Murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German

On February 14, 2017, the bodies of Abigail Williams and Liberty German were discovered near the Monon High Bridge Trail, which is part of the Delphi Historic Trails in Delphi, Indiana, United States, after the young girls had disappeared from the same trail the previous day. The murders have received significant media coverage because a photo and audio recording of an individual believed to be the girls' killer was found on German's smartphone. Despite thousands of tips that have been sent to the police and the circulation of the recordings of the suspect, no arrest in the case has been made.[1][2][3]

Murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German
Liberty German (left) and Abigail Williams (right)
DateFebruary 13, 2017 (2017-02-13)
Time2:07 p.m. –5:30 p.m. (EST)
LocationNear Monon High Bridge,
Deer Creek Township,
Carroll County, Indiana, U.S.
Coordinates40°35′20.7″N 86°38′34.2″W
TypeMurder
Deaths
  • Abigail J. "Abby" Williams
  • Liberty Rose Lynn "Libby" German
CoronerJordan Cree, Carroll County
Arrests0
Suspects1 unidentified male (as per ISP)

Murders

At 1:35 p.m. on February 13, 2017, 13-year-old Abigail J. "Abby" Williams and 14-year-old Liberty Rose Lynn "Libby" German were dropped off by German's older sister, Kelsi German, at a trail-head on County Road 300 North, west of the Hoosier Heartland Highway. The girls were hiking on the Monon High Bridge over Deer Creek, among woodland in remote Deer Creek Township. At 2:07 p.m., Libby posted a photo of Abby walking the bridge; after this they weren’t heard from again.[4] They were reported missing at 5:30 p.m. after they failed to meet Liberty’s father at 3:15 p.m. The families initially searched for the girls themselves before calling the police. Authorities who quickly searched the area did not initially suspect foul play in the disappearance. However, this changed when the bodies of the girls were found around noon the next day, about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east of the abandoned Monon High Bridge.[5] The bodies were about 50 feet (15 m) from the north bank of Deer Creek.

Investigation
Distributed photograph of suspect
Updated sketch of suspect

Police have not publicly stated nor released details of how the girls were murdered.[6] 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, walking on the rail bridge, head down, toward the girls.[4] A few days later, the person in the photograph was named the prime suspect in the double-homicide.[5]

On February 22, law enforcement released an audio recording where the voice of the assailant,[7] though in some degree muffled, is heard to say, "Down the hill." It was at this news conference that officials credited the source of the audio and imagery to German's smartphone, and, further, regarded her as a hero for having had the uncanny foresight and fortitude to record the exchange in secret. Police indicated that additional evidence from the phone had been secured, but that they did not release it so as not to "compromise any future trial." By this time, the reward offered in the case was set at $41,000.[5]

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. It had apparently been drawn by police from eyewitnesses to a certain hiker of the Delphi Historic Trails on the day that the girls vanished.[5]

On April 19, 2019, Indiana State Police announced a "new direction" in the case.[8] On behalf of State Police and the Multi-Agency Taskforce, Superintendent Doug Carter released more materials a few days later in a press conference held on April 22. The new materials included a short video recording in which the blue-jeaned and jacketed suspect is seen walking along the rail bridge for a little over a second. Supt. Carter states that because of the deteriorated condition of the bridge, the suspect is not walking naturally due to the spacing between the ties.

An updated sketch of the suspect was also unveiled, as well as an extended version of the audio recording, in which a slight rise in the suspect's voice can be detected as he utters the word "Guys...", before the phrase "Down the hill."[4] It was further explained that the previously-released sketch, showing an older man with goatee and cap, is now considered secondary; by contrast, the clean-shaven individual of the newly revised composite is the primary sketch of the prime suspect.[9] Police say this person may range from age 18 to 40, but caution that his "youthful appearance" could make him look younger than his true age.

On April 22, law enforcement reached out to the public urging all to look at the sketch, listen to the audio, watch how the man walks on the bridge and send tips to this email: Abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com.

