week of December 2017 to IFD, as the case is believed to be intentional since accelerants were found throughout the house.

Sisters Keyana Davis, 11, Keyara Phillips, 9, Kerriele McDonald, 7 and Kionnie Welch, 5, all died in the November 2016 fire at the home located in the 100 block of East Columbia Street. The girls’ mother was injured and airlifted from the hospital to treat her injuries.

The review also comes after a state fire investigator with the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office resigned in June. The fire chief assigned to the investigation resigned months later in November.

Once completed, the review may help advance the investigation.

Arrests have yet to be made in connection to the fire.

If you have any information on the fire, you are urged to call 1-800-382-4628.