Australian True Crime – “The Delphi Murders – ATC International”
Podcast Host: Bravecasting (with Meshel Laurie)
Guest: Susan Hendricks (author, journalist, US crime anchor)
Release Date: February 26, 2026

Overview

This episode of Australian True Crime covers the haunting case of the Delphi Murders—the 2017 double homicide of Abby Williams and Libby German in Delphi, Indiana. Host Meshel Laurie speaks with Susan Hendricks, journalist and author of Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi, to explore the progression of the investigation, the impact on the community, and the eventual conviction of Richard Allen. The conversation delves into the details and missteps of the case, the emotional aftermath for the families, and the theories and myths that rose around the murders.

Key Topics & Insights

1. The Day of the Murders & Immediate Aftermath

• Setting: Feb 13, 2017, Abby and Libby were dropped at a local hiking trail near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, Indiana (00:04).
• Search: After Libby missed her pickup and families became concerned, the community rallied for a massive search, continuing through the night in challenging terrain (03:06).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "The townspeople... were down there with their flashlights and Becky remembers just that orange glow, that yellow, orange glow of the lights of the flashlights..." (03:06)
• Discovery: Bodies found the next afternoon in a dense, difficult to access area. A photo of the suspect (later realized to be a still from a victim’s video) is released, pushing the case into the public eye (00:04-06:06).

2. Community Response and The Small-Town Effect

• Initial disbelief: The tightknit nature of Delphi made the crime feel inconceivable to residents (05:36).
  • [Interviewer:] "It is such a small community, it's a safe community. Right. It was unfathomable..." (05:36)
• Suspicion toward outsiders: Any “blow-ins” or unfamiliar people were noticed, which made the lingering unsolved element especially unsettling (05:36-06:06).

3. Physical Setting—The Bridge and Crime Scene

• Danger & Isolation: The Monon High Bridge’s real danger and isolation only became clear upon visiting—helped explain how the crime could happen unseen (07:20-13:54).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "It just felt chilling... I could see this... it's so dense and no one was there... it's not what you would picture." (09:39)
  • [Interviewer:] "They couldn't run, for example, by that stage, right. Because they could see him coming for quite a ways..." (13:34)

4. Libby’s Presence of Mind & Recording

• Recording the Suspect: Libby, a budding true crime fan, sensed danger and filmed the man on the bridge, resulting in the notorious “Down the Hill” clip (13:54).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "She wanted to come home. The reason she hit record... isn't he creepy on the bridge?" (13:54)
• Trap & Isolation: The girls were essentially trapped at the end of the bridge, with escape routes cut off by the landscape (13:34-15:13).

5. The Investigation—Missteps & Frustrations

• Early suspect interviews: Richard Allen was interviewed early; he placed himself at the scene but was treated as a witness, not a suspect—frustrating for the families in hindsight (15:28-16:58).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "He put himself there. Which is interesting to me because the recording..." (15:31)
• Administrative errors: A critical report about Allen’s whereabouts was “misfiled,” with blame exchanged between the FBI and Indiana State Police (17:24-18:14).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "They... said, 'this was a misfiling, quote unquote, by the FBI.' The FBI came out... said, 'It wasn't us.'" (17:24)
• Community fear: Persistent concern the perpetrator would strike again; similarities drawn to Australian cases where prior tips had been lost (18:14-20:01, 18:41).

6. Online Theories & Keegan Klein

• Snapchat Murders & Catfishing: Theories circulated about Libby’s connection via Snapchat to a catfish account (“Anthony Schatz”) operated by Keegan Klein, though police found no direct connection to the murders (20:34-24:44).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "When this name came up, Becky was thinking, did I fail her? Did I not talk to her enough?... Investigators telling the families, look, right now, no." (23:22)
• No Clear Connection: Investigators indicated if there was no family connection to the killer, solving the case would rely on someone recognizing the suspect in the community (24:44).

7. The Infamous Video & Public Tips

• Appearance: The suspect video spawned thousands of tips, but the man’s appearance was common—many locals matched the “look” (25:00-26:11).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "So many men look like that. They just do. They all do. They all have the blue jacket..." (25:00)
• Press conference moment: Authorities at one press conference directly addressed the killer, believing he could be present in the room (28:53-29:38).
  • [Sheriff/Lead Detective:] "We believe you are hiding in plain sight for more than two years... We likely have interviewed you or someone close to you..." (29:05)

8. Law Enforcement Dynamics—FBI vs State Police

• Strategy Shift: Discussion of “change of direction” press conference and theories that police wanted the killer or his family to know he was close to being caught (31:30-34:49).
• Internal Tensions: Noted friction and different investigative approaches between local police and the FBI (31:30-34:49).

