On May 11, 2026, at 12:21 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a disturbance in the 400 block of North Main Street in Fort Branch. Deputies from the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene, and upon arriving they discovered that one of the parties had left before their arrival. At that point Deputy Michael Bates began an investigation into the incident where he collected evidence on scene and a statement from the victim. During the investigation a Be On the Look Out was placed for 31-year-old Katrel Benaugh of Evansville in regard to this incident. A short time late the Evansville Police Department took Mr. Benaugh into custody, and he was transported to Gibson County where Deputy Bates transported him to the Gibson County Detention Center.
Katrel Benaugh was charged with:
Battery
Battery On a Child Less than 14
Burglary
Invasion Of Privacy
Criminal Mischief
Sgt. John Fischer assisted Deputy Bates in this investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
