Joseph Paul

jpaul@jconline.com

DELPHI, Ind. — Police didn't identify whose bodies were found Tuesday near Deer Creek, but indications were that they were 13-year-olds Liberty German and Abigail Williams, who had been missing since 5:30 p.m. Monday.

"We are investigating this as a crime scene," Indiana State Police Sgt. Kim Riley said at a news conference shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday. "We suspect foul play."

Riley, Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby and Delphi Police Chief Steve Mullins refused to say much more than that. They noted the bodies were found about 12:15 p.m. about a half to three-quarters of a mile upstream from Monon High Bridge, which is part of the Delphi Historic Trails.

The search parties for German and Williams ended when the bodies were found, said Amanda Leader from Brookston, who volunteered to look for the missing girls.

German and Williams were dropped off at High Bridge, an abandoned railroad truss, about 1 p.m. Monday, but when a family arrived later in the afternoon to pick up the girls, they weren't there. Families members searched the area, then reported them missing at 5:30 p.m. Monday, according to Leazenby.

Leazenby said the bridge spans Deer Creek. It is completely abandoned and has no guard rails. The bridge is listed as one of Indiana Landmark's 10 most endangered historic sites.

A press release published at 12:09 a.m. Tuesday indicated police did not initially suspect foul play. Search parties regrouped Tuesday morning at the Delphi Fire Department to begin looking for the girls.

Search parties scoured the base of the bridge and surrounding trails Monday night, but darkness made the searches nearly impossible, Leazenby said.

"With darkness last night, we probably didn't pick up on everything," he said. "With daylight in our favor, we're sending folks back out to basically back track where we've already been."

A specialized K-9 group from Macomb, Illinois, aided in the morning's search, Leazenby said Tuesday morning.

Some asked why the police did not declare an Amber Alert when the girls were first reported missing. The sheriff's office was told the incident does not meet the criteria for an amber alert, Leazenby said.

Journal & Courier reporter Ron Wilkins contributed to this story.

Call J&C reporter Joseph Paul at 765-420-5339, email him at jpaul@jconline.com or follow him on Twitter:@JosephPaulJC.