Found Deceased IN - Abigail (Abby) Williams, 13, & Liberty (Libby) German, 14, The Delphi Murders 13 Feb 2017 #129

[Ekliptika]

The Carroll County Comet has published part one of its Q&A with Leazenby.County Sheriff answers double homicide questions from readers | Carroll County Comet

The article is behind a paywall. However, I was able to read it. The vast majority of questions were things he either couldn't comment on (what kind of DNA do you have? etc) or are already common knowledge to followers of the case.

In the public domain there have been descriptions of the crime scene, descriptions of items found, and the positioning of the bodies. Do you feel there was an excessive number of persons present once it was determined to be a crime scene? Once secured by law enforcement, no. I would surmise that the searchers did not immediately know what they had come
"

snipped by me.
I find the above interesting. Not sure but expect that by searchers he means the civilians and not LE.
I have been wondering about the talks about contaminated crime scene, also if some of the searchers touched the girls (transfer DNA), maybe to check if they were alive. This makes me wonder if it was not immediately obvious that the girls were murdered, maybe they were posed as if they were sleeping and that could be one of the signatures?

 

[Charlot123]

At this point I think they aren’t releasing anything just to hide the fact that the case is so messed up.
If they luck up and get an arrest, they can release it all and no one will care how much it was messed up because everyone will just be so happy there was an arrest.
Just my thoughts.

This.

 

[Yemelyan]

snipped by me.
I find the above interesting. Not sure but expect that by searchers he means the civilians and not LE.
I have been wondering about the talks about contaminated crime scene, also if some of the searchers touched the girls (transfer DNA), maybe to check if they were alive. This makes me wonder if it was not immediately obvious that the girls were murdered, maybe they were posed as if they were sleeping and that could be one of the signatures?

I'm not sure because in other interviews we've heard that LE immediately knew by looking at the scene that foul play was involved - also I believe the fire chief in "Scene of the Crime" described it as immediately knowing "it was not to a good end." To me, you could either interpret that two different ways. Either "not a good end" means that the outcome of looking for the girls was not good (as they had perished) or their death itself was "not a good end" to differentiate a peaceful death from a brutal one. Good questions.

Scene of the Crime also states that searchers went out in teams that had at least one trained member of LE or emergency rescue with each group. So that makes me think there would be a check on how many people touched the bodies or even got that close.

 

[ShamelessObserver]

I don’t get the question about the Flora murders? How is that connected to this case ??

 

[Yemelyan]

I don’t get the question about the Flora murders? How is that connected to this case ??

Short answer, it's not connected.

The questions have been divided by the newspaper reporter into five sections: those specific to the double homicide, questions concerning communications, questions about the crime scene itself and adjacent terrain, questions about the command center and questions about the overall safety of Carroll County. The question about the Flora Fire came in the section about the overall safety of the county and there were other crimes mentioned as well in this set of questions.

The previous question in the series directly referenced the Flora Fire and asked if females in Carroll County were at higher risk of violence than nationally. The answer to that was no. TL said that in his professional opinion a lot of these situations (crimes against females in Carroll County) are coincidental.

Then the second question asked about planning and was also answered in the negative, that in his opinion the victims of both crimes were victims of circumstance or opportunity. He also said that the ISP is the lead agency in the Flora investigation so, being that his agency is not actively involved, he'd refer any questions about Flora to them.

 

[Seattle1]

No matter how distant, do you have the man walking on the bridge, videoed by Libby, on any other video? This is close to evidentiary information question and I prefer not to respond. (note from me: I think this is an intriguing possibility and since he doesn't deny it, I find it very interesting!)

I believe there are at least two surveillance cameras attached to a building located near a trail leading to the bridge and the CPS building (that was reported abandoned/no longer used). While I think the suspect could have been filmed, I don't think the camera was facing the actual bridge span. I don't believe there is footage of the actual bridge span.

MOO

 

[ShamelessObserver]

In my opinion based on his answers, they have more footage of BG. Maybe not footage that would help identify him, but more footage of him by Libby.

 

[Yemelyan]

I believe there are at least two surveillance cameras attached to a building located near a trail leading to the bridge and the CPS building (that was reported abandoned/no longer used). While I think the suspect could have been filmed, I don't think the camera was facing the actual bridge span. I don't believe there is footage of the actual bridge span.

MOO

This was also addressed in a question that I didn't include in my previous post. I think, based on how these two questions were answered, that there's a possibility that LE has him on video walking somewhere that's not in the direct area of the bridge.

Here they are:

Q: Was video collected throughout Delphi from Feb. 13 2017 including video from the building across from the abandoned CPS building (The Andersons)? A: Multiple pieces of evidence, including anything technologically based, have been gained. At least information followed into or brought to the attention by the investigators.

Then the following question, as above in my post, was "do you have the man walking on the bridge...on any other video?" And that answer was, due to evidentiary concerns I prefer not to respond.

 

[Yemelyan]

In my opinion based on his answers, they have more footage of BG. Maybe not footage that would help identify him, but more footage of him by Libby.

I think it's possible, based on his answers, that they have more footage of him NOT taken by Libby.

 

[TL4S]

I believe there are at least two surveillance cameras attached to a building located near a trail leading to the bridge and the CPS building (that was reported abandoned/no longer used). While I think the suspect could have been filmed, I don't think the camera was facing the actual bridge span. I don't believe there is footage of the actual bridge span.

