His name has come up through the process," Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby told reporters, according to the Lafayette Journal & Courier. 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. "[11] At this news conference, officials credited the source of the audio and imagery to German's smartphone and further regarded her as a hero for having had the presence of mind and fortitude to secretly record the exchange. [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. I mean in the beginning we didnt trust people we were always looking behind our back, she told Fox59. ", He continues, "I dont know exactly what happened out there that day, but I imagine there was probably an opportunity for one or both to separate and try to make a break different ways. Weve been dancing at Wesley United Church Fellowship Hall at 275 Pembroke Street East in Pembroke since the club was formed. Theyre very honest and forthcoming and, contrary to what most people seem to think, we really like our law enforcement, German said. [21], On October 26, 2022, a suspect was taken into custody and appeared in court on October 28. [10] As early as February 15, 2017, Indiana State Police began circulating a still image of an individual reportedly seen on the Monon High Bridge Trail near where the two friends were slain; the grainy photograph appears to capture a Caucasian male, hands in pockets, head down, walking on the rail bridge, towards the girls. We all had a great time at the first event when Andy gathered old and young together in a big square to start the dancing! "We're hoping that the tip's there, and we're going to find it.". Several female bodybuilders are coming forward saying they were sexually exploited in order to advance their careers. Investigators said the person behind the account was Kegan Anthony Kline, 27-year-old man with addresses in Kokomo and Peru, close to Delphi. Based upon my training and experience it is common for perpetrators of this type of crime to take a souvenir or, in some fashion, memorialize the crime scene, the agent wrote. Mom Strangled Her 3 Children to Death After She Heard a 'Man's Voice Telling Her To': Prosecutors, Accused Delphi Killer Once Helped Victim's Family with Photos at CVS, and Didn't Charge Them: Grandmother, 1970s Glam Rock Star Released Early from Prison After Serving Half His Sentence, Mom of Slain Delphi Teen 'in Shock' that Suspect Was 'Living Right Under Everyone's Noses', Fed-Ex Driver Accused of Killing Athena Strand, 7, Is Also Charged with 3 Counts of Sexual Assault, Illinois Man Accused of Stabbing 14-Year-Old After Meeting Her Online and Traveling to Her Home, Interview Transcripts from Delphi Murder Case Reveal Man Admitted to Communicating with Libby German, Ga. Woman Was Killed Inside Car Dealership, Suspect Is Business Partner She Used to Date, Utah Man Who Killed Wife, 5 Kids Was Previously Accused of Choking Daughter, Who Feared He'd 'Kill Her', were abducted and murdered while hiking a trail in Delphi, sister, Kelsi German, previously told PEOPLE. Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland also argued that unsealing the affidavits would open witnesses to harassment, according to Fox59. "The reality is that evil happened here, and so we want to reclaim this ground," Rev. 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." We invite people to come and see what modern square dancing is all about as it is quite different from traditional square dancing. Police found the girls lifeless bodies a short distance from the bridge the following day, near a trail close to the bridge. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. WebSeveral female bodybuilders are coming forward saying they were sexually exploited in order to advance their careers. Though theirkiller has not been caught or identified, authorities said during their investigation, they had looked at Paul Etter. These dance performances are done strictly on a volunteer basis. Mike Patty, Libby's grandfather, speaks out for the first time at a news conference at the Carroll County Courthouse. Libbys grandfather told reporters on Monday that his granddaughters accused killer had been hiding in plain sight the whole time. Libby's big sistertook to YouTubeto debunk conspiracies surrounding the unsolved killings. [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. Libbys phone turned out to be a valuable resource for clues on the teens deaths. "Somebody has to know who this guy is. Their bodies were found the following day alongside a creek about a mile from where they were last seen. He says he gave DNA samples to Indiana authorities. Absolutely no one refused a lie detector test, German said. The girls took photos while strolling across the bridge, but as time passed and their family didnt hear from them, police were called for assistance. Citizen sleuths, including Nancy Grace, offeredtheir theories about the killer. Aside from the sketches released, authorities have indicated that the killer left behind physical evidence. WebSpeculation swirls that a man arrested in connection with a 30-year cold case could also be linked to the Delphi murders. Indiana State Police release a sketch of the murder suspect. He is connected to a social media account that police believe he used to communicate with one of the girls. 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. The posting was the last time the girls were seen. 