Shortcut: The Delphi Murders - ATC International

February 26, 2026·18 min·1 clip

Two teens vanished after posting a Snapchat photo, but Libby German's secret video captured the man who ordered them 'down the hill.'

This episode of Australian True Crime International examines the 2017 murders of Abby Williams and Libby German in Delphi, Indiana. Hosts Meshel Laurie and Emily Webb speak with journalist Susan Hendricks, author of a book on the case. The episode details the investigation that led to the conviction of local man Richard Allen. Libby German recorded a video and audio of a man on the Monon High Bridge before she and Abby were killed. Police initially released a grainy still image from that video, followed by audio of the man saying "down the hill." A key piece of evidence was an unspent .40-caliber round found between the victims, which was forensically linked to Allen's firearm. Richard Allen had voluntarily come forward early in the investigation, telling a conservation officer he was on the trails that day watching fish and checking his stock ticker. The girls' grandmother, Becky, recalls the community search and the moment she learned they had been found. Investigative consultant Paul Holes analyzed the crime scene, noting the isolated "trap" at the end of the abandoned railroad bridge. A witness reportedly saw someone matching Allen's description on the more isolated side of the bridge. Susan Hendricks describes the chilling normalcy of Allen, who worked at a local CVS pharmacy. After his arrest, a family member recalled Allen compassionately waiving the fee for photos she was developing for Libby's funeral. The host notes photographs exist of Allen at a bar with a police sketch of the suspect on the wall behind him. The families feared the killer would strike again during the nearly six-year investigation without an arrest. The episode describes the community's disbelief that such a violent crime could occur in their small town of under 3,000 people. The tone is conversational and investigative, blending narrative storytelling with factual analysis. The style is empathetic, focusing on the victims' stories and the community's perspective. Listeners interested in detailed true crime investigations and forensic evidence will find this episode compelling. Those sensitive to crimes against children or seeking lighter content may wish to skip it.

As heard by us

A restrained Delphi primer focused on the bridge, Libby's recording, and the families left to carry the loss.

The Delphi Murders - ATC International revisits the 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German, beginning with the Monon High Bridge trail and the haunting fact that Libby kept recording after the girls had lost contact with everyone else.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Australian True Crime