Double Homicide Suspect Caught on Camera; Manhunt Widens

Details

Category: Crime

Published on Monday, 20 February 2017 18:44

Written by Janet Walker

The main suspect in the murders of Liberty German and Abigail Williams, the two Indiana teens killed while hiking on Delphi Historic Trail, has been identified and his image was captured on park surveillance.

Abigail Williams, 13, was last seen in a Snapchat picture took presumably by Liberty German, 14, and posted to her Snapchat account, the girls seemed carefree walking on the railroad tie bridge, unaware of how this unseasonably warm winter day in February would end.

The murders sent a shock wave through this tight knit community of just 2900 inhabitant. Delphi, Indiana, considered the heart of Hooiser Country, is about 70miles northwest of Indianapolis and a world away from the big city influences.  

The girls were dropped off early in the afternoon, and the snapchat picture posted between 1:00pm and 3:00pm on Monday, February 13, 2017. Even as it was unseasonably warm, the sun would still set at 6:20pm in Delphi, Indiana. The girls, were supposed to meet family members to be picked up at the same entrance where they were dropped off probably about 5:00pm. They would have returned to the parking lot at 4:30pm.

The girls were best friends and had known each other nearly their whole lives. They attended the same school, had the same friends, were each other confidents and best friends. When they weren’t at school they were playing sports.

Discovery and Investigation

When the girls didn’t return to the pickup location they were reported missing to the local police who took the report and didn’t immediately suspect foul play.

A search was organized and in the early afternoon, about 12:15pm, on February 14, 2017, volunteers discovered the bodies of the two girls on private property, in the woods near Deer Creek, adjunct to the Hiking trails and about 60feet from the river.

Sargent Kim Riley of the Indiana State police announced the two bodies had been found and the families have been notified. He also stated, "no further information on the condition of the bodies would be released."

The girl’s bodies were sent to the coroner for autopsy to determine the exact time and cause of death.

The Indiana State Police-Lafayette District Issued The Following Statement

The Police are requesting assistance from the public calling for anyone who may have seen something or the man seen in the photograph. Any person driving through Indiana who may have seen someone hitchhiking or at a convenience store, or talking about the trails in Delphi.

We are providing a photograph of a subject who was on the Delphi Historic Trails on February 13, 2017 around the time Abigail Williams and Liberty German were walking. We are asking help from the public to help identify him so he can be contacted regarding what he might have seen. 

Also, if you were parked at High Bridge Trail Head on February 13, 2017 between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. we would like to talk to you. If you can identify the subject or were parked in the lot, please contact the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department or the Delphi Police Department at 765-564-2345 or the Indiana State Police at 765-567-2125. You can remain anonymous if you request. 

This is now considered a double homicide investigation. No further information will be released as far as condition or cause of death of the two girls. We are asking for anyone to come forward with information or were in the area of the Delphi Historic Trails or Monon High Bridge that might have seen a person or persons, vehicles parked in the area or were taking pictures. Any information may be helpful to solving this case. You can contact the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department or the Delphi Police Department at 765-564-2413, option #1, or the Indiana State Police at 765-567-2125.

Sources: Various

Images courtesy of the Indiana State Police.