She told investigators she believed Chadwell was going to kill her. Detectives said that after the photo was taken, a man approached the girls and apparently told them to go down the hill.. 2017 Swinging Swallows Modern Square Dance Club. 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. 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. Abby Williams' grandparents leave an emotional note at police headquarters to expresses their gratitude for those investigating the case. They had both been murdered. Ahead of the first anniversary of the girls' deaths, authoritiessay Daniel Nations is not a suspect, KRDO reported. 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. The Girls Went Missing Last Monday After Going Hiking. We want to encourage people to continue to call in with any information that they may have, McLeland said. It emerges he was homeless at the time of the murders. "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. "Although we understand that people are trying to help the investigation, by doing this with zero evidence other than a mere appearance, it can also hurt or hinder an investigation,"the department said. [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. Investigators said the description of the vehicle matched a vehicle that the suspect owned in 2017. 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. On February 19, they named him as a suspect in the girls' murders. When I will go into CVS as a customer myself, he would say do you need any help? I would be like no, Chandler Underhill, the manager of the local Brick & Mortar Pub, where he said Mr Allen was a regular, told Fox59. Got a tip? On Monday, Indiana State Police announced that he had been charged with two counts of murder. 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. WebThe townsfolk felt like they were holding their breath all that time, and on October 31, 2022, they could finally exhale. In the years since Libby German and Abby Williams were murdered, there have been no arrests. Up until now, the man has never been identified. Please let us know if you have concerns, suggestions or questions. Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right) pictured together. WebAs CrimeOnline previously reported, 13-year-old Abby and 14-year-old Libby were murdered in 2017, but the killer remains elusive. A suspect can be heard saying down the hill in an audio clip taken from a video file found on the phone. "We're hoping that the tip's there, and we're going to find it.". Authorities also announce a $41,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. "It was something I couldn't get my emotions around. 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 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. 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. Logan was never charged and he died in 2020, before the case was solved. Nations' wife says he resembles the police sketch of the suspectbut did not own the clothing seen in the photo. As members of the Carroll County community, we remain devastated by these murders and our hearts go out to the German and Williams families, the company said in a statement to local outlet WRTV. Mmmmmm. They were good friends. Mike Patty, Libby's grandfather, speaks out for the first time at a news conference at the Carroll County Courthouse. At the time of the murders, he would have been 44 years old. WebOn Oct. 26, detectives took 50-year-old Richard M. Allen, a local Delphi resident, into custody at the Indiana State Police Lafayette Post. Libby was heralded a hero by state police for having the presence of mind to begin recording. The warrant was based on a tip that came in, but no arrests [33], In August 2017, the families announced their plans to build a sports complex for Delphi in memory of the girls. 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. Our Club Caller is Ron Gardner, our President is Andre Blais and the Past President is Bill Shields. He was never charged and recently died. It doesnt heal the hurt or, you know, change anything for the families, but maybe this will bring some sort of ease to them.. The posting was the last time the girls were seen. He says he was buying tropical fish at the time of the murders. He also thanked the community for its support. "This horrible crime has torn a hole in our families that will never heal," he says. He has since been moved to a state facility for his own safety. [9], On February 22, law enforcement released an audio recording where the voice of the suspect, although muffled, is heard to say, "Down the hill. Just like a normal guy that Ive seen for the last couple years, not really thinking anything.. The exact content of the messages can be viewed in the video below. 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. Police say they are searching for the man seen in the photo and encourage members of the public to call in with tips. Hundreds of investigators from across the state have been working around the clock for the last several weeks to find their killer. By this time, the reward offered in the case was set at $41,000. Authorities there have passed on information about Etter to Carroll County investigators. Dave Bursten says there isno evidence suggesting or disproving whether Eldridge is connected to the case, according to a report. And, that naturally raises the question of how did he get away," said Greenlee. 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 you know anyone who fits any of these behavioral changes the FBI wants to know. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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. 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. Its an outlet for us to keep busy.. Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland also argued that unsealing the affidavits would open witnesses to harassment, according to Fox59. 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. Their bodies were found the following day alongside a creek about a mile from where they were last seen. Were willing to wait. Several female bodybuilders are coming forward saying they were sexually exploited in order to advance their careers. Hours later, the girls failedto meet a relative, as planned, and were reported missing. At 1:35p.m. on February 13, 2017, 13-year-old Abigail Joyce "Abby" Williams and 14-year-old Liberty Rose Lynn "Libby" German were dropped off by German's older sister, Kelsi German, on County Road 300 North, east of the Hoosier Heartland Highway. On the wall behind him is the 2019 police sketch. "I can tell you that it's not easy, and a lot of people are putting a lot of work into this," he says. He also allegedly asked his cousin to back up his story before the girls bodies had been found. which has been viewed more than 18,000 times. We keep a copy on the Info Table for dancers to look at. They say they know the man responsiblewill be caught andbrought to justice. Per CNN, Delphi police announced that they had arrested and 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. 