Police to announce arrest in Delphi murders Monday, suspect identified - 10/31 10am Eastern (Links)

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DELPHI, Ind. (WLS) -- Indiana State Police are expected to release more details Monday morning about an arrest in the 2017 murder of two girls in Delphi

Police are expected to name the suspect during a news conference in Delphi at 9 a.m. Central Time.

Residents told ABC7 they've interacted with the suspect multiple times and said the individual reportedly worked at a local pharmacy.

Sources tell ABC's Indianapolis affiliate a person has been arrested in connection with the murders.

"The state police never really discussed details on what was found at the scene, but the belief all along is that there was at least some sort of genetic material," Brad Garrett, ABC News contributor and former FBI agent. "Clearly they have something that links him to the crime."

The case has been shrouded in mystery since February 2017 when 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German seemingly disappeared after going for a hike. Their bodies were found the next day.

"How did this come to light almost five years after this crime was committed?" Garret said. "Something broke in recent days, at least to the point that it gave them enough probable cause and evidence to arrest this new person."

The girls' killer was able to avoid capture, even with thousands of tips coming in to police and despite one of the teens, Libby, taking this grainy video the day of their disappearance showing a man walking towards the girls.

Authorities have said he may be the killer. Libby also captured a chilling recording, thought to be the man's voice.


Libby's family reacted to the update expected later Monday. Her sister Kelsi tweeted, "just know how grateful I am for all of you."

Just know how grateful I am for all of you. No comments for now, any questions please refer to the Carroll county prosecutors office. There is tentatively a press conference Monday at 10am. We will say more then. Today is the day%uD83D%uDC9C
%u2014 Kelsi German (@libertyg_sister) October 28, 2022
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I saw an article on the Flora fire that killed 4 kids but when I tried to archive on three separate sites, it wouldn't work. Probably just some code fuckery in WTHR's page, but still.
Since it's in the area and Delphi is briefly mentioned, I'm posting the text here, just as a point of interest since when I read this I had a feeling some FBI agents are going to start dying in freak accidents.

If this case is properly solved, and if more people start getting got for being involved in Delphi, I think I might start having a little faith in our government. (not much mind you, but a little)

FLORA, Ind. — FBI investigators are in Flora, Indiana, to speak with residents as part of the ongoing investigation into the 2016 deadly house fire that killed four young sisters.

Keyana Davis, 11; Keyara Phillips, 9; Kerriele McDonald, 7; and Kionnie Welch, 5, died in a house fire on East Columbia and South Division Streets in the early morning of Nov. 21, 2016.

Investigators are talking with residents Monday, July 7 to try to get more answers.

"Even if you have already been interviewed or believe the information you are in possession of has already been provided, please share this again. Investigators will review all information provided by the community," the FBI said in a news release. "Something you remember could help, even if you believe it is small. If you saw, heard, or were told anything at the time of the fire – or have been since – please come forward and allow us to evaluate your information."
Tips can also be submitted anonymously at tips.fbi.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

Within a few months of the fire, police had determined the fire was caused by arson. State police are offering $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest for the arsonist.
But more than eight years after the fire, the fire-starter hasn’t been caught.

Flora is in Carroll County, approximately 10 miles southeast of Delphi. The fire that killed the four sisters came less than three months before Abigail Williams and Liberty German were murdered in Delphi.

The town had just over 2,000 people, as of the 2010 census. The town was founded in October 1827 and calls itself “the Garden Spot of Indiana.” When the founder, John Flora, died on May 11, 1875, the town was renamed in his honor.
The girls lived about a half-mile from where John Flora’s house once stood. Like his home, theirs is gone, too.

A bare lot sits at the corner of Columbia and Divison streets, where the girls used to live. The blacked and boarded-up home was torn down in October 2023.
Just down Columbia Street, at the intersection with Center Street, there is a bench of carved stone. It lists the names of the four girls, along with Abby and Libby.

A sign at the bench reads, “Justice for Flora four angels.”

But while Richard Allen was sentenced on Dec 20, 2024, for killing the Delphi girls, the person who started the Flora fire is still at large.

"That was just a horrid tragedy that kicked off a rough year for Carroll County in general," Sheriff Tony Liggett said.

Jacqueline Partlow isn’t optimistic that justice will come any time soon. The girls’ great aunt said investigators have let the family down.

“We’re just sitting here, eight years later, with no help,” Partlow said. “And when I say no help from the State Police, none.”

Indiana State Police took over the investigation shortly after the fire. In a statement on Nov. 20, the Flora Police Department explained they turned the investigation over “due to the lack of resources and manpower from our small law enforcement agency.”

But Partlow said the family has not heard from State Police Superintendent Doug Carter in a long while.

“Oh, I wish he would call me,” Partlow told 13News.

The delayed justice has been a sore spot for the family for years. In a 2021 interview, the girls' mother, Gaylin Rose, told 13News, “All the time, I’m disappointed. It’s just taking so long to figure out what happened, how it happened.”

Rose moved to California to be with her family shortly after the fire.

"There was no type of beef, no retaliation against me and my family,” Rose said in 2021. “No one disliked us like that. We didn't have no beef. Everyone loved us just as well as we loved them. So once again, I'm lost. To be honest, I feel like it was more racial."

Year’s later, Rose's aunt agrees.

“The writing is all over the wall,” Partlow said. “The whole world could really see it, if they was looking at it.”

Indiana State Police say they have never stopped the investigation into who started the deadly fire. Carter says race is not a factor.

"To think that I or we wouldn't do everything within our power to figure out who did this – and there's a notion that we're not because they're Black and I'm white – wow," Carter said. "I'd trade spaces with them. The color of their skin doesn't matter to me."

Carter retired in January 2025. He said the case is "one of those things that I will have real regrets about. But I still believe we will be successful one day."

"I don't believe in cold cases," Carter said. "Science is changing. Technology is changing. But the information remains the same."

Carter also had a personal message to the arsonist:

"I don't believe they set it intentionally to kill those four little girls," Carter said. "I don't believe that's the case. I hope eventually, somebody's conscious will get the better of them."

Carter said that the girls' mother is not a suspect in the case.

"I hope that one day, I can sit down with Gaylin myself," Carter said. "I would really like to do that, actually."

Additionally, Former Carroll County Sheriff Tony Liggett said, "I have full confidence that Indiana State Police are doing everything in their power to bring that case to a resolution."

In 2018 Rose filed a federal lawsuit
\against her landlord and a product liability case. Before landing on arson, investigators had believed an appliance started the fire.

The product liability case was dismissed in 2020.

In August 2024, Rose settled with her landlord. The details of the settlement are under seal by order of a federal judge.

But a family friend says that the nightmare is far from over for the girls' mother.

"She would do anything in the world for them," Kathy Clendening said. "She was one of the best mothers."

Clendening also defended Rose from accusations she has been absent from the public eye since the fire.

"A lot of people say, 'Where's Gaylin? Why isn't she fighting?'" Clendening said. "Well, for Gaylin, she is fighting."

"The real thing is Gaylin, every night, she has to be talking to someone to go to sleep," Clendening said. "She's afraid to go to sleep. She's afraid to wake up."

The $5,000 reward for information on the case is still being offered by state police.

WISHTV article about it
 
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