"[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. It is important to note that the validity of the text messages has not and cannot be corroborated at this time. Amazingly, Libby German took a video of a man walking behind her and Abby Williams on the bridge, who is believed to be the killer. 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! 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. Loved ones and community members gatheredto remember the girls two years after their bodies were found. [9] The bodies were found on the north bank of Deer Creek. 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. Investigators believe the man is the killer. His name has come up through the process," Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby told reporters, according to the Lafayette Journal & Courier. The Vice President is Jeannie Mastine and the Treasurer/Secretary is Wendy Shields; the Social Convener is Mary Dament. He handcuffed her and forced her into his car, driving to his familys property on County Road 750 East, where he sexually assaulted her during the five hours he held her captive, officials said. To hear the Murder Sheets most recent podcast on the new developments, go HERE. Someones going to think, Maybe this one thing I saw might mean something. And maybe thats the one thing that gets this guy.. I dont think anybody can remember something [specific] after something tragic like that happens.". There is somebody out there who did this crime, and were going to find them, says Indiana State Police Sgt. 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 Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland also argued that unsealing the affidavits would open witnesses to harassment, according to Fox59. After receiving multiple calls,Capt. 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. [12][13][14] 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. A huge search gets underway but is called off when it gets too dark. WebAs CrimeOnline previously reported, 13-year-old Abby and 14-year-old Libby were murdered in 2017, but the killer remains elusive. One of the photos used on the bogus online account where the individual posed as this male model. Copyright 2023 Distractify. 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. WebTheres a high probability they were sexually assaulted - just looking at the facts of child abduction murderers and their general MO. The YouTube channel Zav Girl broke down the text messages in a video entitled "Text Messages from the Guy that found Abby and Libby? He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled to begin in March 2023. ", "There'll never be closure," Patty said. Detectives working on the case believe that Mr Allen is the man captured in the video, known as bridge guy, the affidavit states. Were willing to wait as long as it takes.. The reward for information leading to an arrest in this investigation has surpassed $234,000. These dance performances are done strictly on a volunteer basis. Kline was arrested on charges of child sexual abuse images and child exploitation tied to the account in 2020. Libby was heralded a hero by state police for having the presence of mind to begin recording. "The reality is that evil happened here, and so we want to reclaim this ground," Rev. 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. Just like a normal guy that Ive seen for the last couple years, not really thinking anything.. There are no square dance competitions or exams. 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. Local residents also reacted with shock when news broke on Friday of his arrest, saying that he seemed like a normal guy. Indiana State Police, the FBI and Carroll County sheriff's deputies serve a search warrant at the homeof Ron Logan, who owns the 30-acre property where Abby and Libby were found. There is ample parking in the rear of the Church. But no arrests were made, no suspects formally named and one promising lead after the next went cold. We have an Executive, a Caller and a fun bunch of members! She also shot down any rumblings that her family and investigators were on the outs. They say they know the man responsiblewill be caught andbrought to justice. "We've been down this path a few times on a few other tips similar to this," Libby's grandfather, Mike Patty, said. "No, that's not her nor Libby," he wrote in his text response. Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right) pictured together. Authorities also releasemore phone audio in which a man apparently orders them "down the hill.". Information is our main weapon here.. He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is Several female bodybuilders are coming forward saying they were sexually exploited in order to advance their careers. On my property! My fear is that we could be here 10 years from now, and we wont know what happened or why, Abigails mother, Anna Williams, says on the show. However, Chadwell is now facing attempted With less than 3,000 residents, Delphi is a town where everyone knows one another, and the murders have greatly affected many locals. And, that naturally raises the question of how did he get away," said Greenlee. Two articles of clothing were also missing. I love my family so much. The girls' families appearon the Dr. They had both been murdered. Were willing to wait. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Indiana State Police release new audio, new video and a new sketch of the suspect as they announce a "new direction" at a press conference. The warrant also indicated that an FBI agent said Logans voice is not inconsistent with that of the person in the video.. I dont think that we could get through this without each other, and I love you guys so much.. Text messages have been circulating online regarding the case, as has speculation about some of the evidence that is being kept under wraps. She also managed to take a photo and record a small clip of the suspect. Phil Show to tell their story. 