On 13 February 2017, two best friends set off on a hike together.
Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13-known as Libby and Abby-went to the same school in Delphi, Indiana, and loved spending time together.
Both teens were active and creative. Libby enjoyed playing sports like volleyball, football and softball. She was in the school band and loved painting, crafts and holidays. Abby played saxophone in the band and was on the volleyball team. She enjoyed camping and photography, and adored animals.
In the early afternoon of that winter day, Libby and Abby were dropped off just outside Delphi by a relative and they started to hike along the Monon High Bridge Trail, which follows old historic railroads. When they didn't arrive at an agreed pick-up location, they were reported missing.
Tragically, the next day, around noon, the dead bodies of the two teenagers were found in a wooded area about half a mile from the trail. At first, the police were reluctant to share details about how the girls were killed, but it was eventually revealed that they'd had their throats cut. Libby was undressed while Abby was still clothed. They had been partially covered in sticks and an unfired bullet was found between the bodies.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1737436879/articles/iyRXr2jw81737457045241/2761171677.jpg]
The double murder haunted the close-knit Delphi community of just 3,000 residents.
It was likely the killer was among them.
Libby's grieving mum encouraged local people to install orange lights on their front porches in memory of the young girls, but also to serve as a reminder that their killer was still at large.
As evidence was collected, investigators discovered that Libby had posted photos on Snapchat of her and Abby walking along the trail. It was the last footage there would be of the two friends. Also on her phone, which was found at the scene, Libby had captured a grainy video of a man dressed in blue jeans, a blue jacket and a cap, walking along the abandoned railroad bridge towards them.
The man had his hands in his pockets and his head down. He could be heard saying to the girls, "Guys, down the hill." It was clear Libby had suspected a problem and tried to record the encounter.
The police held a press conference and released a grainy image from the video to the public with an appeal for information.
The man, who was dubbed 'The Bridge Guy', was named the prime suspect. Libby was hailed a hero for having the foresight to secretly record the killer.
Two police sketches were released over the years and witnesses came forward to say they'd also seen The Bridge Guy as he'd walked the trail and tried to hide his face. But the case ran cold.
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1737436879/articles/iyRXr2jw81737457045241/7214264371.jpg]
It wasn't until late 2022, when a volunteer clerk discovered a tip from years earlier, that Richard Allen's name came up. The tip had been misfiled as "cleared" due to an incorrect surname. In fact, the information hadn't been fully investigated. It referred to a local man called Richard Allen.
Allen had been 44 at the time of the killings and lived just a five-minute drive from the crime scene. He told the police three days after the bodies were found that he'd been on the trails on the day of the murders and had reported seeing the teens.
Allen, who was a married father, was now a pharmacist technician at a town chemist.
Locals described him as a normal guy and he had no criminal record. Could he really be a killer hiding in plain sight? He certainly resembled the man in the sketches.
The police searched his home and found a gun. Forensics showed that the bullet found at the crime scene had, at some point, been in the gun. On the day of the killings, a black Ford Focus was seen on a security video nearby. At the time, Allen owned the only car like that in the county.
In October 2022, Allen was arrested and charged with the murders of Libby and Abby.
The community was shocked that Allen had walked freely among them for five years. He'd even helped Libby's grieving grandmother develop photos for Libby's funeral at the store he worked in, just days after her death.
Due to the high-profile nature of the case, the judge and jury h...
Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13-known as Libby and Abby-went to the same school in Delphi, Indiana, and loved spending time together.
Both teens were active and creative. Libby enjoyed playing sports like volleyball, football and softball. She was in the school band and loved painting, crafts and holidays. Abby played saxophone in the band and was on the volleyball team. She enjoyed camping and photography, and adored animals.
In the early afternoon of that winter day, Libby and Abby were dropped off just outside Delphi by a relative and they started to hike along the Monon High Bridge Trail, which follows old historic railroads. When they didn't arrive at an agreed pick-up location, they were reported missing.
Tragically, the next day, around noon, the dead bodies of the two teenagers were found in a wooded area about half a mile from the trail. At first, the police were reluctant to share details about how the girls were killed, but it was eventually revealed that they'd had their throats cut. Libby was undressed while Abby was still clothed. They had been partially covered in sticks and an unfired bullet was found between the bodies.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1737436879/articles/iyRXr2jw81737457045241/2761171677.jpg]
The double murder haunted the close-knit Delphi community of just 3,000 residents.
It was likely the killer was among them.
Libby's grieving mum encouraged local people to install orange lights on their front porches in memory of the young girls, but also to serve as a reminder that their killer was still at large.
As evidence was collected, investigators discovered that Libby had posted photos on Snapchat of her and Abby walking along the trail. It was the last footage there would be of the two friends. Also on her phone, which was found at the scene, Libby had captured a grainy video of a man dressed in blue jeans, a blue jacket and a cap, walking along the abandoned railroad bridge towards them.
The man had his hands in his pockets and his head down. He could be heard saying to the girls, "Guys, down the hill." It was clear Libby had suspected a problem and tried to record the encounter.
The police held a press conference and released a grainy image from the video to the public with an appeal for information.
The man, who was dubbed 'The Bridge Guy', was named the prime suspect. Libby was hailed a hero for having the foresight to secretly record the killer.
Two police sketches were released over the years and witnesses came forward to say they'd also seen The Bridge Guy as he'd walked the trail and tried to hide his face. But the case ran cold.
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1737436879/articles/iyRXr2jw81737457045241/7214264371.jpg]
It wasn't until late 2022, when a volunteer clerk discovered a tip from years earlier, that Richard Allen's name came up. The tip had been misfiled as "cleared" due to an incorrect surname. In fact, the information hadn't been fully investigated. It referred to a local man called Richard Allen.
Allen had been 44 at the time of the killings and lived just a five-minute drive from the crime scene. He told the police three days after the bodies were found that he'd been on the trails on the day of the murders and had reported seeing the teens.
Allen, who was a married father, was now a pharmacist technician at a town chemist.
Locals described him as a normal guy and he had no criminal record. Could he really be a killer hiding in plain sight? He certainly resembled the man in the sketches.
The police searched his home and found a gun. Forensics showed that the bullet found at the crime scene had, at some point, been in the gun. On the day of the killings, a black Ford Focus was seen on a security video nearby. At the time, Allen owned the only car like that in the county.
In October 2022, Allen was arrested and charged with the murders of Libby and Abby.
The community was shocked that Allen had walked freely among them for five years. He'd even helped Libby's grieving grandmother develop photos for Libby's funeral at the store he worked in, just days after her death.
Due to the high-profile nature of the case, the judge and jury h...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, January 27, 2025