His family home is less than a five-minute drive away from where the bodies of Libby and Abby were found, residing in a neighborhood southwest of the Monon High Bridge. [17] On April 27, 2021, Indiana State Police detectives named another suspect as a new person of interest in the Delphi murders. Here is a previous episode on the case. All of the speculation about their final moments is unconfirmed. email us atinfo@getupanddance.caor give us a call with questions about modern square dancing, our Club and joining our group, Facebook: Since the Club is comprised of three square dance levels Basics, Mainstream and Plus we take turns for the teach part of the evening, and then dance to ensure we have knowledge of the new moves. In a chilling photo, posted by Mr Allens wife Kathy on Facebook in December 2021, Mr Allen is seen smiling alongside his wife in a local bar in Delphi. In August, Indiana State Police were spotted searching the Wabash River in Peru around 40 minutes east of Delphi in connection to the case. [29], On December 2, Judge Gull issued a gag order until January 2023. 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. If you know anything about this case, you are asked to contact, Indiana State Police. Chadwell is not the first person authorities have investigated since Libby and Abby's deaths. 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 According to the warrant, Logan said he was in Lafayette on the day of the murders, visiting an aquarium. Police gave the description of the man as a white male aged between 16 and 40 years old, between 5 6 and 5 10 in height and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds. "I feel like a victim in this situation," he says. [12][13][14] Until now. It doesnt heal the hurt or, you know, change anything for the families, but maybe this will bring some sort of ease to them.. Nobody lives in total isolation in todays world, and Im asking that person, please help us out.". Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to contact law enforcement by emailing abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com or calling 844-459-5786. They had both been murdered. Mr Allen appears to bear a likeness to the sketches. "As you all know, we went out to Colorado and we spent a little bit of time with [Daniel Nations], and he's not a person we care a whole lot about at this time," Superintendent Douglas Carter with the Indiana State Police says at the news conference, KKTV reports. Several female bodybuilders are coming forward saying they were sexually exploited in order to advance their careers. Frantic Families Trapped in Their Homes and Running Out of Food After Massive Snowstorm Cripples California, 3 Female Bodybuilders Say League Owner's Son Sexually Exploited Them While Their Careers Hung in the Balance, Innocent Michigan Man, 71, Walks Free After 2 Decades in Prison Thanks to True Crime Coverage of His Case, Lindsay Clancy: Timeline of Events in the Case of Massachusetts Mom Accused of Killing Her 3 Children, Abby Choi Case: Police Scour Landfill Searching for Dismembered Model's Missing Torso, Hands and Arms, 2 Missing Women Found Alive by Maine Game Wardens After Being Stuck in Their Car in Freezing Temperatures. 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. However, shocking new details about the murders came to light in a search warrant application obtained by podcast The Murder Sheet and shared with The Independent back in May. Local store owner Laura Greene said that the community has never been the same after the murders. On Feb. 13, 2017, 13-year-old Abigail "Abby" Williams and 14-year-old Liberty "Libby" German went to the Monon High Bridge in their home town of Delphi, Ind., while off from school for an unused snow day. Their bodies were found the following day alongside a creek about a mile from where they were last seen. The friend confirmed the alibi before admitting two days later that Logan had made up the story and asked him to lie. Its had a big effect. A group of local residents organize a community outing to the trail that the girls hiked the day they were killed. She planned to go to work that day, but rushed back to the area when she learned Libby hadnt returned home and wasnt answering her phone. 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. Police found the girls lifeless bodies a short distance from the bridge the following day, near a trail close to the bridge. "The documents said pretty clearly that due to the nature of the injuries the girls suffered there would have had to have been blood on the killer. The reward for information leading to an arrest in this investigation has surpassed $234,000. A timeline below shows how the case has unfolded so far. Local residents also reacted with shock when news broke on Friday of his arrest, saying that he seemed like a normal guy. Finally having a breakthrough in the case was a positive day for the community, she said. The warrant was based on a tip that came in, but no arrests Libertys grandfather, Mike Patty, adds,"Somebody knows something. Ms Patty had also sought to have sensitive information relating to the case kept out of the public eye, prosecutors said. Two months after the two-year anniversary, Indiana State police released an updated sketch of the suspect on April 22, 2019. Absolutely no one refused a lie detector test, German said. He can be heard saying, "Guys, down the hill," in the short video and investigators created two composite sketches based on this evidence. We are very happy as a community. It's not long before the new dancer is feeling like an old pro! Their bodies were discovered the next day in a wooded area around half a mile off the trail. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Police have identified another person of interest, a man currently in jail awaiting trial for child pornography charges. Abigail and Liberty were murdered on February 13, while Lyric and Elizabeth vanished on July 13. It's just natural to holler for them come to dinner; or in the mornings to get up and get ready for school, then expect them to come through the door after school; the silence when we dont hear their voice. The image shows a white male with his hands in his pockets while walking. 