WebThe victims bodies were found on Feb. 14, 2017, less than a quarter mile from the Monon High Bridge, the railway bridge where the girls captured their alleged murderer on video. ", "A newly unsealed affidavit details the clues that led investigators to the suspect in Delphi teen girl killings", "Delphi murders: Suspect's gun matched bullet found by girls, according to newly released document", "Defense and law enforcement spar over Delphi murders investigation", "7 months after Delphi murders orange lights still burn bright in search for Libby and Abby's killer", "Delphi Murders: Plans unveiled for Libby & Abby memorial park and softball field", "NBA All-Star 2021 Host Committee Announces Statewide Legacy Grant Recipients", Seeking Information on Unknown Suspect in Indiana Double-Murder Investigation, Information Sought in Investigation into Deaths of Liberty German and Abigail Williams, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murders_of_Abigail_Williams_and_Liberty_German&oldid=1139671059, February 2017 crimes in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 08:23. You can't believe that something this terrible in this community happened here on my property, in my back yard.". DELPHI, Ind. The murderer would have been covered in the victims blood in the aftermath of the slayings due to the large amount of blood was lost by the victims at the crime scene, it reads. [19]A 27-year-old man from Peru, Indiana who was being held in custody for alleged sex crimes against children, later stated in an interview that he had created the account. (A still image from the video had previously been shared.) WebOn February 16, police executed a search warrant of a home on Bicycle Bridge Road in connection with the deaths. Neither one of them left each other's side.". Two articles of clothing were also missing. He passed away in 2020. As CrimeOnline previously reported, 13-year-old Abby and 14-year-old Libby were murdered in 2017, but the killer remains elusive. On February 19, they named him as a suspect in the girls' murders. She also shot down any rumblings that her family and investigators were on the outs. There are no square dance competitions or exams. It emerges he was homeless at the time of the murders. Based on investigators experience it is reasonable to believe that the creation of an alibi prior to the discovery of a crime indicates culpability or knowledge of the crime, the agent wrote. The FBI has released a description for the suspect, which is that he is a white male between 5'6" and 5'8" tall. He engaged in a five-hour standoff with police before killing himself. She also managed to take a photo and record a small clip of the suspect. A group of local residents organize a community outing to the trail that the girls hiked the day they were killed. He is not facing any charges in connection with their disappearances or murders. I mean in the beginning we didnt trust people we were always looking behind our back, she told Fox59. Though there was no press conference held on the third anniversary of the murders in February of 2020, investigators said that the case was not cold. The selfie was posted on social media the same month investigators issued a fresh appeal urging members of the public to come forward with information about an online catfishing account thought to be tied to the murders. Kegan Anthony Kline fell under the spotlight last year when the online account he used to groom underage girls online was tied to the teenage victims. He also noted that it appeared to him as if Libby German may have been personally attacked based on the extent of her injuries. Please let us know if you have concerns, suggestions or questions. DELPHI, Indiana Investigators think the bodies of slain Delphi girls, Abby Williams and Libby German, were staged and moved at the crime scene, court documents obtained by The Murder Sheet Podcast indicate. WebDELPHI, Ind. [30] The document also said that in a subsequent interview in October 2022, the suspect told authorities he had worn "jeans and a black or blue jacket" that day and had gone to the bridge to "watch fish". German first began with a timeline of events the day she dropped off Libby and Abby near the scenic Monon High Bridge. The full video from Libby's phone has not been released, nor did police elaborate on what was happening when the recording was made. I can promise you this:When an arrest is made of a suspect identified as the alleged perpetrator of the Delphi Murders, rest assured, we will let everyone know," Bursten said in a statement. [34] A non-profit organization, L & A Park Foundation, was formed to "celebrate and commemorate the lives of Libby German and Abby Williams by creating a place for the appreciation of nature, art, play, and athleticism for generations to come. [16], On July 23, 2019 a suspect who had been wanted for the kidnapping and rape in Tippecanoe County was named as one of multiple suspects being investigated for the Williams and German murders, according to Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby. The friend confirmed the alibi before admitting two days later that Logan had made up the story and asked him to lie. Investigators