Indiana teens' murder case remains open 2 years into investigation

DELPHI, Ind. - It's been two years since two girls were murdered in Delphi, Indiana, a case that's captured worldwide attention. Even after the girls left behind vital clues, that generated tens of thousands of tips, the killer remains free.

While the investigation continues, so-called internet detectives are hurting the case and families.

“Even on the hard days, her pictures are still everywhere, said Anna Williams, Abby’s mother. And I know that I’m doing it for her.”

“We had a great life going, a great life,” said Mike Patty, Libby’s grandfather. “It's all changed, it's all changed.”

It was Valentine's Day, 2017, when searchers discovered the bodies of 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German.

The day before had been unusually warm in Delphi, so the eighth graders had gone for a hike. A historic spot in the tiny northwest Indiana town, that's now infamous.

Libby snapped a photo of a man on the bridge. She also recorded audio and three ominous words, "down the hill" before both girls were murdered.

“She sensed that something wasn't right, that's what I think happened,” said Mike Patty.

Two years later, Libby’s grandfather can't believe the killer remains free.

“It's mind-boggling that we have a picture of a guy, we have a voice recording of a guy, we have a sketch of a guy that other people saw, and in today's world, we haven't talked to this guy,” said Mike Patty.

The girls gave us all of this and yet no answers,” said Anna Williams. 

Abby’s mother says she has not given up hope that police will solve this.

“God’s got this, today's the day, tomorrow might be the day and the police are doing their best,” said Anna Williams. “I live by that.

In the two years since the girls were murdered back in woods, about 40,000 tips have come into police but they say me maybe about 500-600 are helpful.

“We get hundreds of tips on people that weren't even in the area, weren't even around this area and don't even know where Delphi, Indiana is at,” said Sgt. Kim Riley with Indiana State Police. 

Sgt. Riley says they want the public's help but many tips tie up valuable detective time.

“Just a picture of Joe Blow out in the middle of nowhere is not going to do us much good if we don't know who he is, where he's from or what part of the country you took that picture at,” said Sgt. Riley. 

Riley also says this high profile case has generated "internet detectives". They post unfounded theories, ugly rumors, and pictures of innocent people, accusing them of being the man on the bridge.

In addition, some on social media troll the victims' families.

You get called a terrible parent for having left the girls out there for an hour and a half on a public trail with other people that were out that day,” said Anna Williams. “They will still come at you and tell you how horrible you were.”

So Anna Williams tries to focus on positive projects like a memorial park they're building for Abby and Libby.

“We got to get this guy first, but after that, we're going on with the happy things,” said Anna Williams. 

Libby's picture, and Mike Patty's pain are his daily motivation.

“I say good morning, every morning and then I think of what the last hour or hour of those girls' lives was like,” said Mike Patty. “That pushes me, that pushes me, they deserve justice.” 

Police insist this case is not cold, with detectives working it daily. All this while both families keep spreading thousands of fliers around the country.

“We'll never give up hope, those girls meant too much to us to ever give up hope,” said Anna Williams.

Their girls left the first clues, a picture, and a voice. Now they wait for one good tip to finally find the Delphi killer.