The Delphi Murders

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The Delphi Murders turned the small town of Delphi, Indiana from a place no one has heard about, to the place of one of the nation’s most heinous, unsolved murders.

Abigail “Abby” Williams, 13-years old, and her best friend Liberty “Libby” Rose Lynn German, 14-years old, went hiking near the Monon High Bridge, a part of the historic Trails in Delphi, Indiana on Monday, February 13, 2017.

Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right)

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Abby and Libby failed to show up to the meeting spot to picked up. The girls were reported missing by 5:30 p.m., and an Amber Alert was sent out across the state of Indiana for the missing teenagers. The last communication from the girls was around 2:07 p.n. when Libby posted a picture on Snapchat.

Snapchat photo taken on Libby's cellphone at 2:07 p.m.

Photo Source: Strange Unexplained Mysteries (website)

The bodies of Abby Williams and Libby German were discovered the following afternoon, February 14, 2011 around noon near Deer Creek. Police have released very little information on the cause of deaths. Although little is known about how the girls died, Abby and Libby were certainly victims of foul play. This was no accident.

On February 15, 2011, the Indiana State Police department released a still image of a man seen walking near the Monon High Bridge the same afternoon Abby and Libby were there. Police don’t call this man a suspect or person of interest in the murders.

Photo of man seen walking on the Monon High Bridge around the same time as Abby and Libby

Photo Source: The Indy Channel (website)

On February 22, 2011 police released an audio recording where the man is heard saying “Guys… Down the hill” The recording is credited to Libby, who secretly recorded the suspect. Libby is regarded as a true hero for having the presence of mind to record her killer.

On July 17, 2011 the police released a composite sketch of their suspect in the Delphi murders. The sketch was drawn from an eye witness description of a man seen walking the trails the afternoon of the murders.

Sketch of man seen on the trails the day the girls were killed

Photo Source: The New York Times

Months go by in the investigation and no arrests are made in the case. The Indiana State Police hold another press conference in April 2019. Investigators announce they are taking a new direction in the case. They released a second sketch of the suspect that looks entirely different than the one released in 2017.

Updated sketch of suspect in the Delphi murders

Photo Source: Courier Journal (website)

Police revealed they believe their suspect may be hiding in plain sight. It’s believed that the killer may be from or has lived in the city of Delphi.

At this press conference, the police also released a short video clip of the suspect obtained from Libby’s cell phone. The suspect is seen walking across the bridge in blue jeans and a jacket.

The police asked the public’s help to identify a vehicle that was seen parked near the Monon High Bridge the day Abby and Libby Killed. The vehicle (unknown make or model) was parked at an old CPD/DCS building in Delphi.

Although the Delphi murders remained unsolved for over 3 years, the Indiana State Police department have not called their investigation a cold case. The department has received over 40,000 tips, all have been vetted and follow-upped on.

Remembering Abby and Libby

Photo Source: The Indy Chanel (website)

There is a $250,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in the case.

Tips can be provided via email: abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com

Tip Line: (844) 459-5786
Indiana State Police: (800) 382-7537

 

Episode Sources:

Down the Hill Podcast

Scene of the Crime Podcast

Murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German Wiki

The Indy Channel (website)

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