In a 𝓈𝒽𝓸𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 incident that has left a community reeling, a 40-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly injuring a 6-year-old girl in a grocery store. The disturbing event unfolded on July 9 in Anderson, Indiana, prompting immediate police action after reports of possible child battery surfaced.
Witnesses claim that while the young girl sat in her shopping cart, the suspect, identified as William Rothel, approached her and reportedly poked her with a sharp object. Authorities arrived on the scene to find the child in need of medical attention for what was described as a “minor puncture wound.”
After the alleged attack, Rothel fled the scene, but thanks to the keen observations of witnesses, police were able to track down his vehicle. He was apprehended without resistance shortly thereafter.
According to court documents obtained by local news outlets, officers discovered ammunition and unused insulin needles inside Rothel’s car, raising further concerns about his intentions. This incident marks a troubling chapter for Rothel, who was previously convicted in 2017 for a violent attack on an 8-year-old boy in a separate grocery store incident. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by two years of home detention and probation, and had only recently been released in December 2025.
On July 9, Rothel was charged with bodily injury, residential entry, and failing to register as a 𝒔𝒆𝒙 offender. The community is now left wondering how someone with such a troubling past could be involved in another alarming incident.
What does this mean for the safety of children in public spaces, and how will the community respond moving forward?