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. Despite their grief, and maybe they found that in their grief, to never give up and never quit. 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. Abigail and Liberty were murdered on February 13, while Lyric and Elizabeth vanished on July 13. - Stunning new documents describe the scene where two young girls were murdered in Delphi, Indiana, five years ago. In August, Indiana State Police were spotted searching the Wabash River in Peru around 40 minutes east of Delphi in connection to the case. Indiana State Police say they are still actively investigating more than 500 people from those tips. 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. It is not clear what information has led to Mr Allens arrest now, more than five years on from the 2017 murders. The male model whose photos were used had no connection to the case. Mr Underhill said that Mr Allen always seemed normal when he would come into the pub where he works. Mr Allen appears to bear a likeness to the sketches. [20] In a 2020 interview with police, the man had said he spoke to German the night before she went missing,[21] and planned to meet her on the date of her disappearance. All Rights Reserved. On Monday, Indiana State Police announced that he had been charged with two counts of murder. It is not clear if Mr Allen has any connection to Logan or Kline. At the time of the murders, he would have been 44 years old. This is not a cold case, Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland told reporters. [33], In August 2017, the families announced their plans to build a sports complex for Delphi in memory of the girls. The 50-year-old is a local resident of Delphi, the small, close-knit town of around 3,000 people. He has not yet entered a plea. The Club has an annual membership drive every September (usually the second and third Thursdays after Labour Day). Speculation swirls that a man arrested in connection with a 30-year cold case could also be linked to the Delphi murders. The exact content of the messages can be viewed in the video below. What do you all think?" We need to find out who has done this to our girls.". Its an outlet for us to keep busy.. Chadwell allegedly brought the child to his basement, where he beat her and sexually assaulted her until police knocked on his front door. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The new sketch April 2019. We like to visit retirement and long-term care homes and other community events to dance for their entertainment and our well-being, as a Club and as a person! DELPHI, Ind. Until now. WebOn February 16, police executed a search warrant of a home on Bicycle Bridge Road in connection with the deaths. 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). For the first time, the warrant also revealed that the teenagers had been killed by some type of weapon. Grace tells ABC News. Ronald Logan was never named a suspect, despite the warrant. Ms Patty had also sought to have sensitive information relating to the case kept out of the public eye, prosecutors said. Investigators have asked for any evidence they get to be fast-tracked, however they will not comment on what evidence they may have found. But those girls loved each other. which has been viewed more than 18,000 times. 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. "That is a very big misconception Weve been very open and gave the police everything that we know.. He also allegedly asked his cousin to back up his story before the girls bodies had been found. On the day the girls went missing, Libby had posted photos on Snapchat of her and Abby walking along the trail. 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 says he gave DNA samples to Indiana authorities. 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. David, the person involved in the leaked text messages, claimed that the girls died from stabbing. "We've been down this path a few times on a few other tips similar to this," Libby's grandfather, Mike Patty, said. Investigators believe the suspect is the man seen in the video. In 2015 we began a new annual tradition by hosting the Boys and Girls Club for a dinner and some dancing after. [25][26] Two public defenders were appointed to represent the suspect. On the day of the murders, he was wearing a blue jacket and jeans. 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[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. Our sessions accommodate new and veteran dancers, all of whom enjoy the physical and mental workout that comes with square dancing. "Because I think she put it in her pocket. Further, although the public has only heard a few seconds of a recording made by one of the victims before her death, the agent wrote in the warrant that the full recording is 43 seconds long. There is a publication called Square Time that dancers can subscribe to. WebFor the first time, a man has been arrested and charged with the 2017 murders of the teenagers. Their bodies were discovered the next day in a wooded area around half a mile off the trail. Before his sudden arrest, Mr Allens name was never publicly linked to the case. [9] The bodies were found on the north bank of Deer Creek. According to an affidavit, Kline posed as the model in order to groom underage girls and get them to send nude photos and their addresses and try to get them to meet him. Resident Audrey Wardrip said that the family never gave up hope. After spending nearly half an hour addressing different theories and rumors, German said she was going to move on to different topics. [5] On October 31, 2022, Indiana State Police announced that the suspect had been charged with two counts of murder in the case. Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right) pictured together. Our membership is quite varied in ages and abilities with everyone enjoying the fun and friendships that are offered. We are not done with this investigation there are countless people working on this every day. 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. The warrant application cites multiple complaints that he was violent towards women and that he owned multiple weapons, including handguns and knives. Though theirkiller has not been caught or identified, authorities said during their investigation, they had looked at Paul Etter. Indiana State Police also release a photo of a man reportedly seen on the trail around the time the girlsdisappeared. Hundreds of investigators from across the state have been working around the clock for the last several weeks to find their killer. The Swinging Swallows Square Dance Club is a registered not-for-profit Ottawa Valley organization. The Vice President is Jeannie Mastine and the Treasurer/Secretary is Wendy Shields; the Social Convener is Mary Dament. She spoke highly of relatives who had been smeared online and noted their alibis and other proof she said showed they had nothing to do with the killings. The incident was nicknamed the Snapchat Murders after Abby took a photo of Libby at around 2:17 p.m. and put it on social media. I dont think that we could get through this without each other, and I love you guys so much.. If you know anything about this case, you are asked to contact, Indiana State Police. She noted that any whispers of her family taking donations meant to go toward the memorial park being built in honor of Abby and Libby were also false. 