Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Valentine’s Day 2026 will be remembered by a Milford couple and Indiana State Trooper Austin Slone and Milford Police Department deputy Marshall Dallas Rice for being the year of a “special delivery.”
The night took an unexpected turn when the baby that Josh and Katelyn Wuthrich were expecting in late February decided to come early, according to a news release from the Indiana State Police. The Wuthriches loaded up in their vehicle and called 911 to let Kosciusko County Dispatch know that they were taking Ind. 15 south and needed to get to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital in Warsaw quickly and couldn’t wait for an ambulance. This was dispatched out just after 11 p.m.
Slone was traveling northbound at approximately 11:08 p.m. on Ind. 15 near CR 1100N when he saw what he believed to be the vehicle described by Kosciusko County Dispatch traveling south. Slone put on his emergency lights and turned around behind the vehicle when it pulled to the side of the road. The driver said, “We’re having a baby!” At the same time, Slone saw another police vehicle approaching them that was Milford Police Department deputy Marshall Dallas Rice attempting to locate the expectant parents. Slone and Rice made the quick decision to escort the Wuthriches to the hospital because it appeared that baby was coming quickly.
Slone and Rice escorted the Wuthriches to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital in the nick of time because baby Ellie was delivered in the front seat of the vehicle as they pulled into the Emergency Room parking lot at approximately 11:16 p.m., the release states. Hospital staff came out and took mom and baby inside to provide care.
Last week, Slone and Rice met with the Wuthriches at the Milford Police Department to talk about the experience and to meet baby Ellie under less stressful circumstances. They gave Ellie a custom-made blanket with each department logo on it.
It will be a Valentine’s Day none of them will forget.