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. Aprils body was discovered by a jogger three days after her disappearance in a water-filled ditch in a rural field. The survivor was driving on Tippecanoe County 900 East when she realized she had a flat tire June 22, the Journal & Courier wrote. Its been more than five years since best friends Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams, 13, set off on a walk in their hometown of Delphi, Indiana never to be seen alive again. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. WebDelphi murders autopsy. "Until somebody is arrested, were interested in almost everybody.". Someones going to talk. "We've lost our girls. READ MORE|"Down the hill" New audio could help solve Delphi killings|ISP call Liberty German a hero' for capturing audio, photos of suspect. She pulled into Etters driveway about 4:30 a.m. and he asked her if she needed help, but she declined his offer because she didnt feel safe. The river is near the area where Kegan Kline lived. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. More than two years later, authorities have yet to catch their murderer. [29], On December 2, Judge Gull issued a gag order until January 2023. ", "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. Weve been saying it all along: Someone knows something, Mike Patty, Libbys grandfather, told the Lafayette Journal & Courier. Were planning and looking forward to the next Boys and Girls Club dinner/dance. Authorities revealthe reward has jumped to $224,000 and police have received more than 11,000 tips, Fox 59 reported. It provides lots of information, including news from other clubs in the Eastern Ontario Square Dance area, and details about conventions, jamborees, and dances. "But the one thing I'm not going to buckle on, he did not have that jacket.". [18], In December 2021, the Indiana State Police announced the discovery of a fake social media account which had been uncovered during the course of the investigation into the murders. [15] Libby was heralded a hero by state police for having the presence of mind to begin recording. 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. However, no arrests have ever been made in the case. All Rights Reserved. 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. Police have declared the deaths a double homicide, but have not released any information on how the girls were killed. Libbys grandmother Becky Patty told The Independent in December that the teenager had never mentioned speaking to anyone online prior to her death and that there had never been any indication that the two girls had arranged to meet anyone online the day they were killed. The murders On 13 February, 2017, Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, went for a hike over the Monon High Bridge in Carroll County, Indiana. The suspect in a still from the video taken on Libby German's phone. In it, the agent revealed that the girls had lost a lot of blood during their deaths and that their killer is believed to have moved and staged their bodies, before taking some sort of souvenir from the scene. Miller, who was arrested after DNA found on April was sent for testing, lived just two hours from Delphi. Authorities in Indiana investigating the unsolved murders of two best friends are looking into a 42-year-old man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old. It emerges he was homeless at the time of the murders. The Swallows dance most Thursday evenings, from 7:00 to about 9:30. He also begged the court to appoint a public defender, after previously informing the court he intended to hire private counsel. Investigators stated they had reason to believe that the suspect might well be hiding in plain sight and the person was almost certainly familiar with the area of Delphi, whether it be from living or working there or for another reason. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. on the Dr. He then let her go and evaded capture as police launched a massive search in the area. 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. For the first time, the warrant also revealed that the teenagers had been killed by some type of weapon. Got a tip? This is not a cold case, Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland told reporters. Ms Patty, who raised Libby from the age of three along with her husband Mike Patty, also said she had never heard of Kline before investigators released the information about the social media profile to the public. Now they are only releasing a portion of it, why? The suspect's defense attorneys argued in a motion to move the trial out of Carroll County, based on concerns about juror bias due to what the attorneys described as the "extensive media attention" and the "highly publicized nature of the case" in the local area. Investigators have explained that the details of the crime scene indicate a signature, which can help them identify the killer. To hear the Murder Sheets most recent podcast on the new developments, go HERE. Their bodies were discovered the next day in a wooded area around half a mile off the trail. 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! