At the one year mark I think they knew about that car but didn't associate it with the killer. The vehicle seems to be a given. In the April 2019 presser, Carter asked about the driver of the vehicle, not the vehicle itself. My interpretation is that somebody reported the car in the early days, in connection with a younger guy. But they disregarded that sighting -- and therefore the vehicle -- because a younger guy didn't match what they thought they were seeing in Libby's video.
Via that assessment, Carter during that interview would have accurately portrayed their thought process as of February 2018. It was basically...oh sure, we know about that vehicle near the CPS building. But that's not the suspect.
The change of direction is when they got jarred by outside agencies reviewing the case, saying you dummies why did you devalue the best sighting and best lead you had? They were onto something early on but Leazenby doesn't want to add that they disregarded it almost as soon as they had it. Once they realized the car may indeed have belonged to the suspect, they dredged up further info and perhaps checked the collected videos from February 13, realizing that the vehicle did drive elsewhere in Delphi and seemed to know what he was doing. That aspect again boosted their belief that he was probably local.
Any or all of that could be off. But it's my best summation as of March 2021.
I've been poring over minutes from the meetings of the Delphi's Board of Works and Common Council from 2014-2015. That is when the projects were underway to place the Freedom Bridge over the Hoosier Heartland Highway. I was looking for anything of potential interest about contractors doing land work and block retaining wall building for that bridge (since that work would likely bring subcontractors and workers from Carroll or nearby counties into the area close to the trails) as well as anything about the Family Services building.
The Family Services building at that time was owned by INDOT (Indiana Dept of Transportation), as were the plazas being constructed on either end of the planned Freedom Bridge and as were some adjacent land areas. At some point, those properties were going to be transferred to the City of Delphi, but I'm not yet sure if or when that took place.
I've found a few mentions of the Family Services building that I'm going to put out here in case they trigger any thoughts. I've also included one mention regarding need for replacements of dead plants in the new landscape at the then-in-place Freedom Bridge. Except for the mayor's, I've removed names of city or state employees or board or council members.
April 28, 2014, Board of Works - "The last tie in on water lines is set to be completed. There is an issue with construction on 300 and [a named construction company] for relocation of water lines and drainage ditch. To supply sewer lines to the building that was formerly Family Services could go gravity. Mayor Strasser noted INDOT might use part of this building as a field office and could be used as a welcome center with rest rooms."
July 20, 2015, Board of Works - "[A named board member] questions [a named city employee] about all the dead landscaping located around the Memorial Center of the Freedom Bridge. [Named city employee] stated this had been addressed with meetings and all of this landscape will be replaced by the company this fall."
April 7, 2014, Common Council - "A lot of interest has been shown from individuals for the building formerly used by Family Services. INDOT is interested in saving the building and seeing it utilized. INDOT could possibly use part of the building for an area office. This building was in the construction right of way and the state bought the building. [A council member] wanted to know about the extra land and if it could be used to tie in to trails? [A city employee] stated INDOT was aware but this was not a good time."
June 12, 2015, Common Council - Under Community Development: "Freedom Bridge needs some landscape replaced." Late in the meeting, when some members of public addressed the members: "[Named person], Commander of American Legion Post in Delphi, addressed the council and stated the Legion Post is very interested in the former Family Service building on the new highway. [Named person] had conversations with Rep. Don Lehy [sic, should be Lehe] and found this property had been turned over to Delphi. [Named person] was told if the city was not going to use the building, the state would put it up for bid. [Named person] would like to know what the city is going to do with this building. Mayor Strasser stated he had conversations with [a named person, presumably from INDOT] but we do not have any documentation the building is ours. Mayor Strasser will contact Indianapolis again and check on the status of the building. [A council member] stated we need to find out and to his knowledge, we had not heard anything since last fall. Mayor Strasser noted he is waiting on documents from the state.
July 6, 2015, Common Council - Late in the meeting, when some members of public addressed the members: "[Named person] questioned if Mayor Strasser has been in touch with INDOT concerning the building previously owned by Family Services. The Legion is interested in this building. Mayor Strasser stated he does not have any update to offer."
I've also been researching through newspaper articles relating to the Family Services building (2015 through 2018) and will post excerpts from those separately.