New Face Of Delphi Murder Suspect Shown In Sketch: Police

DELPHI, IN — Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter announced a change Monday in the direction of the Delphi double murder investigation of Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty "Libby" German, 14, revealing a new sketch of the suspect in the February 2017 murders.

According to a release from Indiana State Police, the suspect in the sketch appears to be in his mid-twenties to mid-thirties and is believed to be responsible for the murders of the girls, who were last seen during the afternoon of Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 near an abandoned railroad bridge just east of Delphi, before a volunteer searcher found their bodies about a half-mile from the bridge on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017.

In a release sent to Patch, ISP said information has been continuously reviewed and examined as the investigation has progressed. As a result, the sketch more accurately depicts the face of the suspect from the video police said was recorded on Liberty German's cell phone while she and Abigail were on the bridge that February day.

Superintendent Carter also shared more of the audio and previously unreleased video from Libby's phone, ISP said. In the originally released audio, a man apparently says the words, "Down the hill." The new, longer audio clip from Libby's phone apparently contains more of the man's voice.

Listen to the audio here:

"We have a witness. You made mistakes," Carter said, according to ISP. "We are coming for you and there's no place for a heartless coward like you to hide that gets his thrill from killing little girls."

Carter added that the investigation has been a priority of the multi-agency task force involved since the investigation's first day, and will continue to be a priority for all participating law enforcement agencies.

"Look at the sketch, listen to the audio, watch how this coward walks on the high bridge and send your tip to this email: Abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com," Carter said.

See the newly released video clip of the Delphi murder suspect here:

RELATED IN THIS CASE:

• 'If You're Watching, We Are Coming': 2 Years Since Delphi Murders
• Too Early To Link Delphi And St. Louis Murders, Suspects: Police
• Police Release Audio Of Suspect In Murder Of Indiana Girls
• Delphi Murders: Sketch Of Suspect Released By Indiana State Police
• Break In Delphi Murders? Man Arrested In Colorado May Be Linked To Indiana Teens' Deaths
• Tip in Delphi Homicides Investigation Leads to Arrest In 2007 Cold Case
• ISP Gives Update In Number Of Delphi Murders Case Tips

Timeline of the Delphi murder case:

2017

Two years ago, nearly a week into what police declared was a double homicide investigation, officials released audio they believe captured the suspect's voice. In late February 2017, Patch reported that police believed 14-year-old Liberty "Libby" German left a clue in the form of her killer's voice recorded on her cell phone. They hope someone who hears the clip will be able to identify the voice.

March 2017 came and went with thousands of tips coming in and the reward for information grew to over $200,000.

In July 2017, officials released a sketch depicting the man officials believe is the person of interest in the February 2017 murders.

News broke again in September 2017 when a tip from authorities in Colorado brought what many thought would be a major break in the investigation. El Paso County, Colorado police arrested Daniel Nations, 31, in a "menacing" incident in which Nations allegedly threatened several people with a hatchet on a Colorado hiking trail — the same trail where a cyclist was found murdered earlier that same month. Indiana State Police officials went out west to interview Nations and look into this information, but concluded there was not enough information to either add or rule out Nations as a suspect in Libby and Abby's murders.

2018:

More than one year after the El Paso County incident, the St. Louis Police Department said a person of interest was in custody in a Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 St. Louis Catholic Supply Store assault and homicide, which came as comparisons were made between the suspect and the man believed to be responsible for the murders of Abby and Libby. However, according to WRTV, police said linking the two cases was premature. No link between the killings has been reported by authorities.

The description of the Catholic store killer was similar to that of the Delphi suspect. Police described the attacker as between 5-feet-7 and 5-feet-9 with a heavy build. He is said to be between 40 and 50 years old. He wore a navy blue Carhartt-style work jacket with a red, white and black plaid shirt, blue jeans and a large brown belt with a red and blue square on the buckle. Police also said the man wore a black and gray "paperboy style" hat and glasses, sharing examples of the man's clothing in a post Tuesday morning, shown below.

2019:

Law enforcement officials, including Indiana State Police Sgt. Tony Slocum, are still encouraging anyone with information big or small to speak up. "The day will come. The search continues. We will find the person(s) who murdered Abigail Williams and Liberty German. If you have information call 844-459-5786," Sgt. Slocum wrote on Twitter.

For more information and assistance, visit in.gov/isp/delphi.htm.