How a Podcast Exposed a New Break in the Unsolved Delphi Murders Case

The 2017 murders of 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German in Delphi, Indiana, shook the country. Five years later, what became known as the “Delphi Murders,” or the “Snapchat Murders,” remains an ongoing investigation.

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The case has received significant media attention, which generated more than 30,000 tips in the first year alone. Multiple suspects have been investigated, only to be dismissed. However, law enforcement agencies and families are hopeful the case will be solved within the next three years. 

What Happened to the Young Girls in Delphi, Indiana?

On Feb. 13, 2017, best friends Abby Williams and Libby German went for a walk on the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Indiana, about 20 minutes northeast of Lafayette. The weather was gorgeous, perfect for two eighth-graders enjoying the final day of winter break.

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Libby’s older sister dropped them off at about 1 p.m., with plans made for her grandfather to pick them up about an hour later. At 2:07 p.m., Libby posted an image to Snapchat of Abby on the bridge. But when it came time for them to go home, the girls were nowhere to be seen.

Abby and Libby were immediately reported missing, and by 5:30 p.m., a search was under way. Their bodies were discovered the following day, at 12:15 p.m., near a creek on the property of Ron Logan, about 1,400 feet from his Carroll County home. The Monon High Bridge is one-third of a mile away. Police searched Logan's property, including his house, outbuildings and automobiles, for possible evidence.

Indiana State Police Release the Killer's Face and Voice

Indiana State Police released a sketch by an FBI artist of a "person of interest" on July 17, 2017. That was followed on April 22, 2019, by a new sketch of the man police suspected to be the killer. Notably, the man in the 2019 sketch appears much younger than the one in the previously released rendition. The FBI described the killer as a white man weighing between 180 pounds and 200 pounds, and measuring between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8.

Libby captured the killer's ambush in a 43-second cellphone video and audio clip. However, police have kept quiet about the killer's method and signature. They released a grainy smartphone image of a heavyset man wearing a blue jacket on the bridge, and an audio clip taken from Libby’s phone. In that clip, a man can be heard saying, “guys... down the hill." Police said they believe the “Bridge Man” is likely the killer.

Police said they believe the killer is from Delphi, and that he lives or works there, or else frequently visits the area. In July 2021, Carroll County imposed a blackout on releasing information about possible persons of interest.

At the end of 2021, police requested further information about a Snapchat and Instagram account, anthony_shots, in relation to the Delphi case.

Court Documents Reveal More About the Delphi Murders

In early May 2022, The Murder Sheet true-crime podcast obtained and released court documents related to the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German. According to a Fox news affiliate, the heavily redacted FBI search warrant, from March 2017, details what led investigators to search Ron Logan's property, and outlines his activity on the day of the murders.

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An FBI special agent revealed in the search warrant that there were no signs of "a struggle or fight." However, the victims lost a large amount of blood, which would have covered the killer. The bodies were moved from the initial crime scene, and then staged.

Police recovered all but two articles of the girls' clothing, which the warrant indicates were probably kept by the killer as souvenirs. He also likely took photos or videos of the scene.

Is a Catfishing Account Linked to the Two Murders?

The Murder Sheet also released the transcript from an Indiana State Police interview with Kegan Kline. The 27-year-old man from Peru, Indiana, was accused of using a catfish account, anthony_shots, to obtain sexual pictures and videos of nearly 100 girls on Snapchat and Instagram. In the transcript, Kline admitted to having contact with Libby German through the Instagram account. One of the last people to talk with Libby, Kline discussed meeting her on the Monon High Bridge. That was the night before the murders.

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Kline hasn't been charged in connection to the murders. However, he was arrested in 2020 and charged with 30 counts related to the anthony_shots account, including child pornography, child exploitation and child solicitation.

But Kline insisted to investigators he wasn't the only one with access to the account. In the interview transcript, he claimed to have given his password to “a lot of people."

Attention has returned in recent weeks to Kline, who was returned on Aug. 19, 2022, to the Miami County (Indiana) Jail, following his temporary release to meet with Indiana State Police investigators. Although no official reason was given in court documents, The Murder Sheet contends it's connected to an Aug. 30 search by ISP of the Wabash River bed, near Peru, Indiana.

Kline remains in jail on child-pornography charges, on a $265,000 bond. His lawyer has said Kline has no connection to the murders.

Who Was Ron Logan - and Why Was the FBI Suspicious?

Ron Logan owned the Carroll County, Indiana, property on which the bodies of Libby and Abby were found. He cooperated with police following the discovery, and even showed reporters the crime scene.

"To have anyone murdered on your property … I don't know what my feelings are right now," Logan told a newspaper on Feb. 15, 2017, two days after the killings. "It caught me by surprise,”

The recently disclosed search warrant reveals the FBI's suspicion of Logan. The agent described his stature as resembling the man in the video, and his voice as sounding similar to the one on the audio clip. Two of Logan’s former girlfriends also told police he was violent and threatened to kill them. 

Ron Logan's Alibi and Death

On the day of the murders, the 77-year old Logan violated his probation from a 2014 drunken-driving incident by driving his truck to the landfill, sometime between 11:53 a.m. and 11:58 a.m. Logan was arrested in March 2017 for violating the terms of his probation.

Cellphone tower data indicates Logan's cellphone was in Delphi the afternoon of Feb. 13, near the bridge trail, and near the banks of Deer Creek, where the bodies were found.

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The FBI agent said Logan lied about his alibi for the day of the murders. Before the discovery of the bodies, Logan allegedly told his cousin, if asked, to say they went to an aquarium store in nearby Lafayette, Indiana, at around 2 p.m. The cousin was also instructed to say they returned to Logan's home between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Logan possessed a receipt from the store, but time stamp was 5:21 p.m., placing his timeline in doubt.

Logan was released from prison in January 2018, after serving time for probation violations. He died in January 2020 from COVID-19, at age 82. Logan was never named as a suspect or charged in connection to the Delphi murders. 

The Rise of Armchair Sleuths

There is tremendous appetite for true crime -- and many people are interested in helping to investigate from home. Armchair sleuths can scour video footage, search social media, and provide insights that sometimes help to crack cases.

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These stories are found in podcasts like The Murder Sheet, or on websites like websleuths.com and Reddit. Contributions range from potentially harmful speculation to technologically powerful innovations, such as the DNA Doe Project and the augmented reality app, CrimeDoor. There's even a podcast called Down The Hill: The Delphi Murders.

This work can be extremely helpful for police. However, civilian investigators need to keep in mind that they should work with law enforcement, and take care not to tamper with evidence. Improperly collecting potential evidence can actually prevent its use in court.

Speculation is natural, but unsubstantiated claims can be hurtful to the family and the community, who are trying to heal from a tragedy. Investigating leads, such as the possible identification of "Bridge Guy" on social media, can take away from valuable investigative time. For its part, the Delphi community continues to be supportive of investigative efforts.

Honoring Abby and Libby, and Continuing the Search

Abby and Libby were interested in science and forensics, and had even thought about working for the FBI. They shared a fascination with photography, sports, and played the alto saxophone in band. They had signed up for softball in the summer. The town of Delphi established the L&A Park Foundation in their memory, and in 2019 built a sports complex named in their honor. Residents continue to leave orange lights on their balconies until the killer of Abby and Libby is caught.

Indiana State Police announced in February 2020 that they know who killed the girls, but have insufficient evidence to make the arrest. Police are unable to comment on evidence on an open investigation. However, they're still looking for tips relating to the murders of Abby and Libby.

Tips can be reported to the Delphi Homicide Tip Line at 844-459-5786
or emailed to abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com

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