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Group of colleagues from police working at a crime scene. Photo by Faruk on

10 Things to Know about Delphi Murders

The Delphi murders were the double homicide of two teenage girls who were hiking in Delphi, Indiana, in the United States. Abigail Williams, born on 23^rd June 2003, and Liberty German born on 27^th December 2002 were the victims of the murder. Their bodies were found close to the Monon High Bridge Trail on February 14, 2017.

The young girls had vanished from the same trail the day before after they were dropped off to meet up with Liberty’s dad. The trail is a part of the Delphi Historic Trails in Delphi, Indiana, in the United States. Media coverage of the killings included claims that Liberty’s smartphone contained a video and audio recording of the person thought to be the killer.

The Delphi murders case has dragged on for several years with the justice system working hard to serve justice because of how complicated the incident was. A suspect was detained on October 26, 2022, and on October 31 he was charged with two charges of murder. The arrest, according to Time magazine, 鈥渞epresents the first significant development in a case that has riveted public interest for almost six years.鈥�

However, there is still hope that the families of Abigail Williams and Liberty German will still get justice as the murder case is on. The murder suspect who is currently in police custody will stand trial in March 2023 where the final verdict will be given.

Below are the 10 Things to Know about Delphi Murders;

1. Two Young Girls were Victims of the Delphi Murders

Murder in the house. Photo by Jakub Schikaneder on

Delphi murder is a case that has had various controversies and taken years for the culprit to be brought to the book. The case involved two teenage girls who were murdered. On 13^th February 2017, 14 years old Abigail Williams and 15 years old Liberty German had gone hiking.

They were dropped by Kelsi German on County Road 300 North, East of the Hoosier Heartland Highway. The two teenage girls were on their way to hike on the Monon High Bridge over Deer Creek. This is among the woodland in remote Deer Greek Township, in the United States. Their bodies were discovered on 14^th February near the hiking trail where they had gone missing.

2. Liberty鈥檚 Sister was the Last to See Them Alive

Before the day their bodies were found dumped, Abigail Williams and Liberty German had a different schedule without knowing something tragic was to happen to them. On 13^th February 20017, at around 1:35 PM, Kelsi German, the older sister of Liberty Dose Lynn German dropped them on County Road 300 North, east of the Hoosier Heartland Highway.

The two were supposed to meet up with the father of Liberty Rose Lynn German who was waiting for them on the other side at 3:15 PM. Later at around 5:30 PM, the father of Liberty and their filed missing persons report after they failed to meet up.

3. Liberty Posted a Photo of Abigail Walking the Bridge before Going Missing

Woman in Brown Scarf Surrounded With Green Trees. Photo by Tobi on

The main purpose the older sister of Liberty, Kelsi German, had dropped the two girls was to meet up with German鈥檚 father for hiking. They were safely driven and dropped on County Road 300 North where they started following the trail and even had some nice moments before they went missing.

The hiking by Abigail Williams and Liberty German started at the Monon High Bridge over Deer Creek. This is a very remote place in Deer Creek Township. At around 2:07 PM that same day, Liberty German posted a photo of Abigail Williams walking across the bridge.

This was some minutes after her older sister had left them on the hiking trail. However, this was thought to be the last time that the two girls were heard from as they went missing.

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4. The Families of the Girls Searched for them before Calling the Police

At 3:15 PM, the two girls failed to show up and meet with Liberty鈥檚 father as they were supposed. As more time passed and the young girls never showed up, their families started becoming worried about their whereabouts.

Abigail Williams and Liberty German were reported missing by 5:30 PM. Their families decided to start searching for them on the trail with hopes of finding them. However, this proved futile making them call the police who assisted in searching for them.

5. The Bodies of the Girls were Found 0.80 KM from the Bridge

A group of police officers and investigators work at a crime scene. Photo by Faruk on

The families of Abigail Williams and Liberty German joined together with the police in a joint search for the missing young girls. Initially, the authorities who responded to the distress call searched the area quickly and never suspected any foul play in the disappearance of the girls.

However, on 14^th February 2017, the whole situation changed after the bodies of the two were found at around noon. The bodies of Abigail Williams and Liberty German were found about 0.80 km east of the abandoned Monon High Bridge. They dumped on the north bank of Deer Creek which changed the whole scenario.

6. An Image and Audio of the Suspect were Found in Liberty鈥檚 Phone

Investigations for the double homicide started immediately even though there were no leads initially. However, as early as 15^th February 2017, there was a significant breakthrough in this case.

The Indiana State Police started circulating an image, a still image, of an individual who was seen on the trail near the location where the girls were murdered. Details of the grainy photograph showed a Caucasian male who had his hands in his pocket, head down, walking on the rail bridge as he headed towards the girls.

The guy was named as the prime suspect in this case which was heading in the right direction. On 22^nd February 2017, an audio recording was released of the suspect.

This audio recording was suspected to be the voice of the assailant who was muffling and stating, 鈥淒own the hill.鈥� All these records that gave a lead in the investigation came from the phone of Liberty German who was regarded as a hero for secretly recording the incident.

Also, read 10 Famous Murders in Michigan.

7. The First Primary Suspect of the Murder Died by Suicide

Investigations continued as police offered a cash reward of $41,000 as well as releasing sketches of the suspect. Their main suspect was an unknown individual who had left a vehicle abandoned off the Hoosier Heartland Highway the same day of the murders.

On 23^rd July 2019, a primary suspect was identified, a man who had been wanted for kidnappings and rape in Tippecanoe County. However, the suspect had died by suicide a month ago before the murders of the young girls.

8. The arrest of the First Suspect was Made 5 Years after the Delphi Murders

Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby said the portrait was drawn by an FBI sketch artist. Photo by FBI on

The Delphi murders case seemed to be hard for the authorities as no arrests were made in the few months after the incident. The families of the girls had to wait for several years until major progress was made.

Five years later, on 26^th October 2022, a suspect was arrested and taken into custody in connection to the murders. He made an appearance in court on 28^th October. On 31^st October 2022, the Indiana State Police announced that the suspect was being charged with two counts of murder.

However, he pleaded not guilty but was retained in Police custody. The start of his trial for the two charges will begin in March 2023.

9. Police have never Revealed how the Girls were Killed

The Delphi murders have always attracted the attention of the media and several people interested in this case. The families of Abigail Williams and Liberty German are still hoping for justice, while people are hoping to get to know more about the murders.

However, since the bodies were found, the police have never revealed how the two girls were murdered. It remains a mystery to the general public how the girls were murdered.

10. A Commemoration and Celebration of the Girls was Founded in Delphi

Aerial View of a Sports Complex. Photo by Ulises Pena on

The Delphi murders put fear in the community about the safety of their girls. However, this also strengthened the community they came up with a way of celebrating and commemorating the two girls.

In August 2017, the families of Abigail Williams and Liberty German alongside the Delphi society came up with a plan to build a sports complex. They formed a non-profit organization known as L & A Foundation which helped in the founding of the project.

The complex was a place for the appreciation of nature, art, play, and athleticism. Another site was procured North of Delphi, where the development of Abby and Libby Memorial Park was initiated. The L & A Foundation became the recipient of the NBA All-Star 2021 Legacy Grant.

The families of the two girls might have been deprived of their loved ones, but this contributed to more change in Delphi. There is still hope for justice to be served to the families as the case is set to be heard soon.

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