RIPLEY CO. – Last week, a Ripley County, Indiana, man was arrested on charges of rape and incest after an investigation by Detectives from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post.
The investigation began in February 2024 when suspected criminal activity was reported to the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post. Investigators obtained information that Joel Stoltzfus, 42, of Holton, Indiana, had allegedly committed crimes of rape and incest at a location in Christian County, Kentucky, on at least two occasions between 2005 and 2008.
The victim was a juvenile when the crimes occurred.
These allegations uncovered by investigators were different than the original criminal activity reported at the start of the investigation.
Due to the alleged crimes occurring in Kentucky, Indiana State Police Investigators contacted Kentucky State Police Investigators. The ISP Investigation led to KSP Detectives submitting the case to Christian County, KY Prosecutors to file charges.
This resulted in a warrant being issued for Stoltzfus on August 7, 2024, for two counts of rape and two counts of incest. Stoltzfus was arrested without incident on Thursday, August 15, 2024, in Ripley County, Indiana. He was incarcerated in the Ripley County Jail in Versailles, Indiana, awaiting extradition back to Christian County, Kentucky.