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? Nations' wife says he resembles the police sketch of the suspectbut did not own the clothing seen in the photo. They had both been murdered. For the first time, a man has been arrested and charged with the 2017 murders of the teenagers. Libertys grandfather, Mike Patty, adds,"Somebody knows something. I mean in the beginning we didnt trust people we were always looking behind our back, she told Fox59. 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. Police reiterated that it's important to be as specific as possible. "It was something I couldn't get my emotions around. It's not long before the new dancer is feeling like an old pro! Their bodies were found the following day alongside a creek about a mile from where they were last seen. "We're really going to wait until we get something from law enforcement. Kim Riley. 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. Is April Tinsley's Accused Killer Connected to the 2017 Murder of Indiana Hikers? The girls were hiking on the Monon High Bridge over Deer Creek, among woodland in remote Deer Creek Township. (A still image from the video had previously been shared.) Richard Allen, a 50-year-old married Delphi man, was taken into custody on Wednesday (26 October) and booked into Carroll County Jail. He passed away in 2020. Per CNN, Delphi police announced that they had arrested and Kline was arrested on charges of child sexual abuse images and child exploitation tied to the account in 2020. 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. A large amount of blood was lost by the victims at the crime scene, an agent wrote in the warrant. 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. The suspect in a still from the video taken on Libby German's phone. Investigators have long suspected that this man is the girls killer and have praised the girls for documenting the video as evidence. He is wearing jeans, a navy blue jacket and a hat. Police have not released details of how the girls were murdered. I can promise you this:When an arrest is made of a suspect identified as the alleged perpetrator of the Delphi Murders, rest assured, we will let everyone know," Bursten said in a statement. Speaking to Inside Edition, Libby's grandparents say they will wait for information from authorities before getting too hopeful. ", "There'll never be closure," Patty said. 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. 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. His family home is less than a five-minute drive away from where the bodies of Libby and Abby were found, residing in a neighborhood southwest of the Monon High Bridge. Phil Show to tell their story. Abby and Libby are believed to have been killed in another location, before their murderer then moved their bodies to where they were found, the surfaced documents show. 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. He is accused of driving to the county dump on the day 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. I dont even think its possible, German said. We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.. 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've waited so long for answers," Libby's older sister, Kelsi German, previously told PEOPLE, "so it would be nice to have closure and the girls can have their day and we can be done.". Finally having a breakthrough in the case was a positive day for the community, she said. Dave Bursten says there isno evidence suggesting or disproving whether Eldridge is connected to the case, according to a report. Were planning and looking forward to the next Boys and Girls Club dinner/dance. Hundreds of investigators from across the state have been working around the clock for the last several weeks to By this time, the reward offered in the case was set at $41,000. However, shocking new details about the murders came to light in a search warrant application obtained by podcast The Murder Sheet and shared with The Independent back in May. 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. "I can't tell if that is him or not," Katelyn tellsThe Gazette about the photo. The people behind the scenes will not rest until we get this case solved. [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. However, the investigators have made it clear over the years that they are not yet ready to release further information about what happened to the teens. 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 warrant was based on a tip that came in, but no arrests WebOn Monday, police announced that Richard Allen, 50, of Delphi, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Libby and Abby. German first began with a timeline of events the day she dropped off Libby and Abby near the scenic Monon High Bridge. We also try to do a couple of demonstrations each year to help raise awareness, interest, and participation in the activity we all enjoy. Richard Allen pictured in mugshot after arrest for Delphi murders. He also thanked the community for its support. Allen was formally charged with murdering On the wall behind him is the 2019 police sketch. 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. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. Autopsies are conducted on the bodies. 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. I dont think anybody can remember something [specific] after something tragic like that happens.". As CrimeOnline previously reported, 13-year-old Abby and 14-year-old Libby were murdered in 2017, but the killer remains elusive. On Feb. 13, 2017, 13-year-old Abigail "Abby" Williams and 14-year-old Liberty "Libby" German went to the Monon High Bridge in their home town of Delphi, Ind., while off from school for an unused snow day. [6] Time magazine described the arrest as "the first major break in a case that has captivated national attention for nearly six years."[7]. Logan was never charged and he died in 2020, before the case was solved. They say they know the man responsiblewill be caught andbrought to justice. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Investigators said the person behind the account was Kegan Anthony Kline, 27-year-old man with addresses in Kokomo and Peru, close to Delphi. 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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. 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