have asked for any evidence they get to be fast-tracked, however they will not comment on what evidence they may have found. [29] Investigators also found a ".40-caliber unspent round" less than two feet away from one of the victim's body and between two victims; they later determined that the round came from a gun owned by the suspect. Mr Allen penned a handwritten letter from his prison cell claiming that his wife has been forced into hiding and that he is now at the mercy of the court. The Girls Went Missing Last Monday After Going Hiking. We need to find out who has done this to our girls.". He told investigators that he was picked up by a friend around 2pm on 13 February and driven to an aquarium store, returning hours later at around 5pm, the document states. Grace tells ABC News. Hopefully this works, hopefully people understand that rumors suck and they hurt people. One of the photos used on the bogus online account where the individual posed as this male model. Man Accused of Holding Woman Captive for Month and Sexually Assaulting Her Could Face Life in Prison, On Night Her 3 Kids Were Killed, Lindsay Clancy Was 'Smiling and Happy,' Husband Told Police, Suspect Arrested in 2017 Delphi Killings of Indiana Teens Liberty German and Abigail Williams, Accused Delphi Killer 'Is Not the Only Actor Involved in This,' Says Prosecutor, Mass. "That is a very big misconception Weve been very open and gave the police everything that we know.. I mean they have built softball fields to bring awareness to their children and its just a beautiful thing that they are just so strong, she said. State police's statement added, "It is important for the public and media to know that many similar tips and arrests of other persons alleged to be connected to the Delphi murders occur with some frequency in and outside of Indiana. Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland also argued that unsealing the affidavits would open witnesses to harassment, according to Fox59. Ron Logan lied to investigators about where he was the day Libby and Abby went missing. For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. She noted that any whispers of her family taking donations meant to go toward the memorial park being built in honor of Abby and Libby were also false. More than 16,000 tips have been reported to the Delphi tip line and email address since the investigation began. The girl was discovered locked in Chadwell's basement during a search of his home. Officials would not rule out the possibility that other individuals were also involved in the teenagers brutal murders and, if so, vowed that they will also face charges. WebDELPHI, Indiana Investigators think the bodies of slain Delphi girls, Abby Williams and Libby German, were staged and moved at the crime scene, court documents obtained by Though theirkiller has not been caught or identified, authorities said during their investigation, they had looked at Paul Etter. Resident Audrey Wardrip said that the family never gave up hope. They were reported missing two hours after they didn't show up for their ride home, and their bodies were found the following day about half a mile away from the bridge. "Its the small things that seem to hurt the most. The male model whose photos were used had no connection to the case. COVID has affected our club activities as it has most everything else. Some things are not up and running yet as before (for example, the Square Time publication is only on-line at present). We require proof of at least three vaccinations and, though not mandatory, we encourage dancers to wear masks for the time being. If you have any information on the case, no matter how small, contact authorities using the tip line at 1 (844) 459-5786 or emailAbbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com. Recommended. My family is so strong, German said. Up until last night we were all under the impression that there was no indication and even now, as far as Im aware, there is no indication that the girls had any plans to meet anyone out there [on the trail], she said. We have a party night nearly every month Halloween, Christmas, Valentines Day, etc. Continue reading to find out what the alleged Delphi Murders leaked text messages are all about. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Police have not released details of how the girls were murdered. If you know anything about this case, you are asked to contact, Indiana State Police. He was never charged and recently died. After the families' appearances on the show, police receiveanother 140 tips in the following days. While Mr Allens name has never cropped up in connection to the murders before now, over the years, authorities have honed in on several other men. They were good friends. Though the incident ended with Etters death, the case into the abduction and assault remains open as the investigation has not yet been completed, Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith said. OnFeb.13, the same day the teens were reported missing, a photo was posted toSnapchatby Libby, showing Williams walking across theMononHigh Bridge. We have shared information about Etter with them, but weve done that with other