Full Notification

Marion County-On Monday, October 10, 2016, Kevin Bell, age 39, Dover, PA was arrested at St. Vincent’s Hospital on 86th Street in Indianapolis on charges in connection with the September 17, 2016 fatal crash that occurred in Jennings County which resulted in the death of Nikki Reed, age 37, Seymour, Indiana.

Bell was taken into custody by the Marion County Sheriff’s Department on the warrant that was issued on September 28, 2016 out of Jennings County Circuit Court.  After being processed in Marion County, he was due to be transferred back to Jennings County today where he will be incarcerated until his initial court appearance or until he can post bond.

Bell is facing charges of Driving While Suspended Causing Death, Level 5 Felony; Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Crash, Level 5 Felony; Failure to Report a Dead Body, Class A Misdemeanor; Driving While Suspended, Class A Misdemeanor; False Informing, Class B Misdemeanor

At this time, it is unclear why Bell was again seeking treatment at St. Vincent’s Hospital.

A mug photo of Kevin Bell is attached.

-30-                                             SGT. STEPHEN WHEELES

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The previous news release dated September 28, 2016 follows.

  Jennings County-Today, a warrant was issued out of Jennings County Circuit Court for Kevin Bell, age 39, Dover, Pennsylvania on charges related to a crash that occurred on September 17, 2016 that resulted in the death of Nikki Reed, age 37, Seymour, Indiana. 

During the investigation, troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles learned that Bell was driving a vehicle that crashed in rural Jennings County near the Ripley County Line, killing Reed who was the front seat passenger.  On Tuesday, September 20, 2016, Bell left the vehicle and was located by a passerby along US 50 in Jennings County with injuries sustained in the crash.  Trooper Rick Hewitt arrived on scene and spoke with Bell.  Bell lied to Trp. Hewitt about how he sustained his injuries and did not initially tell officers that he had been in a crash or that Reed was deceased inside the vehicle.  After determining that Bell had been reported to be a missing person along with Reed, Trp. Hewitt soon located the vehicle and Reed.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Bell was driving on a suspended driver’s license at the time of the crash.  Bell was hospitalized in an Indianapolis area hospital for treatment of his injuries after the incident until being released earlier this week. 

Earlier this week, the investigation was turned over to the Jennings County Prosecutor’s Office for review.  As a result, a warrant was issued today for Bell on charges of:

Driving While Suspended Causing Death, Level 5 Felony

Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Crash, Level 5 Felony

Failure to Report a Dead Body, Class A Misdemeanor

Driving While Suspended, Class A Misdemeanor

False Informing, Class B Misdemeanor

Bell has not been re-located or arrested at this time.

An autopsy was completed on Reed last week.  The results preliminarily confirmed that Reed’s fatal injuries were sustained in the initial collision.  No foul play is suspected in her death at this time.

The investigation is ongoing.

-30-                                     SGT. STEPHEN WHEELES

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The original news release dated September 20, 2016 follows.     

Jennings County-This evening, shortly after 5:00 pm, the Indiana State Police responded to a report of a one vehicle crash with injuries on US 50 near the Jennings-Ripley County Line.  Upon arriving on scene, troopers found a male with injuries to his lower extremities.  Troopers also located a deceased female in the vehicle, which was located well off the roadway.  Troopers soon determined the two individuals were both listed as missing after the Indiana State Police began a missing person investigation two days earlier.

The investigation by Trooper Jordan Craig began on Sunday September 18th, when family members reported Nikki K. Reed, age 37, Seymour, Indiana as missing.  Family members said that Reed had made a trip to Pennsylvania to pick up her boyfriend, Kevin Bell, age 39, Dover, Pennsylvania.  She was last heard from on Saturday while driving back to Indiana with Bell.  During the course of the investigation, Trp. Craig learned that Bell’s family had not been able to contact him either since Saturday.

The investigation determined that at some point during the afternoon of Saturday September 17th, Bell lost control of the 1999 Ford Explorer he was driving and ran off the road in the 8600 block of east US 50.  The vehicle traveled down an embankment and struck a tree head on.  At this time, it appears that Reed, who was in the front passenger seat, sustained fatal injuries in the crash and died instantly.  Due to Bell’s injuries to his legs, he wasn’t able to leave the vehicle and crawl back to the road until this evening, three days later.  Bell was transported to St. Vincent-Jennings Hospital in North Vernon for treatment of his injuries.  His injuries are not believed to be life threatening. 

It should be noted that the vehicle’s location was well off the roadway and not visible from the road.

Trp. Rick Hewitt is conducting the crash investigation.  Trps. Hewitt and Craig were assisted by other troopers with the Indiana State Police, Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Jennings County Fire, Jennings County EMS, and the Jennings County Coroner’s Office.

Reed’s family has been notified.

The investigation is ongoing.

Attached: Photo of the Crashed Vehicle        

-30-                                     SGT. STEPHEN WHEELES

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.