Grandfather of Teen Killed in Delphi Murders Says Girl and Her Friend "Had To Be Scared Out of Their Minds"
Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams, 13, were killed near an Indiana hiking trail — but not before leaving behind a haunting final clue to what happened.
In one of Libby German’s final moments, the Indiana teen captured haunting video of her killer on her cell phone.
Libby and her best friend, Abby Williams, disappeared during a day off from school in February of 2017 while out on a walk through the woods, sparking a years-long quest to track down the man seen lurking behind them in the footage.
The sensational case — and an eventual arrest — drew national attention as investigators tried to piece together the teens’ harrowing final day. Now, Dateline is delving into the mystery in an-all new episode airing Friday, February 21 at 9/8c p.m. on NBC, titled “A Walk Through the Woods.”
“The murders of teenagers Abby and Libby in their close-knit hometown of Delphi, Indiana spark worldwide headlines,” reads a synopsis of the episode. “The high-profile case takes a stunning twist after detectives reveal Libby captured a video of the killer shortly before her death — a crucial piece of evidence that helps police track down the murderer.”
What happened to Abby Williams and Libby German?
Libby, 14, and Abby, 13, disappeared on February 13, 2017 after being dropped off by Libby's older sister at a local hiking trail just outside of Delphi, according to NBC News.
“Two girls set out for a walk through the woods. A trail that ends here, the Monon High Bridge, a relic from a past century,” Dateline correspondent Andrea Canning said in a voiceover in a preview of the episode. “Trains once used it to cross Deer Creek more than 60 feet below.”
It was the last location where the two teens were seen alive.
“We saw a Snapchat photo of Abby that Libby had taken, so we knew that they had been on the bridge,” Libby’s grandmother Becky Patty told Dateline.
RELATED: San Francisco Police Reveal Why Rumors About Tech Titan Bob Lee’s Murder Weren't Disputed
The old wooden bridge had no guard rails or hand rails to keep someone from plunging into the waters below.
“What teenagers don’t like thrill?" Libby’s cousin Sadie Moudy commented to Dateline.
But, as Canning explained in the episode's preview, "The real danger wasn't beneath them, it was behind."
Libby German's cell phone reveals clues
Libby recorded a video on her phone that showed a man wearing jeans, a dark jacket, and a hat walking behind them.
“I believe he followed them across,” Delphi Sheriff Tony Liggett told Dateline.
Libby’s grandfather Mike Patty opened up about what he imagined must have been going through the minds of girls, out in the woods when they encountered the man.
“They had to be scared out of their minds,” Mike told Dateline.
Tragically, the bodies of both girls were discovered the day after they went missing, about half a mile from the bridge. But Libby's video would provide investigators with critical clues to who was responsible.
“Libby herself recorded the killer on her phone," Canning said. "All they had left in that moment was a cell phone, each other, and a split second to act."
In addition to featuring interviews with Libby’s family and Sheriff Liggett, the two-hour broadcast will also include conversations with Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter, and defense attorney Andrew Baldwin.
To find out more about the chilling case and the man eventually convicted of the brutal crimes, watch Dateline on Friday, February 21 at 9/8c p.m. on NBC or stream the episode on Peacock when it becomes available the next day.
And for even more Dateline, sign up for the show's official newsletter and check out its podcast.