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.. This month, the Indiana State Police announced that thanks to an anonymous donation of $100,000, the reward for information leading to a conviction in the case has increased to $325,000. [9], On April 22, 2019, Indiana State Police announced a "new direction" in the case and released a new sketch of the suspect, while urging the public to look at the sketch, listen to the audio, watch how the man walks on the bridge and send tips to the tipline email. We have a party night nearly every month Halloween, Christmas, Valentines Day, etc. I always use the adage of, If you see something, say something. Nothing is going to be considered a dumb tip or a tip that we dont want. "We're really going to wait until we get something from law enforcement. The investigators do believe that the suspect either lives or works in Delphi, Ind. We keep a copy on the Info Table for dancers to look at. Its like I had open-heart surgery, but they never used any anesthetic and they say, 'Im sorry, you're just gonna have to live this way, with part of your heart missing the rest of your life,'" says Diane Erskin, Abigails grandmother. He allegedly admitted to investigators that he groomed underage girls online. They have also suggested that the crime scene was odd in nature. The affidavit said that Indiana State Police and the FBI carried out a search warrant on 25 February 2017 - less than two weeks after Abby and Libby were murdered - at Klines home in Peru after tracking down the user of the anthony_shots profile to the property. Hopefully this works, hopefully people understand that rumors suck and they hurt people. Although authorities share the information with the media, they do not reveal the identity of the bodies. When asked if Miller was a possible suspect, Indiana State Police Sgt. According to the redacted document, video footage recovered from German's phone showed one of the victims mentioning "gun" as a man wearing a dark jacket and jeans approached them and ordered them to go "down the hill". At the time of the murders, he would have been 44 years old. Hours later, the girls failedto meet a relative, as planned, and were reported missing. Nations' wife says he resembles the police sketch of the suspectbut did not own the clothing seen in the photo. A huge search gets underway but is called off when it gets too dark. [2][3][4], On October 26, 2022, a suspect was taken into custody,[5] and was subsequently charged with two counts of murder on October 31. WebOn Monday, police announced that Richard Allen, 50, of Delphi, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Libby and Abby. We now know who the FBI was looking into at Resident Audrey Wardrip said that the family never gave up hope. 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. which has been viewed more than 18,000 times. 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. Were willing to wait. If you know anyone who fits any of these behavioral changes the FBI wants to know. He later discussed the placement of Abby Williams' body at the crime scene, and he claimed that the victims were not sexually assaulted (none of this information has been publicly released yet). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He currently works at the local CVS store coming into contact with members of the community as part of his job. 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. I dont think anybody can remember something [specific] after something tragic like that happens.". READ MORE |Report Delphi tips to police, not social media|State Police: 'Please don't spread rumors' in Delphi investigation, Investigation scope widened and reward offered. Abigail "Abby" Williams, 13, and Liberty "Libby" German, 14, werefound dead off a rural hiking trail near Delphi, Indiana, on Feb.14, 2017. "Please remember that we are looking for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who committed this crime," Indiana State Police said in a statement. Before his sudden arrest, Mr Allens name was never publicly linked to the case. The girls' bodies were found in Delphi in Investigators have been mostly mum on many case details but a redacted warrant provides a glimpse into information surrounding the murder scene, suspect, and victims. State police continue to stress the importance of reporting tips to authorities and not over social media to avoid speculation and confusion. The accused killer brazenly posed for a smiling selfie in front of one of the police sketches of the murder suspect, We are shocked and saddened to learn that one of our store employees was arrested as a suspect in these crimes. Also, Im tired of hearing about them and Im tired of getting questions about the rumors, Im tired of trying to debunk them, so hopefully [with] this video, I can send people here and tell them, hey, go look at this, and that will help.. The girls were found murdered on Valentines Day 2017 in Delphi, after they took a hiking trip at an abandoned bridge. Police have not released details of how the girls were murdered. The people behind the scenes will not rest until we get this case solved. Instead, cellphone location data placed Mr Logan in the area around the trail at the time Abby and Libby disappeared. 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 [8] A few days later, the person in the photograph was named the prime suspect in the double-homicide. Two articles of clothing were also missing. 