This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/us/delphi-murders-indiana-sketch.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sketch of Suspect in Indiana Girls’ Murder Renews Hope for Case Sketch of Suspect in Indiana Girls’ Murder Renews Hope for Case
(about 5 hours later)
When investigators found the bodies of two teenage girls near a trail in Indiana in February, they extracted two mysterious clues from one of their cellphones: an image of a man behind them, his head down and hands in his pockets, and a recording of a voice ordering the girls to the place where they died with the words “Down the hill!” When investigators found the bodies of two teenage girls near a trail in Indiana in February, they extracted two mysterious clues from one of the girls’ cellphones: an image of a man behind them, his head down and hands in his pockets, and a recording of a voice ordering the girls to the place where they died with the words “Down the hill!”
Five months have passed, and still the murder of Liberty Rose Lynn German, 14, and Abigail J. Williams, 13, in a wooded area near Delphi, Ind., remains unsolved. Five months have passed, and the murder of Liberty Rose Lynn German, 14, and Abigail J. Williams, 13, in a wooded area near Delphi, Ind., remains unsolved.
But this week, investigators have new hopes for solving the double murder that the state police chief had said was proof that “evil lives amongst us.” On Monday, the authorities released a composite sketch of a suspect and a description: 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 10 inches, weighs 180 to 220 pounds, and has reddish brown hair. By Tuesday, they had 500 new tips, according to the F.B.I. But this week, investigators have new hopes for solving a double murder that the state police chief has said is proof that “evil lives amongst us.” On Monday, the authorities released a composite sketch of a suspect and a description: 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 10 inches, weighs 180 to 220 pounds, and has reddish brown hair. By Tuesday, they had 500 new tips, according to the F.B.I.
“It is a lot,” Sgt. Kim Riley, an Indiana State Police spokesman, said in an interview. “We had been averaging between five and 10 a day,” he said. “It is a lot,” Sgt. Kim Riley, an Indiana State Police spokesman, said in an interview. “We had been averaging between five and 10 a day.”
The authorities said the sketch brought momentum to the murder mystery that has roiled Delphi, a city of around 3,000 residents about 60 miles north of Indianapolis. The authorities said the sketch brought momentum to the murder mystery, which has roiled Delphi, a city of around 3,000 residents about 60 miles north of Indianapolis.
The two girls disappeared on Feb. 13 after having set off near the Monon High Bridge, a historical abandoned rail bridge near a 10-mile park path known as the Delphi Historic Trail. Their bodies were discovered by a search party on Feb. 14 near the trail, about a half-mile upstream from the bridge, the police said.The two girls disappeared on Feb. 13 after having set off near the Monon High Bridge, a historical abandoned rail bridge near a 10-mile park path known as the Delphi Historic Trail. Their bodies were discovered by a search party on Feb. 14 near the trail, about a half-mile upstream from the bridge, the police said.
On Feb. 15, officers distributed a photograph, found in Liberty’s cellphone, of a man walking behind them on the bridge, but they did not call him a suspect until Feb. 19. On Feb. 22 they released the audio, calling the girl a hero for having the presence of mind to secretly record the voice and take the photograph. On Feb. 15, officers distributed a photograph, found in Liberty’s cellphone, of a man walking behind them on the bridge, but the authorities did not call him a suspect until Feb. 19. On Feb. 22 they released the audio, calling the girl a hero for having the presence of mind to secretly record the voice and take the photograph.
The authorities announced a reward of up to $41,000 and sought the public’s help with tips. The Delphi Police Department, the Carroll County Sheriff, the State Police and the F.B.I. joined the investigation. Posters went up, and baseball events and bike rallies were held to raise support and awareness. Pink ribbons were tied around trees; highway billboards lit up.The authorities announced a reward of up to $41,000 and sought the public’s help with tips. The Delphi Police Department, the Carroll County Sheriff, the State Police and the F.B.I. joined the investigation. Posters went up, and baseball events and bike rallies were held to raise support and awareness. Pink ribbons were tied around trees; highway billboards lit up.
The reward grew to more than $230,000 for information leading to arrests and convictions.The reward grew to more than $230,000 for information leading to arrests and convictions.
Sgt. Riley said in the interview on Tuesday that the sketch of the suspect was made from information the authorities received from public tips, but he declined to say whether the it came from one or more people or how it was handed over. Sgt. Riley said in the interview on Tuesday that the sketch of the suspect had been made from information the authorities received from public tips, but he declined to say whether the information came from one or more people or how it was handed over.
“It came through because of information that we received from persons that were in the area,” around the time the girls went missing, he said. “Either we did not make contact for the first time, or they were afraid to come forward.”“It came through because of information that we received from persons that were in the area,” around the time the girls went missing, he said. “Either we did not make contact for the first time, or they were afraid to come forward.”
He said the sketch artist started about a month ago to piece together the descriptions, frequently consulting the witness or witnesses again and again to refine the drawing. Investigators also interview people offering the descriptions to make sure they are not just trying to get someone into trouble, he said. Sgt. Riley said the sketch artist had started about a month ago to piece together the descriptions, frequently consulting the witness or witnesses to refine the drawing. Investigators also interview people offering descriptions to make sure they are not just trying to get someone into trouble, he said.
“It takes quite a while to get a sketch put together,” Sgt. Riley said. “We let the person look at the picture and come back a few days later and ask, ‘Do you remember anything else?’”“It takes quite a while to get a sketch put together,” Sgt. Riley said. “We let the person look at the picture and come back a few days later and ask, ‘Do you remember anything else?’”
Sgt. Riley said that after the release of the sketch, extra personnel were brought on to help with the expected influx of information.Sgt. Riley said that after the release of the sketch, extra personnel were brought on to help with the expected influx of information.
“We don’t have this type of a crime happen in a small community,” said Sgt. Riley. “This kind of stuff doesn’t happen in little towns. It really made a big impact on this community.” “We don’t have this type of a crime happen in a small community,” he said. “This kind of stuff doesn’t happen in little towns. It really made a big impact on this community.”
Abby’s mother, Anna Williams, told ABC News the new sketch means “we are just one step closer.” Abby’s mother, Anna Williams, told ABC News that the new sketch meant “we are just one step closer.”
“We really truly hope that this is the piece of the puzzle that we need to bring justice to our girls,” she said. “We really, truly hope that this is the piece of the puzzle that we need to bring justice to our girls,” she said.