MOO

Yes, there are cameras on a building along 300 and they appear to point toward the CP lot. It's likely too far away to see specific vehicle details, but I've often wondered if LE didn't have surveillance footage of vehicular activity.

 

[ShamelessObserver]

If they have more footage of him, why not release it? Surely that could help people identify the guy...

 

[Charlot123]

If they have more footage of him, why not release it? Surely that could help people identify the guy...

Yes, especially since some say he wore a mask. A different footage would allow someone to identify him, and connect the dots.

 

[TL4S]

@Yemelyan Did you get any sense from the question/answers whether LE has a good idea how the crime happened from beginning to end?

 

[Yemelyan]

@Yemelyan Did you get any sense from the question/answers whether LE has a good idea how the crime happened from beginning to end?

No questions really addressed that. But there will be more questions posted next week according to the article.

 

[Yemelyan]

If they have more footage of him, why not release it? Surely that could help people identify the guy...

I was wondering if locals have more info because this question asked if they had more video "at any distance." Perhaps what footage they have is not close enough to contain identifying features of the man but does show some of his movements that day. His movements could be part of the evidence they are holding back. This is all speculation.

 

[sandy_80]

This is close to an evidentiary information question and I prefer not to respond.

what was the point of this again
I have never ever heard that an fbi profile is considered evidence !
it has never solved a case anyway

 

[Justice101]

following...

 

[Diddian]

I think it's possible, based on his answers, that they have more footage of him NOT taken by Libby.

This is interesting. It could explain WHY it was that even though LE had onsite witness descriptions resulting in early sketches that appear to be of two different people who for some reason raised suspicions of witnesses, LE released only one of the sketches in 2017.

If the witnesses describing the man portrayed in the sketch released in 2017 had also described some characteristics that were suggested on Libby's video AND apparent on that other footage (say, the man's gait or a limp or oddity about the way he moved one leg or foot or the way he carries his body - upright or slumping), and if the other footage reveals indicators he is otherwise behaving suspiciously (i.e. gathering things from his car and stuffing them into his jacket, parking at some distance away from anyone else at the park that day, looking furtively around before heading toward the park), LE may have concluded based on that the guy portrayed in the sketch released in 2017 was definitely their guy and the guy portrayed in the sketch released in 2019 was more likely just someone who happened to be in the vicinity.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I think it's possible, based on his answers, that they have more footage of him NOT taken by Libby.

That’s what it sounds like to me too.
Gosh I hope that’s the case.

 

[Dotrat]

The Carroll County Comet has published part one of its Q&A with Leazenby.County Sheriff answers double homicide questions from readers | Carroll County Comet

The article is behind a paywall. However, I was able to read it. The vast majority of questions were things he either couldn't comment on (what kind of DNA do you have? etc) or are already common knowledge to followers of the case.

However, out of all the questions and answers I found the following very interesting to discussions that arise here daily. This is an excerpt from the article (tons more questions were answered but these are just a few):

Did one or more sets of footprints lead searchers to the area where the girls were found? This speaks to an evidentiary aspect of the investigation and I would prefer respectfully to not answer.

The public has been given two sketches, is the thought there is more than one person involved or is the second sketch the suspected killer? These were produced by information gained from witnesses near the area during the time frame. The primary focus by the investigators is on the second sketch.

No matter how distant, do you have the man walking on the bridge, videoed by Libby, on any other video? This is close to evidentiary information question and I prefer not to respond. (note from me: I think this is an intriguing possibility and since he doesn't deny it, I find it very interesting!)

The day the girls were found, how quickly were you personally on the scene? How many police and emergency response individuals were physically present at the crime scene? What departments were represented at the scene? As I recall, a very short amount of time, less than an hour. By law enforcement, immediately. I do not recall without referencing reports. Mainly Sheriff's office, ISP, and the FBI.

In the public domain there have been descriptions of the crime scene, descriptions of items found, and the positioning of the bodies. Do you feel there was an excessive number of persons present once it was determined to be a crime scene? Once secured by law enforcement, no. I would surmise that the searchers did not immediately know what they had come upon.

It has been stated in a press conference that "it was all over by 3:30 on Feb. 13." This statement was based on what information? Evidence. I do not recall a specific time though but rather a time line.

Has it been determined that the girls were killed where they were found? Based on information known, yes.

Can you elaborate about your reference to this case as having a "twist" that you have never seen before? Is it something more than Libby audio recording and videotaping their assailant(s)? One of the main twists is that Carroll County has had a high success rate of finding missing persons. For this case to have the initial outcome was nothing we, as seasoned investigators, expected.

Describe the area where you believe "down the hill" was said. South end of the High Bridge.

Is there still a team of investigators? How many comprise that team and how often do they meet? Yes, Two county detectives, two ISP detectives, and from time to time, outside detectives from other police agencies including the FBI. A portion of the team meets almost daily...

How much time is spent investigating each week? At minimum, 40 hours. But depending on what is being followed, it obviously can be more.

As the lead agency, are you THE person in charge of the team of investigators? I supervise the county detectives. Outside agencies have their own supervisors.

In your professional opinion, would you describe the deaths of the six females (NOTE: the questioner is including the Flora Fire in this question) as "planned"? No. Rather, "victims of circumstance or opportunity."

Thank you for sharing