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. One of the photos used on the bogus online account where the individual posed as this male model. "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. [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. 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. An affidavit released on 29 November revealed prosecutors had tied Mr Allen to a bullet found at the scene of the girls murder. The river is near the area where Kegan Kline lived. This case is not closed. In an interview with The Gazette, Daniel Nations denies any involvement in the killings. The girls were found murdered on Valentines Day 2017 in Delphi, after they took a hiking trip at an abandoned bridge. 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. [6] Time magazine described the arrest as "the first major break in a case that has captivated national attention for nearly six years."[7]. German stressed her family had been nothing but cooperative with the police investigation. "We've lost our girls. email us atinfo@getupanddance.caor give us a call with questions about modern square dancing, our Club and joining our group, Facebook: 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 friend texted a man named David, who claims to have found the bodies, because there were alleged crime scene photos leaked online. Recommended. [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. German first began with a timeline of events the day she dropped off Libby and Abby near the scenic Monon High Bridge. The 50-year-old is a local resident of Delphi, the small, close-knit town of around 3,000 people. Investigators have asked for any evidence they get to be fast-tracked, however they will not comment on what evidence they may have found. All Rights Reserved. Weve been dancing at Wesley United Church Fellowship Hall at 275 Pembroke Street East in Pembroke since the club was formed. The reward for information leading to an arrest in this investigation has surpassed $234,000. The Hall is an excellent facility that provides two floors for dancing, if needed, and the use of a kitchen for our party nights. He appears to have no prior criminal record though jail records list him as also going by the alias of Craigh Ross Rentfrow. WebFor the first time, a man has been arrested and charged with the 2017 murders of the teenagers. 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.". The new sketch April 2019. He currently works at the local CVS store coming into contact with members of the community as part of his job. The Swinging Swallows gather on Thursday evenings to start dancing at 7:00 pm. - Stunning new documents describe the scene where two young girls were murdered in Delphi, Indiana, five years ago. For many we spoke to, the worst revelation today was that the suspect was one of their own. However, Chadwell is now facing attempted 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. release new audio, new video and a new sketch. It is not clear if Mr Allen has any connection to Logan or Kline. The investigators do believe that the suspect either lives or works in Delphi, Ind. Indiana State Police also release a photo of a man reportedly seen on the trail around the time the girlsdisappeared. He passed away in 2020. At Christmas and the end of the dance year we have a pot-luck dinner prior to dancing. Autopsies are conducted on the bodies. 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). Is April Tinsley's Accused Killer Connected to the 2017 Murder of Indiana Hikers? 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. 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. Miller, who was arrested after DNA found on April was sent for testing, lived just two hours from Delphi. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We are begging you, begging you to come forward. Miller was later convicted of the murder of Tinsley and sentenced to 80 years in prison. Aprils body was discovered by a jogger three days after her disappearance in a water-filled ditch in a rural field. While walking on the trail, Libby posts a photo to Snapchat showing Abby crossing the bridge. Our membership is quite varied in ages and abilities with everyone enjoying the fun and friendships that are offered. [17] On April 27, 2021, Indiana State Police detectives named another suspect as a new person of interest in the Delphi murders. Authorities revealthe reward has jumped to $224,000 and police have received more than 11,000 tips, Fox 59 reported. 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. Its gonna be an awesome park, she said. I dont think anybody can remember something [specific] after something tragic like that happens.". Until now. There are also details revealed about the crime scene. Logan is later sentenced to two yearsfor operating a vehicle after being a habitual traffic offender. Despite their grief, and maybe they found that in their grief, to never give up and never quit. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It is important to note that the validity of the text messages has not and cannot be corroborated at this time. [12][13][14] World; North America; Delphi murder suspect sat by wanted poster, spoke about case. Never-before-released video taken from Libby's cellphone shows a man walking towardthe two girls. He is accused of luring a 9-year-old into his Lafayette house on April 19, according to the Journal Courier, WTHR and Fox59. Our sessions accommodate new and veteran dancers, all of whom enjoy the physical and mental workout that comes with square dancing. 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. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. "But the one thing I'm not going to buckle on, he did not have that jacket.". On my property! They also sharea new, younger-looking sketch of the suspect, who they believe lives or has lived in Delphi. Five days earlier, Etter is believed to have abducted a 26-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her on his familys farm. Kline allegedly told investigators he would use social media accounts to talk to underage girls and had exchanged messages with and received about 100 sexual photos and about 20 sexually explicit videos from around 15 underage girls. We now know who the FBI was looking into at 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. State police continue to stress the importance of reporting tips to authorities and not over social media to avoid speculation and confusion. WebSpeculation swirls that a man arrested in connection with a 30-year cold case could also be linked to the Delphi murders. On February 14, 2017, the bodies of Abigail Williams (June 23, 2003 February 13, 2017) and Liberty German (December 27, 2002 February 13, 2017) 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 On 13 February, 2017, Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, went for a hike over the Monon High Bridge in Carroll County, Indiana. 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. 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