suspects, too, Tippecanoe County sheriff's Sgt. [17] On April 27, 2021, Indiana State Police detectives named another suspect as a new person of interest in the Delphi murders. According to WDRB, ISP began searching the Wabash River after The Murder Sheet podcasters connected the area with the deaths of Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams, 13. An affidavit released on 29 November revealed prosecutors had tied Mr Allen to a bullet found at the scene of the girls murder. The affidavit is currently under seal, with officials declining to provide additional details about the bombshell development in the high-profile case that has rocked the small, close-knit community of Delphi and gone unsolved for more than half a decade. On Monday, Indiana State Police announced that he had been charged with two counts of murder. This case is not closed. Miller, who was arrested after DNA found on April was sent for testing, lived just two hours from Delphi. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Thad Miller said, according to the Journal & Courier. The image shows a white male with his hands in his pockets while walking. According to an affidavit, Kline posed as the model in order to groom underage girls and get them to send nude photos and their addresses and try to get them to meet him. Dozens of people walked the Monon High Bridge trail together. Further, although the public has only heard a few seconds of a recording made by one of the victims before her death, the agent wrote in the warrant that the full recording is 43 seconds long. "[35] A site was procured a mile north of Delphi, and in the years following the girls' deaths, continued progress has been made in the development of Abby and Libby Memorial Park. Local residents also reacted with shock when news broke on Friday of his arrest, saying that he seemed like a normal guy. Now they are only releasing a portion of it, why? For the first time, the warrant also revealed that the teenagers had been killed by some type of weapon. The warrant, filed by an FBI agent investigating the murders back in 2017 and partly redacted, was to carry out a search on the home of a local man Ronald Logan. release new audio, new video and a new sketch. The authorities have been purposeful in not disclosing much information about the Delphi Murders. This came after a fresh appeal was launched in December urging people to come forward with information about an online catfishing account. One of my servers was telling me that he wouldnt speak much.. Its had a big effect. Did Murdered Indiana Teens Capture the Voice of Their Killer? The survivor was driving on Tippecanoe County 900 East when she realized she had a flat tire June 22, the Journal & Courier wrote. But at least it would allow us to move on from this chapter to the next so we could all start to heal because right now, it's just kind of an open wound.". In August, Indiana State Police were spotted searching the Wabash River in Peru around 40 minutes east of Delphi in connection to the case. Although authorities share the information with the media, they do not reveal the identity of the bodies. ", "There'll never be closure," Patty said. Police found the girls lifeless bodies a short distance from the bridge the following day, near a trail close to the bridge. In the years since Libby German and Abby Williams were murdered, there have been no arrests. Town of Delphi, Indiana, left heartbroken and rattled by murders of 2 teenage girls Indiana State Police on Monday said a man in a photograph is the primary suspect in the double homicide investigation, but nothing is known about him at this time outside of a A sexual predator who killed himself during a standoff with police is being looked at as a possible suspect in the murders of Libby and Abby, according to a report. Despite their grief, and maybe they found that in their grief, to never give up and never quit. The 50-year-old is a local resident of Delphi, the small, close-knit town of around 3,000 people. [Featured image: Abby (l) and Libby (r)/Handout], Serial Killer NICU Nurse Says She Watched as 1-Pound Baby Self-Corrected After Allegedly Displacing Breathing Tube, Mother Attempts to Stab, Kill Children with Butcher Knife While Traveling on Interstate: Police, Mystery Surrounds Mom-of-3 Found Dead After Failing to Pick up Children from School, Police Ask for Patience, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Police indicated that additional evidence from the phone had been secured but would not release further details so as not to "compromise any future trial." Got a tip? Copyright 2023 Distractify. A 27-year-old Indiana man fell under the spotlight last year when the online account he used to groom underage girls online was tied to the teenage victims. The warrant also indicates that investigators want a warrant to search the property of Ronald Logan. State police continue to stress the importance of reporting tips to authorities and not over social media to avoid speculation and confusion. "It's really disturbing to read it and think about the two girls at the heart of this and what they may have gone through," said ine Cain, an Indiana podcaster who helped