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Eerie clip shows haunting moments before teenage girls were murdered

The chilling final moments before two teenage girls were brutally slaughtered in broad daylight has been revealed for the very first time. WARNING: Graphic

Horrific final moments before teens were murdered

The chilling video footage of the final moments before two teenage girls were brutally murdered has been released for the very first time.

It was a cool winter’s morning in February 2017 when best friends Abigail ‘Abby’ Williams, 13, and Liberty ‘Libby’ German, 14, decided to make the most of their rare day off from school and get out into nature.

The pair were dropped off at the famous Delphi Historic Trails in Delphi, Indiana, a popular hiking route for locals in the area, with a plan to explore, get some exercise and fresh air.

The girls did everything together. Picture: Facebook
The girls did everything together. Picture: Facebook

The girls decided to take a walk on the famous Monon Bridge, built in 1891 and standing 19 metres tall, it became largely abandoned and has been in severe disrepair over the years.

Nonetheless, it remains an iconic part of Delphi and is a popular background for photographs, which is exactly why Libby snapped a photo of Abby walking on the bridge.

Uploading the photo on social media sharing platform, Snapchat, the girls had no idea it would be the very last picture they would ever take.

Just moments later, they were horrifically stalked and brutally slaughtered in a sickening crime that would shock the entire world and go unsolved for years.

The bridge was a popular photo stop for locals. Picture: Supplied
The bridge was a popular photo stop for locals. Picture: Supplied

The girls were reported missing that afternoon at 5.30pm after they did not meet Libby’s dad, who was meant to pick them up. Tragically, they were found slain the following day.

Both Libby and Abby had their throats slashed and were discovered with sticks and branches on top of them.

Experts believe both girls would have stayed alive for four to ten minutes after the horror attack, bleeding out side-by-side.

Eerily, Libby was discovered completely nude, while Abigail was found wearing both her clothes and Libby’s clothes on top.

A still from the full clip shows a man stalking the girls. Picture: Supplied
A still from the full clip shows a man stalking the girls. Picture: Supplied

Prosectuors have said that while no evidence of sexual assault was discovered, this does not mean it did not take place.

In November 2024, seven years after the murders, Delphi local Richard Allen now 52, was convicted of killing Libby and Abby and was sentenced to 130 years in prison.

He has always maintained his innocence.

Incredibly, eighth grader Libby had the fortitude and presence of mind to sneakily record a video of the strange man who was following them along the bridge, capturing the chilling final moments before their murders.

Richard Allen was convicted of the murder. Picture: Indiana Dept of Corrections
Richard Allen was convicted of the murder. Picture: Indiana Dept of Corrections

Previously, investigators had only released a very brief clip of the unidentified man, known in the true crime community as ‘Bridge Guy’, where he can be heard saying “down the hill”, seemingly instructing the girls on where to go.

But now, for the very first time, authorities have released the entire heartbreaking 43 second video of the girls’ terrifying final moments to the public.

This is the final photo that Libby uploaded to her Snapchat. Picture: Supplied
This is the final photo that Libby uploaded to her Snapchat. Picture: Supplied

In the footage recorded by Libby, which was played in full to the court during the trial, Abby is seen walking along the bridge and a man walking closely behind her.

She is understood to have said something to the effect of “is he behind me?” and then speeds up her walk to a run. Libby then tells her “see, this is the path that we go down,” while her phone is pointed at the ground.

She then adds “there is no path going there so we have to go down here.”

Cops released this grainy footage of their suspect during the investigation. Picture: Supplied
Cops released this grainy footage of their suspect during the investigation. Picture: Supplied
A sketch of who police believed
A sketch of who police believed "bridge guy" was. Picture: Supplied

Libby and Abby sound anxious and scared, with both heard sniffling and taking short, rapid breaths in the video.

The clip also captures the voice of the ‘Bridge Guy’ at the end and as he says “guys” to which one of the girls responds with a timid “hi”.

Just before the clip ends, the man is heard telling the girls “down the hill”.

Prosecutors previously argued that Libby and Abby were also heard referencing a gun the man could have been carrying, but this audio is not confirmed.

The eerie video was posted on a website created by Allen’s supporters, who claim to be working on his “post-conviction legal work” following what they believe was a “wrongful” conviction.

During the trial, Allen’s lawyers tried to argue the girls were killed in a “ritualistic sacrifice” by Odinists, members of a Norse pagan religion linked with White nationalism.

The pair had a day off school and decided to go for a hike. Picture: Facebook
The pair had a day off school and decided to go for a hike. Picture: Facebook

However, this bizarre theory was not allowed in court after a judge ruled there was a lack of evidence to support the claim.

Allen reportedly made dozens of murder confessions during his pre-trial detention to prison officials, a prison psychologist and his wife.

A bullet found at the crime scene had also been matched to a gun that belonged to Allen through a ballistic analysis.

The slain girls were best friends and did everything together, Libby’s grandfather Mike Patty told PEOPLE following the murders.

Liberty's family have remembered her as a kind, adventurous and fun-loving little girl. Picture: Supplied
Liberty's family have remembered her as a kind, adventurous and fun-loving little girl. Picture: Supplied
The families are devastated by the loss. Picture: Supplied
The families are devastated by the loss. Picture: Supplied

They were forever hanging out in class together at the local middle school and were known to play sports, have sleepovers and go hiking in Delphi’s community trails.

“We’re not doing so well,” he told the outlet just one day after Indiana officials announced his granddaughter and her best friend were killed.

“She went hiking often,” he said of Liberty, who he raised alongside his wife, Becky.

“We talked all the time about safety, it was something that I stressed, but I guess not enough.

“I can’t imagine why they were killed. I just don’t know, my mind is really mush right now.”

The pair would be in their early twenties today. Picture: Indiana State Police
The pair would be in their early twenties today. Picture: Indiana State Police

Following the verdict late last year, Becky Patt explained to Dateline that she had mixed feelings about the situation.

“Do you say there’s winners?” she said.

“We got our verdict, but that didn’t bring the girls back. It doesn’t give us closure.

“It gives us a little bit of peace to know that he can never hurt another person again. And that’s where he should be.”

“But is it happy? Not really.”

Originally published as Eerie clip shows haunting moments before teenage girls were murdered

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/lifestyle/eerie-clip-shows-haunting-moments-before-teenage-girls-were-murdered/news-story/74948c497b7fee1ed86e12a03cea5867