The man who pleaded guilty to molesting and killing a 10-year-old southern Indiana girl now has her name tattooed on his forehead.

Anthony Stockelman, serving a life sentence at the Wabash Correctional Facility for killing Katie Collman, was found with the words "Katie's Revenge" on his forehead.

Corrections officials at the facility are investigating the matter, and have contacted state police to assist in the investigation.

Officials said Stockelman is now being held in protective custody. Officials said they aren't sure if the tattoo was done by another inmate. Katie's father John Neace heard about it from friends, and figures other prisoners are responsible.

Katie, of Crothersville, Ind., was found dead in a creek near Seymour, Ind., in 2005 after being abducted.

Stockelman is serving a life sentence for his role in the killing.

The search for Katie, a bright child who enjoyed basketball and the Disney Channel, had consumed Crothersville. Police initially believed she was abducted and slain so she would not reveal methamphetamine activity in her neighborhood.

Anthony Stockelman pleaded guilty in order to avoid the death penalty in connection with child's slaying.

Another man was the first person arrested in the case, but his charges were dropped in April when the investigation pointed toward Stockelman. And as evidence seemed to mount against Stockelman, it became a potential death-penalty case, which one side argued is why the defendant made the guilty plea.

"I think he knows all the evidence was against him, and he didn't want to get the death penalty. In my opinion, he's a coward," said Neace after the man's plea.

"I'm happy. (Stockelman) won't be coming out. When he does, it will be on a gurney," Neace said.

Prosecutor Stephen Pierson argued that Stockelman molested Collman at her mother's home, then bound her and took her to Cypress Lake, where he killed her. She was found face-down in a creek five days after her disappearance.

Stockelman's DNA matched evidence found on the child's body.

"It's really unfortunate to be married to someone for eight years and have no idea who he was," his wife, Tabitha Stockelman said. "He was a sick kid-toucher."

But Troy Stockelman said his brother, a father himself, was remorseful, adding that the life sentence will only hurt Stockelman's children.

"I don't see the sense in keeping his kids from seeing their father," Troy Stockelman said. Defense attorney James Kilburn also weighed in on Vance's sentencing.

"I'm very disappointed in the decision," he said.

Stockelman allegedly offered to give Neace half the money from a possible book deal. "That was smack in the face," Neace said. "A book deal ... money ... that's not going to bring Katie back."

While in court, Stockelman apologized to the Collman family.