retrieve the new documents. [30] A witness said she saw a man walking away from the bridge "wearing a blue colored jacket and blue jeans and was muddy and bloody." The murders have received media coverage that included reports of a video and audio recording of an individual believed to be the girls' killer were found on German's smartphone. Although his face isnt clear in the picture, it was enough to give authorities a general description. which has been viewed more than 18,000 times. Another witness and a tip mentioned that a car was parked "oddly" and appeared to be parked in a way as if to hide its license plate. WebMan Accused of Sexually Assaulting Girl, 9, Might Have Ties to Unsolved Delphi Killings: Police Libby German, 13, and Abby Williams, 14, were abducted and murdered while Libbys phone turned out to be a valuable resource for clues on the teens deaths. [21], On October 26, 2022, a suspect was taken into custody and appeared in court on October 28. He detailed other information about the crime scene, and the differences in the girls' apparent injuries. At 2:07p.m., Libby posted a photo of Abby walking the bridge; after this, they were not heard from again. Indiana State Police say they are still actively investigating more than 500 people from those tips. Because of the nature of the victims wounds, it is nearly certain the perpetrator of the crime would have gotten blood on his person/clothing.. On February 15, Indiana State Police released a photo that was taken from the device showing a man walking on the Delphi Historic Trail around the same time the girls were in the area. She spoke highly of relatives who had been smeared online and noted their alibis and other proof she said showed they had nothing to do with the killings. on the Dr. [8] A few days later, the person in the photograph was named the prime suspect in the double-homicide. "No, that's not her nor Libby," he wrote in his text response. The Sig Sauer Model P226, which the suspect owned since 2001, was found during a search of Mr Allens home last month. He seems like a normal guy, he said. Nobody lives in total isolation in todays world, and Im asking that person, please help us out.". Here are five things to know about the homicide case of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. Libbys phone did ping on two towers, but that was because the town is so small, if you move to one side of the house, your phone will switch towers sometimes, German explained. You just can't put words to it, he said. On February 13, 2017, Libby and Abby took a hiking trip at the abandoned Monon High Bridge, in an outing that was only meant to be for a few hours. Todd Ladd, pastor of Delphi United Methodist Church, says. [9], On July 17, officers distributed a composite sketch of someone who, at that time in the investigation, was sought as a person of prime interest in the murders. Here is a previous episode on the case. Aprils body was discovered by a jogger three days after her disappearance in a water-filled ditch in a rural field. Investigators said the person behind the account was Kegan Anthony Kline, 27-year-old man with addresses in Kokomo and Peru, close to Delphi. Were willing to wait. The Swinging Swallows gather on Thursday evenings to start dancing at 7:00 pm. Its an outlet for us to keep busy.. Finally having a breakthrough in the case was a positive day for the community, she said. Two police sketches were circulated of a man matching the description of the man in the footage one in 2017 and one in 2019. "Somebody has to know who this guy is. Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right) pictured together. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. WebDelphi murders autopsy. Someones going to think, Maybe this one thing I saw might mean something. And maybe thats the one thing that gets this guy.. German addressed more specific rumors as well. According to the warrant, Logan said he was in Lafayette on the day of the murders, visiting an aquarium. He currently works at the local CVS store coming into contact with members of the community as part of his job. [25][26] Two public defenders were appointed to represent the suspect. Phil Show to tell their story. The Advertizing and Publicity persons are Doug & Gloria Bateman. The person depicted in the composite sketch is described as a white male between 56 to 510, weighing 180 to 220 pounds, with reddish brown hair and eye color unknown. Their bodies were found the following day alongside a creek about a mile from where they were last seen. Ronald Logan was never named a suspect, despite the warrant. Cain and Greenlee hope by shedding new light on the case, they can generate more leads for police. The river is near the area where Kegan Kline lived. He is connected to a social media account that police believe he used to communicate with one of the girls. There is ample parking in the rear of the Church. They're not coming back. Prior to this, Logan had previously been on police radar, according to the 2017 search warrant application. facebook.com/swingingSwallows. ", "Somebody knows this voice," one Delphi citizen tells Inside Edition. 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