On February 13, 2017, two young friends, Abigail Williams and Liberty German, set out for a hike on the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Indiana. What followed was a tragedy that not only devastated a small community but also fundamentally reshaped the landscape of modern crowdsourced true crime. In this episode, we move past the speculation to focus on the verified timeline and the specific pieces of evidence that have become central to one of the most scrutinized investigations of the 21st century.
A Trail Captured in Time
The core of this case rests on a series of brief recordings captured by Liberty German on her cell phone. We analyze the verified timeline of that afternoon, from the moment the girls were dropped off at the trail to the haunting final images of a figure—later dubbed "Bridge Guy"—approaching them on the high bridge. We discuss the impact of the "Down the Hill" audio clip, exploring how Libby’s quick thinking provided investigators with a direct link to the suspect, yet paradoxically opened the door for years of intense, often chaotic, online investigation.
The Evidence in Focus
We break down the key elements that have defined the search for justice:
The Digital Breadcrumbs: How the short video and audio recordings became the primary tools for public identification and police profiling.
The Physical Site: A look at the geography of the Monon High Bridge and the logistical challenges it presented for both the victims and the perpetrator.
The Verified Timeline: A minute-by-minute reconstruction of the girls' arrival, the final social media post, and the harrowing window in which the crime occurred.
The Legacy of Crowdsourcing
Finally, we examine how the Delphi case became a flashpoint for the true crime community. From "armchair detectives" to sophisticated digital mapping, we look at how the public’s obsession with the verified evidence helped keep the case in the national spotlight while also complicating the path to a legal resolution. Join us as we re-examine the facts of a hike that ended in silence, and the recording that refused to let the world forget.