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. Anyone who comes forward with the information is asked to include, if possible, a suspects name, date of birth or approximate age, physical description, their address, vehicle information, a specific reason why they believe this person should be considered a suspect, a possible motive and any connection that person may have to Delphi. He engaged in a five-hour standoff with police before killing himself. Two police sketches were circulated of a man matching the description of the man in the footage one in 2017 and one in 2019. He has not yet entered a plea. They believe he still visits the area. The evidence released to the public has been minimal, but here's what we know so far: Social media photos give snapshot of teens location. The male model whose photos were used had no connection to the case. However, after so many leads had gone cold she said she was not going to get her hopes up that it was the breakthrough the families had been waiting for. We also try to do a couple of demonstrations each year to help raise awareness, interest, and participation in the activity we all enjoy. Hundreds of investigators from across the state have been working around the clock for the last several weeks to find their killer. German first began with a timeline of events the day she dropped off Libby and Abby near the scenic Monon High Bridge. 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. On Feb. 13, 2017, 13-year-old Libby and 14-year-old Abby were abducted and murdered while hiking a trail in Delphi. 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. If youre already a dancer and new to the area, or just returning to square dancing, email or call to ensure there will be someone to greet you, and come out on Thursday evening. Dance nights are comprised of lessons and dancing what has been taught, and then its practice, practice, practice! The Vice President is Jeannie Mastine and the Treasurer/Secretary is Wendy Shields; the Social Convener is Mary Dament. At 2:07p.m., Libby posted a photo of Abby walking the bridge; after this, they were not heard from again. "I can't tell if that is him or not," Katelyn tellsThe Gazette about the photo. Its going to benefit our community so much and its helping our family to grieve. Abigail Abby Williams, 13, and Liberty Libby German, 14, disappeared on February 13 after being dropped off to go hiking near the Monon High Bridge. For the first time, a man has been arrested and charged with the 2017 murders of the teenagers. "That is a very big misconception Weve been very open and gave the police everything that we know.. Were willing to wait as long as it takes.. 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. A recently obtained search warrant shows the FBI was looking at a man on probation, shortly after the murders, who lived very close to the crime scene, matched a description of a possible suspect and lied to police about his whereabouts the day of the murders. [6] Time magazine described the arrest as "the first major break in a case that has captivated national attention for nearly six years."[7]. 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. "We pray for your protection, and we are forever grateful for your service," the couple, Diane and Eric, write in the note. The incident was nicknamed the Snapchat Murders after Abby took a photo of Libby at around 2:17 p.m. and put it on social media. Distractify is a registered trademark. On February 19, they named him as a suspect in the girls' murders. Investigators have been mostly mum on many case details but a redacted warrant provides a glimpse into information surrounding the However, the investigators have made it clear over the years that they are not yet ready to release further information about what happened to the teens. READ MORE|ISP: Man in photo considered suspect in Delphi teen murder case, Audio clip down the hill released by police, To generate more tips, Indiana State Police released more clues found on Libbys phone. "I just want people to know the truth, that I am not a monster.". The manner of death has never been revealed. In a news release, Randolph County police said "outside of the person resembling the sketch, there is currently zero evidence that ties him to this case and he is not a suspect in the case.". [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. The suspect had died by suicide the previous month. Abby and Libby are believed to have been killed in another location, before their murderer then moved their bodies to where they were found, the surfaced documents show. and that he was likely familiar with the Monon High Bridge. DELPHI FBI Investigators believe the bodies of Abby Williams and Libby German were moved and staged at the Delphi murder scene, according to court documents. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He also begged the court to appoint a public defender, after previously informing the court he intended to hire private counsel. "The reality is that evil happened here, and so we want to reclaim this ground," Rev. A suspect can be heard saying down the hill in an audio clip taken from a video file found on the phone. Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland also argued that unsealing the affidavits would open witnesses to harassment, according to Fox59. However, this changed when the bodies of the girls were found around noon the next day, about 0.5 miles (0.80km) east of the abandoned Monon High Bridge. In a news release, Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby say there is no reason to suspect foul play or to believe the girls are in immediate danger. However, before they died, Libby captured a video and audio clip on her phone, in which the suspect can apparently be heard saying, "Guys, down the hill.". One of my servers was telling me that he wouldnt speak much.. WebOn February 16, police executed a search warrant of a home on Bicycle Bridge Road in connection with the deaths. Carter added the probable The authorities have been purposeful in not disclosing much information about the Delphi Murders. Detectives theorized he killed the girls in his home, then moved and staged their bodies. There are so many that I could talk about Hopefully I cleared a whole bunch up for you guys, German said. They say the girls were murdered. Please let us know if you have concerns, suggestions or questions. ", "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. Its an outlet for us to keep busy.. An additional plea was