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. Libbys phone turned out to be a valuable resource for clues on the teens deaths. They also sharea new, younger-looking sketch of the suspect, who they believe lives or has lived in Delphi. Authorities revealthe reward has jumped to $224,000 and police have received more than 11,000 tips, Fox 59 reported. Its gonna be an awesome park, she said. The new sketch April 2019. The word for the weapon was redacted in the document. 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. For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. ", "Somebody knows this voice," one Delphi citizen tells Inside Edition. A large amount of blood was lost by the victims at the crime scene, an agent wrote in the warrant. 8 Weirdly Specific True Crime Shows That Actually Exist, Chris Watts Bombed His Polygraph Test, and It Led to His Confession, Where Is Convicted Murderer Jeffrey MacDonald Now? The profile was used from 2016 to 2017 on platforms including Snapchat and Instagram and used photos of a known male model, portraying him as being extremely wealthy and owning numerous sports cars. He appears to have no prior criminal record though jail records list him as also going by the alias of Craigh Ross Rentfrow. Libby German posted a Snapchat as the girls walked along the trail. You can't believe that something this terrible in this community happened here on my property, in my back yard.". 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. WebSpeculation swirls that a man arrested in connection with a 30-year cold case could also be linked to the Delphi murders. During a bail hearing on 22 November, prosecutors asked a judge to keep affidavits in the case sealed as they believed Mr Allen may not have acted alone. We now know who the FBI was looking into at first as a potential suspect in the 2017 murders of 14-year-old Liberty German and 13-year-old Abigail Williams. Libertys grandfather, Mike Patty, adds,"Somebody knows something. [31][32], In response to a request from German's mother, 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. 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. The girls were hiking on the Monon High Bridge over Deer Creek, among woodland in remote Deer Creek Township. 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, The happy image of the two best friends is believed to be the last photo of them before they died. Ronald Logan was never named a suspect, despite the warrant. With candor and patience, Kelsi German listed and responded to myriad rumors that have cropped up since her 14-year-old sister and Abbyvanished in 2017. They have also suggested that the crime scene was odd in nature. 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. 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 are very happy. Libby and Abby went missing on 13 February 2017 after they set off on a hike along the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Indiana. Nations' wife says he resembles the police sketch of the suspectbut did not own the clothing seen in the photo. World; North America; Delphi murder suspect sat by wanted poster, spoke about case. German stressed her family had been nothing but cooperative with the police investigation. Chadwell is not the first person authorities have investigated since Libby and Abby's deaths. Distractify is a registered trademark. (A still image from the video had previously been shared.) After spending nearly half an hour addressing different theories and rumors, German said she was going to move on to different topics. [17] On April 27, 2021, Indiana State Police detectives named another suspect as a new person of interest in the Delphi murders. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. It could be an attack on the girls. [21], On October 26, 2022, a suspect was taken into custody and appeared in court on October 28. 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. - Stunning new documents describe the scene where two young girls were murdered in Delphi, Indiana, five years ago. (For more information on how the dancing is different, visit theModern Squares?in the main menu.). Authorities say he is between 18 and 40, but said he may appear older than he is. Dave Bursten of the Indiana State Police assuresthe public the task force dedicated to finding the teens' case investigates every tip. 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. 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. [27][28], On November 29, Judge Frances Gull issued an order to unseal the probable cause affidavit that led to the suspect's arrest. The girl was discovered locked in Chadwell's basement during a search of his home. Despite their grief, and maybe they found that in their grief, to never give up and never quit. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Teenagers Libby German and Abby Williams were murdered back in February 2017. He detailed other information about the crime scene, and the differences in the girls' apparent injuries. He has pleaded not guilty and is said to be refusing to cooperate with the investigation. What do you all think?" Speaking to Inside Edition, Libby's grandparents say they will wait for information from authorities before getting too hopeful. Indiana police say there is no evidence thus far to suggest Eldridge has any connection to the case. He passed away in 2020. One of the girls, likely sensing danger, recorded the mans voice on her cellphone. Mr Allen had no explanation as to how the spent bullet ended up in between the bodies of the two teenage victims, the document states. Two police sketches were circulated of a man matching the description of the man in the footage one in 2017 and one in 2019. All Rights Reserved. "Because I think she put it in her pocket. 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." State police said that in the wake of the new evidence released in April, more than 3,000 new tips have come in, including thousands of emails, more than 500 calls to the tip line and nearly 150 calls and/or walk-ins to local police departments. WebSeveral female bodybuilders are coming forward saying they were sexually exploited in order to advance their careers. In the more than three years since the girls' tragic murders, very little evidence has been released about the case including the cause of death. [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. 