9. Richard Allen—The Arrest and Aftermath

• Arrest Shocks: Allen was “hiding in plain sight”—a local pharmacist, known to many in town, and even interacted with the victims’ families after the murders (34:49-38:40).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "She went into CVS the day of the funeral... she said Tara remembers him. [...] He said, 'it's on me.' And to think that... That he would be able to say that." (37:56-39:01)

10. Double Lives & Unimaginable Evil

• Psychological Divide: Allen’s ability to lead an apparently normal life echoes other notorious killers, such as BTK (39:11-40:58).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "He was able to stay married... All of the things that you think that can't be true... the psychopath, he was able to..." (36:12)
• Family Trauma: The deep, lasting pain for families of both victims and killers (40:00-41:10).

11. Trial, Confession, and Defense Theories

• Confession: While jailed, Allen confessed to his wife and mother on a recorded call (42:20).
  • [Richard Allen, recorded:] "I killed Abby and Libby." (42:20)
• Media & Defense Twists: Defense later floated a sensational “Odinism” conspiracy (44:01-44:48) claiming the murders were tied to a Nordic cult—debunked in court but muddied public perception.
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "It felt like thrown against the wall. Even if it had once been investigated, it was just all thrown out there..." (44:01)
• Family Frustration: These theories renewed the trauma for the families, taking the focus off the girls (45:41-46:22).

12. Lasting Impact—Family Grief and Memorial

• Ongoing Loss: The families carry deep grief, remembering Libby and Abby in everyday rituals, such as bringing photos on trips (46:22-48:18).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "Every day, they miss the laughter of Libby coming in the kitchen. [...] It's the little things that are just heart wrenching." (46:22-47:47)
• Healing & Hope: The community has focused on supporting each other and memorializing the girls with the Abby and Libby Memorial Park. The families encourage the public to remember the girls for who they were, not just as victims (48:18-53:02).
  • [Susan Hendricks:] "Their pictures are there... and that's what the family says is healing for them, hearing the laughter... So it's a place where they have some sort of solace..." (48:18-53:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Libby’s Bravery:
  • "The reason she hit record and say, grandpa, look at this guy, isn't he creepy on the bridge?... I believe fully that they both sensed, of course, something was off. But to hit record, you don't think this person can murder the both of us." – Susan Hendricks (13:54)
• Law Enforcement Direct Address:
  • "To the killer who may be in this room. We believe you are hiding in plain sight for more than two years... We likely have interviewed you or someone close to you. We know that this is about power to you..." – Lead Detective (29:05)
• Family Pain:
  • "Abby's grandfather comparing the pain to losing a limb that will never grow back." – Court Reporting, Narrator (41:57)
• Richard Allen’s Confession:
  • "I killed Abby and Libby." – Richard Allen (recorded confession, 42:20)
• On The Nature of Evil:
  • "They rarely do. What's so fascinating to me or to everyone really, how could they live their normal life?... the psychopath, he was able to stay married. [...] A man is married. Right. At CVS." – Susan Hendricks (36:12-37:10)
• Memorial and Hope:
  • "If evil outweighed good, that would be for nothing. The family wants everyone to remember the girls in that way, of who they were." – Susan Hendricks (53:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:04-02:39: Initial case summary and podcast introduction
• 02:39-07:20: Susan describes the community’s search efforts and terrain challenges
• 07:20-13:34: The physical isolation of the bridge and setting the trap
• 13:34-15:28: Libby’s recording and the “Down the Hill” audio
• 15:28-20:01: Investigation missteps, Allen’s early interview, misfiled evidence
• 20:34-24:44: Social media (Snapchat/Anthony Schatz) theories and community tips
• 25:00-29:38: The suspect video, endless tips, and chilling press conference
• 31:30-34:49: Law enforcement dynamics, press strategies, addressing the community
• 34:49-39:01: Reaction to Richard Allen’s arrest and his relationship to the community
• 39:11-41:10: Living a double life; family parallels with other notorious cases
• 42:20-44:48: Allen’s confession and the “Odinism” defense theory
• 46:22-53:02: Family grief, memorialization, and messages of hope and remembrance

Closing Tone

The episode delivers an empathetic yet unflinching narrative of loss, resilience, and hope. The tone is compassionate, somber, and deeply human, focusing on honoring Abby and Libby while addressing the wider impacts of traumatic crime on families and small communities.

For More

For support resources and additional details related to this episode, listeners are encouraged to check the podcast show notes.