made for help in identifying the driver of a vehicle left abandoned off the Hoosier Heartland Highway in Delphi, at the former Child Services office, between noon and 5 p.m. on the day of the murders. Our Club Caller is Ron Gardner, our President is Andre Blais and the Past President is Bill Shields. He is accused of luring a 9-year-old into his Lafayette house on April 19, according to the Journal Courier, WTHR and Fox59. [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 families initially searched for the girls themselves before calling the police. After posting a few updates on Snapchat in the early afternoon hours, the girls were not seen or heard from again. There is somebody out there who did this crime, and were going to find them, says Indiana State Police Sgt. Logan also allegedly lied about where he was at the time that the teenagers disappeared. Copyright 2023 Distractify. We want to encourage people to continue to call in with any information that they may have, McLeland said. Police do not call the man a suspect but say they would like to talk with him. On the day of the murders, he was wearing a blue jacket and jeans. The 50-year-old is a local resident of Delphi, the small, close-knit town of around 3,000 people. The documents, filed in 2020 and heavily redacted, do not mention the murders of Libby and Abby and he was not accused of involvement in their deaths. Mr Underhill said that Mr Allen always seemed normal when he would come into the pub where he works. At a news conference, police reveal Libby recorded video and audio of the suspect on her cell phone. WebDELPHI, Ind. Ronald Logan was never named a suspect, despite the warrant. Indiana police say there is no evidence thus far to suggest Eldridge has any connection to the case. We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.. It has also emerged that the accused killer brazenly posed for a smiling selfie in front of one of the police sketches of the murder suspect. Did Murdered Indiana Teens Capture the Voice of Their Killer? Though autopsies were performed on both girls, neither police nor the FBI has released the cause of death of either girl, or information about what, exactly, Our sessions accommodate new and veteran dancers, all of whom enjoy the physical and mental workout that comes with square dancing. Authorities there have passed on information about Etter to Carroll County investigators. Police reiterated that it's important to be as specific as possible. If he didnt complete the assault, it doesnt Kline was charged with 30 felonies in 2020 over the case. The girls' families appearon the Dr. Speaking to Inside Edition, Libby's grandparents say they will wait for information from authorities before getting too hopeful. "The FBI agent that wrote it speculated that could have become some sort of trophy for the killer," said Cain. Investigators urged anyone who had communicated with, met, or attempted to meet the individual posing as anthony_shots to come forward with information. Ahead of the first anniversary of the girls' deaths, authoritiessay Daniel Nations is not a suspect, KRDO reported. However, even if the development does bring some closure to the case, the families of Libby and Abby will never have closure from what happened, she said. We are not done with this investigation there are countless people working on this every day. More than five years on, Richard Allen is facing murder charges, reports Rachel Sharp, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Libby German and Abby Williams were killed back in 2017. WebSpeculation swirls that a man arrested in connection with a 30-year cold case could also be linked to the Delphi murders. Liberty German (left) and Abigail Williams (right), Murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German, "Family and friends say goodbye to Delphi teens at private funerals", "Police: Delphi homicides far from cold case; 18K tips received", "Indiana teens' mysterious murders still unsolved 2 months later, leaving fear, frustration in Delphi", "Arrest made in Delphi murder investigation, sources say", "Delphi suspect charged with 2 counts of murder; 'Investigation far from complete', "Inside the Years-Long Hunt for Justice in the Delphi Murders", "DELPHI TIMELINE: The search for Libby & Abby's killer", "Timeline Disappearance and deaths of Liberty German and Abigail Williams in Delphi", "2 months later, 5 questions about the Delphi killings", "Audio clip released in Delphi double homicide", "Randolph Co. sexual abuse suspect draws comparisons to Delphi murderer", "Delphi Homicide Investigation Moves in New Direction", "New 'Face' of the Delphi Murder Suspect", https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/indiana-police-release-new-sketch-and-recordings-of-delphi-killer-abby-and-libby, "Delphi murder investigation features new sketch, background on 'heartless' killer of 2 Indiana girls", "Man Who Committed Suicide In Indiana Police Standoff Also A Possible Suspect In Delphi Murders Of Abby Williams And Libby German", "Attempted murder defendant investigated for possible ties to Delphi killings", https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/INPOLICE/bulletins/2fdb9da, https://www.wthr.com/amp/article/news/crime/delphi-girls-murdered/kegan-kline-says-police-told-him-anthonyshots-account-was-last-to-communicate-with-libby-german-before-delphi-murders-abby-williams-indiana/531-d95d95f7-d219-4ea2-9a38-725793e7c17f, "Man tied to Delphi murder investigation has pretrial hearing", "Delphi Murders: 5 Years Later, Victim's Sister Clinging to Hope That Killer Will Be Caught", "Creator of "anthony_shots" profile charged in child exploitation case, officials say", "Delphi murders: Judge drops charges against man behind catfishing account", "Delphi man charged with murder in killings of Libby German and Abby Williams", "A man has been arrested and charged with murder in the 2017 killings of 2 teen girls in Indiana, authorities say", "Attorneys appointed for man charged with killing 2 girls", "EXPLAINER: Why are court records sealed in 2 girls' deaths?