Found Deceased IN - Abigail (Abby) Williams, 13, & Liberty (Libby) German, 14, The Delphi Murders 13 Feb 2017 #93

[ASBSR]

I apologize for hitting a nerve with folks who are very sensitive to the SPED topic. To those of you who are not comfortable with my post, I ask this, “Have you personally looked at, educated and loved over 4,000 children and adolescents in a professional educational setting”? I have.

I personally think the issue here is not necessarily whether one can judge cognitive function by looking in another’s eyes, but rather whether it’s possible to do so with a sketch that may or may not even look very much like the actual person it is based upon. It would take a witness who is qualified to make that judgement (and enough time and was close enough to do so even if he could) and a sketch artist with enough talent to draw it so that we would make note of that fact. Seems unlikely to me.

 

[Quinquin]

BBM

Not looking up the article, but mothers of children with special needs typically have telomeres much more degraded than age alone would predict; stress & just plain sleep factors in the "aging" of telomeres.

Wow...just when I thought it couldn't get any worse..

 

[MassGuy]

Ok. I have to ask because now I am really confused. What do you or others think about this new sketch?

That it is a rough image of what BG looks like.

 

[carmenugt]

Yeah, as of yet they can only get an approximation, so even if they had DNA they might not be able to get any more accurate age estimate.

As I understand it, part of the issue is that everybody's telomeres are a different length, so you don't have any way to know whether a particular individual's short telomere is from age or because they had shorter ones to begin with.

I would think the fact that everyone ages at different rates can further complicate identifying an appx age. Co mordibities and liftestlye may further interfere with identifying true age.

 

[Jax49]

I thought the age range in Monday’s PC was: ‘18-40?’

It was but later reports quoted a smaller age range. bbm

THE SUSPECT: Police continue to look for a white male between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-10, weighing 180 to 200 pounds, with reddish brown hair. On Monday, Indiana State Police released a new composite photo of the suspect, putting his age in his mid-20s to mid-30s. Images and video on Libby German’s cellphone show a man walking across Monon High Bridge that day, wearing blue jeans, a blue jacket and a hat. Police also release a recording, taken from Libby’s phone, of a man saying, “Guys, down the hill.”

Delphi murders: Investigators have had newly released suspect sketch for 2 years

 

[Sulamith]

Ok. I have to ask because now I am really confused. What do you or others think about this new sketch? This sketch was drawn on the memory of a witness based on an actual person.

I think it is sketchy. MOO

 

[JillR]

I’m not entertaining any more SPED defensive or offensive comments . Peace. God Bless.... let’s talk about the new sketch of the killer

 

[apples12]

I don’t think it was random, I think he picked what he felt he could control. 2 young girls are much easier to control than say, a mature woman who would probably not follow directions. Or a male that would probably put up a huge fight.

I

BG knew what he was doing and he came prepared to do it. I agree that he may not have seen them before, but they fit the profile he was looking for.

Do you think someone with a limp or poor vision would cross that bridge to commit a double murder?

The suspect is probably very familiar with the bridge. Limp or no limp.

 

[carbuff]

I would think the fact that everyone ages at different rates can further complicate identifying an appx age. Co mordibities and liftestlye may further interfere with identifying true age.

Yes, and they don't even know all the factors that influence it. So while it can be useful information, it's totally not definitive.

 

[holtzmann]

There's some weird flexing going on, so I'm headed off for the night. Fresh morning thoughts tomorrow, most likely. Good night, all.

 

[fred&edna]

My telomeres are feeling ancient. Time to rest awhile.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

Ok. I have to ask because now I am really confused. What do you or others think about this new sketch?

I’m going to chime in here. I think people are making too much of it in terms of details, particularly when it is just a police sketch. By “too much,” I mean things like determining he has a lazy eye. If LE thought that, it would surely be worth noting in the description of the suspect.

At this point, a report to LE on what WSers think we’re looking for would be really insane - A mentally impaired amputee with a lazy eye and puppies in his pockets.

 

[carmenugt]

Yes, and they don't even know all the factors that influence it. So while it can be useful information, it's totally not definitive.

Or reliable in securing a conviction. Moving on..

 

[apples12]

That it is a rough image of what BG looks like.

Try to look at it disregarding the hair.

 

[Gunslinging Granny]

I personally think the issue here is not necessarily whether one can judge cognitive function by looking in another’s eyes, but rather whether it’s possible to do so with a sketch that may or may not even look very much like the actual person it is based upon. It would take a witness who is qualified to make that judgement (and enough time and was close enough to do so even if he could) and a sketch artist with enough talent to draw it so that we would make note of that fact. Seems unlikely to me.

You can't judge cognitive functioning by looking at someone's eyes. You also can't judge it by looking at their skin color.

 

[everybodhi]

But LE has stated one perp. Age range mid 20s - mid 30s.

Is there more than one killer?
In news conferences on the Delphi slayings, law-enforcement authorities have seemed to focus on searching for one, as-yet unknown man.

But (Indiana State Police Sgt. Kim) Riley said that's not necessarily the case.

"There's still a possibility there may be more than one suspect," he said. "We have not narrowed it down to how many people have been involved in this."

Delphi murders: What's still missing 2 years after the slayings of Abby and Libby

 

[Boxer]

That sounds like an unpredictable outcome and he was ordering them to walk down, so I would guess no. As per HG's video, AW was already off the bridge when she was filming.

IIRC the police said one girl could have fled, but chose not to. I believe hero is the word that applies.

 

[bradfordsleuth]

My thoughts based off some of the suggestions the last few threads.

JMO

This was NOT someone who was visually impaired, an amputee with a prosthetic leg or a special needs person.

He was brazen.

He controlled and killed 2 young girls in broad daylight in about an hour (give or take.)

He had an entrance and exit strategy (I am basing this off the car being parked at the abandoned building.)

He very likely had a weapon. I don't believe he controlled them without one (although he may have ended their lives with his bare hands via strangulation.)

I think he somehow taunted LE by leaving them posed in a disturbing way and that has led to the 'Shack' reference. (Disclaimer...I have not seen the movie...this is just a suggestion.)

He may have been seen there not only on the day of the murders but prior to them as well...(which could account for multiple witnesses providing varying descriptions and could be why the sketch was discounted originally.)

JMO

 

[MsBetsy]

Why would they not choose the same date? Seems odd...

Maybe since that day is Valentine's Day it had a special meaning for them. That way every year they can remember her life on a day that celebrates love.
Jmo

 

[wary]

Ok. I have to ask because now I am really confused. What do you or others think about this new sketch? This sketch was drawn on the memory of a witness based on an actual person.

My understanding is that research has shown that eyewitness description or identification of strangers is the most inaccurate type of evidence out there.

I do think, based on that sketch, that the suspect isn’t narrow-faced, with a receding chin, and long stringy hair.