Sheriff clarifies reports of DNA evidence – Journal and Courier

Police believe this man killed Liberty German and Abigail Williams on Feb. 13. German took this photo from her phone before the two were forced to a remote area along Deer Creek, where the girls were killed.(Photo: Provided)

DELPHI, Ind. Carroll County SheriffTobe Leazenby clarified his on-air comments from aFriday interviewduring a Fox59 report,notinghe didn't intendto confirm or denythat investigators collected DNA evidence in thedouble homicide investigation ofAbby Williams and Liberty German.

The TV station's report said investigators acquired DNA evidence critical to the investigation of the case. However, Leazenby said he was speaking about physicalevidence in general and not about DNA evidence in particular.

"We can't say that we have evidence or that we don't,"Leazenby said. "At this point all facets of physical evidence are being considered."

Williams and German disappeared Feb. 13 while hiking the historic trails near the Monon High Bridge. Family members reported the girls missing when they failed to return to their pick-up point.

Volunteer searchers found the girls' bodies about 12:15 p.m. Feb. 14. They were about 50 feet north of Deer Creek about a half-mile east of the bridge, police said.

Police released a grainy photo of a man walking the trails about the same time as German and Williams and days later said the man was a suspected in the killings. Investigators announced this week that the photo was taken by German, who also recorded the voice of the man suspected of killing the girls.

Other than the photo and the audio recording, police have released very little of the evidence they have collected.

Police said Feb. 15 that the manner of death was homicide, based on the autopsy that day. But they refused to discuss the cause of death or the injuries the girls endured based on the autopsy.

Leazenby said the department is expediting the analysis of all physical evidence, fairly common in a case such as this. WhileLeazenby said he can't speak to specifically what evidence was acquired at the scene, every crime scene has physical evidence.

"There is an old rule in our business that any time there is an exchange involvinghumans there is take and leave. You take something and you leave something ... whether it's hair shed, skin or even a gum wrapper."

Leazenby said he felt the need to clarify the Fox59 report because "we don't want to have mass confusion."

A reward fund set up for information leading to an arrest topped $50,000 on Thursday.

By early afternoon Friday, police have received more than 5,000 tips in the last 11 days, Leazenby said. Investigators are following up on these tips.

Email tips now outnumber phone tips by 2 to 1,he said.

Tips may be phoned in at844-459-5786 or emailed toabbyandlibbytips@cacoshrf.com. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Call J&C reporter Emma Ea Ambrose at 765-431-1192. Follow her on Twitter: @emma_ea_ambrose.

J&C breaking news reporter Ron Wilkins can be reached at 765-420-5231; follow on Twitter@RonWilkins2

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Sheriff clarifies reports of DNA evidence - Journal and Courier