GIBSON CO. — New details have emerged regarding the arrest of Daniel Flaherty, a Gibson County man accused of murdering his wife, Kayla Flaherty, and reporting her missing.
On October 4, authorities initiated an investigation into the disappearance of 36-year-old Kayla Flaherty of Patoka, who was reportedly last seen en route to Vincennes to visit family. Daniel Flaherty, Kayla’s husband, was the one who alerted law enforcement to her supposed disappearance, claiming she had not contacted him after leaving.
According to a detective with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, Daniel indicated that Kayla had been heading to Vincennes but failed to check in upon arrival. Search efforts along the route she typically took yielded no signs of her.
As the investigation unfolded, detectives discovered that Kayla had recently filed for divorce, although the divorce papers had not yet been served to Daniel. He reportedly told investigators they had been discussing their relationship when Kayla left their home.
Using cell phone tower data, detectives tracked Kayla’s movements leading up to her disappearance and found little evidence that she was headed toward Vincennes. Investigators also searched for the couple’s SUV, which had tracking capabilities through Toyota; however, they could not connect to the vehicle to locate it.
On October 4, detectives questioned Daniel and informed him of his rights. During the interview, he allegedly confessed to striking Kayla multiple times with a hammer before concealing her body in their SUV and disposing of it.
According to authorities, Daniel indicated on a map where he had discarded the vehicle, leading to the discovery of the SUV submerged in the Wabash River in Knox County. Inside, investigators found human remains along with evidence of a fire.
Daniel Flaherty has been charged with murder and appeared in Gibson Superior Court on Monday morning, where he requested a public defender, and a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf. He has been ordered to be held without bond, with his next court date scheduled for October 16.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding Kayla Flaherty’s tragic death.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
