Delphi Murders Trial: Investigators testify, crime scene photos revealed

 

CARROLL COUNTY Ind. -- Dozens of graphic crime scene photos were shown to the jury, showing how Libby German and Abby Williams were left dead, with their throats cut, one in clothing and the other nude.

It was a very tough and emotional day in court, especially for the families of the victims, with more than 40 crime scene photos displayed for the jury. Relatives sobbing, holding each other, and looking away.

The state’s first witness today was Carroll County Deputy Daren Giancola. He helped with the search efforts for Libby and Abby on February 13th, 2017. He noticed disturbed leaves on the north side of the Monon High Bridge. On that first night, they weren’t investigating a murder it was on no one’s radar at that time. The next day, he was informed that searchers had found the bodies. He described the condition of the deceased in detail.

“One was nude the other was clothed," said Giancola. "Both had large lacerations to their throats. Both had substantial amounts of blood on their person and underneath.”

He said it was apparent they were deceased; no life-saving measures were taken. He testified to carrying a Glock 17 nine-millimeter.

The state’s next witness, Indiana State Police Detective Jason Page. He testified about the football field-sized area of focus: “Ground zero.” The prosecution seems to be laying out the initial investigation and the lay of the land of the crime scene. This is the part of the testimony where his crime scene photos were displayed to the jury.

Defense attorney Brad Rozzi, asking about how the crime scene was handled, apparently getting heated over there not being more photos of the bullet found at the scene at different angles.

To that, Detective Page said, “Anything we see that could be evidence, we take a pic of it in place.” 

The state’s next witness, Duane Datzman, a former I-S-P investigator who found the bullet at the crime scene. Datzman testified that he saw something shiny in the ground, brushed a few leaves away, and found the 40-caliber cartridge. He also says investigators removed sticks from the girls’ bodies, believing they had no evidentiary value. But two weeks later, March 3rd, he went back to collect the sticks.

This case has brought national attention over the past 8 years, along with members of the news media here to cover this, we’ve also seen YouTubers, podcasters, and some who are just personally invested in the case.

For example, one YouTuber, Ange Lynn, came to Carroll County all the way from Cleveland for this trial.

“I remember watching it when it first happened, and you know, the devastating search, what they found the next day," said Lynn. "Like, just it’s heartbreaking.”

She says in 2020, during the pandemic she visited Delphi to see the Monon High Bridge for herself the very spot where the girls were taken. And she kept coming back, joining various memorial walks, meeting others also invested in the case. Lynn continues to follow the Delphi case on her YouTube channel since her trip to Delphi in 2020.

“I felt very connected, just doing these memorial walks together. You feel closer. Almost like, ‘Wow, I feel like I knew these girls.'" stated Lynn.

She created bracelets for Abby and Libby, in their honor, created goodie bags to give away at the most recent memorial walk, which was the Sunday before jury selection.