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. At 2:07p.m., Libby posted a photo of Abby walking the bridge; after this, they were not heard from again. Indiana State Police also release a photo of a man reportedly seen on the trail around the time the girlsdisappeared. There is always cold water available, and tea and coffee cost a quarter per cup! In August, Indiana State Police were spotted searching the Wabash River in Peru around 40 minutes east of Delphi in connection to the case. I would talk; he wouldnt say much. Please let us know if you have concerns, suggestions or questions. "Until somebody is arrested, were interested in almost everybody.". As CrimeOnline previously reported, 13-year-old Abby and 14-year-old Libby were murdered in 2017, but the killer remains elusive. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Delphi murders: Richard Allen tied to bullet found at crime scene and is bridge guy, reveals affidavit, Delphi murders: Killer staged bodies and may have taken souvenir, new documents reveal, Delphi murders: Grandmother says teen didnt mention speaking to anyone online as police probe catfish claim, What we know about Delphi murders and the deaths of two girls, a man has been arrested and charged with the 2017 murders of the teenagers, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Kim Riley. Resident Audrey Wardrip said that the family never gave up hope. Investigators said the description of the vehicle matched a vehicle that the suspect owned in 2017. It is not clear what information has led to Mr Allens arrest now, more than five years on from the 2017 murders. Logan is later sentenced to two yearsfor operating a vehicle after being a habitual traffic offender. 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. Before his sudden arrest, Mr Allens name was never publicly linked to the case. [29], According to a probable cause affidavit, the suspect was interviewed by the police in 2017, and said he was on the trail that afternoon for around two hours. "We've lost our girls. 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. All Rights Reserved. "That is a very big misconception Weve been very open and gave the police everything that we know.. The survivor was driving on Tippecanoe County 900 East when she realized she had a flat tire June 22, the Journal & Courier wrote. 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. 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. However, he denied any knowledge or involvement in the two teenagers deaths. But Etter followed her and when she pulled into a friends driveway, he pulled in as well and attacked her. Here are five things to know about the homicide case of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. The murder of two teen girls rocked the small town of Delphi. WebOn February 16, police executed a search warrant of a home on Bicycle Bridge Road in connection with the deaths. DELPHI, Ind. 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.. On February 19, they named him as a suspect in the girls' murders. David shot that down, and he then explained how what he saw differed from these images. "We hear that muffled: 'down the hill, down the hill' Why was it muffled?" Meanwhile, detectives continue to ask anyone who may have had contact with the screen name anthony_shots to contact law enforcement atabbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.comor 765-822-3535. Miller, who was arrested after DNA found on April was sent for testing, lived just two hours from Delphi. Grace tells ABC News. 2017 Swinging Swallows Modern Square Dance Club. The authorities have been purposeful in not disclosing much information about the Delphi Murders. 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. Investigators urged anyone who had communicated with, met, or attempted to meet the individual posing as anthony_shots to come forward with information. [22][23][24] He was not named by police as a person of interest in the investigation. Investigators said the person behind the account was Kegan Anthony Kline, 27-year-old man with addresses in Kokomo and Peru, close to Delphi. READ MORE|FBI seeks tips on behavioral changes to help catch Delphi killer. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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. ", Inside Edition's Steven Fabian asked, "If this does pan out, what would that mean to you and your family? He is accused of luring a 9-year-old into his Lafayette house on April 19, according to the Journal Courier, WTHR and Fox59. We want to encourage people to continue to call in with any information that they may have, McLeland said. Authorities also announce a $41,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. 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. Investigators have long suspected that this man is the girls killer and have praised the girls for documenting the video as evidence. Investigators tracked Logans activities on the day of the murders and determined he was not forthcoming. WebThe townsfolk felt like they were holding their breath all that time, and on October 31, 2022, they could finally exhale. For many we spoke to, the worst revelation today was that the suspect was one of their own. Its an outlet for us to keep busy.. On Feb. 13, 2017, 13-year-old Libby and 14-year-old Abby were abducted and murdered while hiking a trail in Delphi. Police say they are searching for the man seen in the photo and encourage members of the public to call in with tips. When asked if Miller was a possible suspect, Indiana State Police Sgt. WebIndiana investigators are working to determine if a sexual assault suspect is connected to the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams. The posting was the last time the girls were seen. It's not long before the new dancer is feeling like an old pro! [8] They were reported missing at 5:30p.m. after they failed to meet Liberty's father at 3:15p.m. Although his face isnt clear in the picture, it was enough to give authorities a general description. I mean in the beginning we didnt trust people we were always looking behind our back, she told Fox59. [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.