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Germans family has always refused any donations offered directly to them, saying at first they should be made to the reward fund, and after deciding to erect the park, they created a fund for that as well, German said. The warrant application cites multiple complaints that he was violent towards women and that he owned multiple weapons, including handguns and knives. Man's Mugshot Draws Comparisons to Sketch of Indiana Teens' Suspected Killer, Grieving Families Of Teens Killed on Indiana Hike Come Together For First Time. The recording, which is released to the pubic, appears to capture a man's voice saying, "Down the hill. WebIndiana investigators are working to determine if a sexual assault suspect is connected to the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until TUE 6:00 AM CST, Lake County, Kenosha County, from WED 12:00 PM CST until FRI 12:00 AM CST, Cook County, Lake County, have identified another person of interest, State Farm reportedly raising rates for Illinois drivers here's how much, Feds raid suburban Chicago home of businessman who ran for state office, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: Votes tallied in Chicago's mayoral race, Cook County man found dead on Munster street identified, Suspects robbing victims in Chicago who are withdrawing money from ATM: police, Illinois man intentionally drove car into tree during argument with passenger: sheriff's office, Homicide investigation underway after woman found dead in northwest Indiana home, Chicago election results: Map shows breakdown of votes for mayor by neighborhood. WebHe 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 The word for the weapon was redacted in the document. Investigators with the FBI have asked people to think back to the day the girls disappeared - do you know anyone who exhibited strange behavior that day or in the days following their murders? The new sketch April 2019. "[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. WebOn Oct. 26, detectives took 50-year-old Richard M. Allen, a local Delphi resident, into custody at the Indiana State Police Lafayette Post. Prior to this, Logan had previously been on police radar, according to the 2017 search warrant application. The document also says that his voice was not inconsistent with the man captured in the video by Libby. Our sessions accommodate new and veteran dancers, all of whom enjoy the physical and mental workout that comes with square dancing. As CrimeOnline previously reported, 13-year-old Abby and 14-year-old Libby were murdered in 2017, but the killer remains elusive. The male model whose photos were used had no connection to the case. But no arrests were made, no suspects formally named and one promising lead after the next went cold. Richard Allen pictured in mugshot after arrest for Delphi murders. The families initially searched for the girls themselves before calling the police. He is wearing jeans, a navy blue jacket and a hat. Hours later, the girls failedto meet a relative, as planned, and were reported missing. 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. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Investigators released a grainy image from the video and a chilling audio of the man telling the two girls: Go down the hill., This grainy image was taken on Libbys phone on the trail the day the girls went missing. New documents describe the scene where two young girls were murdered in Delphi, Indiana five years ago. On the afternoon of Feb. 13, 2017, a family member drops off Abby and Libby at a trail near the scenic Monon High Bridge, an abandoned railroad bridge over Deer Creek in Carroll County, Indiana. However, Chadwell is now facing attempted According to online records, Mr Allen has lived in Delphi there since at least 2006, and in Indiana his whole adult life. More than five years on from the murders, news of an arrest has finally been made has raised hopes among the Delphi community that there can finally be closure in the case. The Sig Sauer Model P226, which the suspect owned since 2001, was found during a search of Mr Allens home last month. Investigators believe the suspect is the man seen in the video. 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 exact content of the messages can be viewed in the video below. One of the photos used on the bogus online account where the individual posed as this male model. Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right) pictured together. Were willing to wait. The manner of death has never been revealed. 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. World; North America; Delphi murder suspect sat by wanted poster, spoke about case. Capt. He seems like a normal guy, he said. Abigail and Liberty were murdered on February 13, while Lyric and Elizabeth vanished on July 13. Authorities there have passed on information about Etter to Carroll County investigators. 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.". The search continues for the girls, and around noon, teams find two bodies about a half-mile away from the bridge. 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. I believe there is probable cause to believe that RONALD LOGAN has committed the crime of murder and evidence of that can be found on RONALD LOGANS property.. 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. Was Kegan Anthony Kline, 27-year-old man with addresses in Kokomo and Peru, close to the murders Libby. Authorities revealthe reward has jumped to $ 224,000 and police have declared the deaths a double,... Including handguns and knives describe the were the delphi murders sexually assaulted where two young girls were killed grandfather, told the Journal... Didnt trust people we were always looking behind our back, she told Fox59 was formed libbys phone out! Time, the warrant application, offeredtheir theories about the killer left behind physical evidence blue jacket a... 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Search continues for the girls themselves before calling the police begged the court he intended to private! Identified, authorities said during their investigation, they had looked at Paul.. German 's phone communicate with one of the murders discovered by a jogger three days after her disappearance in still.