One of two teenage girls murdered last week near a Delphi, Indiana, hiking trail may have used her cell phone to record her killer in the moments before her death.
Authorities released an image of a suspect Feb. 15. The image was later confirmed to have been taken on 14-year-old Liberty German’s cell phone. During a press conference Wednesday, the authorities released a snippet of audio also pulled from German’s phone.
The recording is fuzzy, but a voice is audible. It only says three words: “Down the hill.”
The image and the audio clip can be found on the Indiana State Police website.
German and her friend Abigail Williams, 13, went missing Feb. 13. Their bodies were found the next day.
Authorities said more material from the phone exists but has not yet been released. ISP Sgt. Tony Slocum commended German’s presence of mind in capturing video of a man they believe to be involved in her death.
“This young lady’s a hero,” he said. “There’s no doubt.”
During the press conference, which was live-streamed online by Indianapolis television station Fox 59, authorities emphasized the importance of community members using tip lines for any information they may have. Tips can be emailed to abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com or called in to 844-459-5786.
Even details that seem unimportant could actually be essential to the investigation, FBI Special Agent Greg Massa said.
“Just think if you had an interaction with an individual who inexplicably canceled an appointment you had together, or an individual called into work sick or canceled an important appointment or a social engagement,” he said. “That could be important.”
He also said people should watch for recent changes in people around them. Those changes could be in appearance or dress style, unexpected travel, changes in sleep or behavior patterns. The FBI does not believe the killings are the work of a serial killer or are connected to any other known homicides.
Whether the suspect is local or from elsewhere is still unknown, ISP Capt. Dave Bersten said. Massa noted his agency will be able to expand the investigation across state lines if necessary, and ISP Superintendent Douglas Carter said Gov. Eric Holcomb and FBI Director James Comey have been briefed on the case.
Law enforcement may also need media attention on a national scale to solve the case, he added.
During an emotional speech in the press conference, Carter voiced some questions on his mind, questions he said he believed the community had, too: why this town and these girls, and who’s next?
“This is a classic example and a clear example that evil lives among us,” he said.
He said he hopes the image and the audio snippet, even with their low quality, will ring a bell for someone somewhere who can help authorities solve the case.
“As poor as this picture is, somebody knows, and if you’re watching, we’ll find you,” he said.