Investigators revealed they have reason to believe that the suspect might well be hiding in plain sight, and that the person is almost certainly familiar with the area of Delphi, whether it be from living or working there or for another reason.[10] 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]

Persons of interest

Paul Etter

On July 23, 2019, after receiving a tip, authorities announced that Paul Etter was being considered a person of interest in the murders. Etter was wanted for the kidnapping and rape of a 26-year-old woman on June 22 in Tippecanoe County. Five days later, Etter was surrounded by police, and after a five hour stand-off, he died by suicide.[12]

Daniel J. Nations

Daniel J. Nations, a registered sex offender from Indiana, was arrested in Woodland Park, Colorado in September 2017 and charged with threatening strangers on a Monument trail with a hatchet.[4] The expired Indiana plates on the car Nations was driving was noticed by police, who subsequently discovered an outstanding warrant under his name. Fanning public speculation still further, it was reported that a bicyclist had been fatally shot on the same trail at around the time that Nations was purportedly terrifying passersby. An El Paso County sheriff's spokesman told reporters that, however "many similarities" there were between the cases, he was not at liberty to disclose them, since Indiana investigators did not want any more information released.[13]

On January 5, 2018, Nations was sentenced to three years of probation for threatening members of the public in Colorado; however, he was not released since he had an active warrant out on him back in Indiana. On January 24, Nations was finally transferred to Indiana officials' custody on an unrelated charge, failure to register as a sex offender.[14] In early February 2018, authorities said that Nations was no longer considered an active person of interest in the Delphi murders.

Thomas Bruce

Thomas Bruce, who formerly worked as a pastor, is charged with fatally shooting one woman and sexually assaulting two others, after having ordered them at gunpoint into the back room of a suburban St. Louis shop for religious supplies. Committed in broad daylight on November 19, 2018, these crimes put Bruce in the spotlight of the press. Some noted his being of similar stature (5-foot-7 to 5-foot-9 inches) to the then-current suspect description in the Delphi slayings; also, his wearing a flat cap and navy-blue jacket during this attack, not unlike the suspect in the Delphi case.[4] Indiana State Police did look into his possible connection in November.[15] On December 4, Bruce was charged with no fewer than 17 felony counts related to the St. Louis case and could receive the death penalty.

Charles Eldridge

Charles Eldridge was arrested on January 8, 2019 in Union City, Indiana, on charges of child molestation and child solicitation. Police in Randolph County alerted the FBI to a potential link between Eldridge and the Delphi murders, on account of his strong resemblance to the suspect sketch, albeit this was before the updated composite had come out.[16]

Memorials

In response to a request from German's mother, countless homeowners across central Indiana have had orange lights installed on their front porches, both to commemorate the girls as well as to indicate that the murderer remains at large.[4][17]

In August 2017, the families announced their plans to build a sports complex for Delphi in the memory of the girls.[18] 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."[19] 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. [20]

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See also

References
  1. Peters, Trevor (June 16, 2017). "Police: Delphi homicides far from cold case; 18K tips received". WISH-TV. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  2. Shapiro, Emily. "Indiana teens' mysterious murders still unsolved 2 months later, leaving fear, frustration in Delphi". ABC News. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  3. Lewbel, Paris; Sanchez, Rafael; Cox, Katie (April 25, 2017). "Delphi: The Investigation". WRTV. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  4. "Case 119: Abigail Williams and Liberty German". Casefile: True Crime Podcast. July 27, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  5. "Timeline – Disappearance and deaths of Liberty German and Abigail Williams in Delphi". FOX 59. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  6. Mack, Justin. "2 months later, 5 questions about the Delphi killings". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  7. "Audio clip released in Delphi double homicide". Journal & Courier. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  8. "Delphi Homicide Investigation Moves in New Direction". IN.gov/isp/. April 19, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  9. Bream, Rebecca. "New Face Of Delphi Murder Suspect Shown In Sketch". Patch.com. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  10. "New 'Face' of the Delphi Murder Suspect". IN.gov/isp/. April 22, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  11. Fedschun, Travis. "Delphi murder investigation features new sketch, background on 'heartless' killer of 2 Indiana girls". www.foxnews.com. Fox News. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  12. "Man Who Committed Suicide In Indiana Police Standoff Also A Possible Suspect In Delphi Murders Of Abby Williams And Libby German". July 23, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  13. "Colorado Arrest May Be Break In Delphi, Ind. Murders". chicago.cbslocal.com. CBS Local. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  14. "Person of interest in Delphi homicide heading back to Indiana on unrelated warrant". IndyStar. January 24, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  15. Davis, Chris (November 22, 2018). "Police: St. Louis and Delphi Cases Have Some Similarities". WIBC (FM). Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  16. "Randolph Co. sexual abuse suspect draws comparisons to Delphi murderer". 13 WTHR Indianapolis. January 10, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  17. Sanchez, Rafael; Cox, Katie (September 14, 2017). "7 months after Delphi murders orange lights still burn bright in search for Libby and Abby's killer". WRTV. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  18. Cox, Katie (August 26, 2017). "Delphi Murders: Plans unveiled for Libby & Abby memorial park and softball field". WRTV. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  19. "Nonprofit L & A Park Foundation". Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  20. "Abby & Libby Memorial Park". Retrieved July 7, 2020.
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