How Did The Killer Know? - Libby & Abby, Delphi, Indiana

One aspect of the case of the Monon High Bridge Trail murders that is worthy of exploration is whether or not this crime was committed in the location where the bodies of Liberty German and Abigail Williams were found (i.e. the crime scene) or were they taken elsewhere and dumped at the crime scene later?  

So, let's take a look at that.

When saying, "Down the hill", was BG directing the two girls to walk approximately 600 feet, down the wooded hill and across the creek to what would later become the crime scene?  

Going with this theory, we normally go with the 40 minute rule, which is the length of time between the images of BG, taken by Libby and the time Libby's father arrived to pick the girls up. This theory allows the killer enough time to do all the damage implied by rumors and get out smoothly.  

But did the killer know he had 40 minutes? 

Maybe I should just ask this question instead.  

How did the killer know he had time to do this crime without family or friends coming upon him?  

Simply walking alone together does not mean two teenagers are alone.  How often did any of us, as teenagers, hang right with our families when on outings together?  

When we were teens, if we had a teen friend with us on family outings, we usually ventured ahead together, just to get away from the younger kids in the family and to avoid the adults.  We wanted to talk alone without their judgement and without them knowing all of our business.  

But the point is, how did he know they didn't have anyone else with them on the trail?  

How did he know the girls weren't meeting someone there?

Somehow BG knew he would complete this crime without getting caught.

So, he either knew for a fact not one other person would see or hear the homicides

or

He had some type of authority over them that would explain away any initial confrontation that may occur before leading them to the crime scene 

or 

He lead/took them somewhere else where that risk would not be a factor.

Let's add to this picture a couple of other facts which were pointed out in "How One Killer Could Pull It Off".   In this part of our study, we have found that while walking on the bridge, while following the girls, while Libby was secretly filming him, BG was not wearing gloves 

and 

he made little to no effort to conceal his face.

So this made it obvious BG had no concern about his DNA nor his fingerprints being found at the scene, which implies he knew them personally with his DNA and/or fingerprints being expected to be found.

Could this really have been a "chance encounter"?

Did he see them dropped off by Libby's sister, making him aware of their vulnerability?  

If so, he must have been near the drop off point at 1:45, seeing the girls exit the car and enter the trail.  This would imply he was visiting the trail or lives near the entrance where he could see how active the trail was that day, weighing the risks and determining he could get by with it before another visitor reached the bridge.  

If BG were an observer of the trail or a visitor to the trail, he could be a well versed serial killer, patiently waiting for the next crime of opportunity.

If he did not see them arrive alone, did he already know they would be there. . . alone?  

Was he "expecting" them?  

Another thing I remember as a teen is how much we'd make fun of the adults in our lives.  I know for sure, if that had been a staff member from school or school sports or an Uncle or "older" family member, I would have been poking fun at him, in his effort to walk that trestle "at his age".  

I would also have secretly taken pictures or recorded him, just so I could poke fun at him again later.  

So what if this were someone really familiar to one of the girls?  

Was he there to discuss something with the girls, but also expecting "trouble" of some sort?  

Was he expecting someone else to meet the girls at the bridge that day, causing him to carry his gun, "just in case of a confrontation"?  

Did he direct them down the hill to talk to them with things going sour at that point, possibly causing a huge personal fight that got way out of control?  

If this is the case, this personal confrontation would be a crime of passion and would have been completed in way less than that 40 minute span of time, possibly the "6 Minutes" which is assumed by many to be the length of the audio from Libby's phone as well as the duration of the crime itself.

What other forms of passionate causes could have occurred that day? 

Let's not forget the possibility of a jealous friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, classmate, teammate, or peer is always there.

We know a Homecoming Dance was scheduled for the upcoming Friday.  Did one of the girls get an invitation and someone else didn't like it or someone else didn't approve? 

Or - was he someone they knew - who, himself was waiting for that perfect crime of opportunity with one or both girls? 

If so, there is a stalker involved and if this was his first kill, it most likely won't be his last.

In "The 6 Minute Murders", we learned more about the lay of the land around Deer Creek and Monon High Bridge.  We learned the terrain would be too much for a person to carry a body to this spot (much less, two) if they returned by way of the driveway beneath the bridge to cross the creek.  So, the only feasible way in dumping bodies without being noticed would be during "The Dark Hours" and by way of the cemetery.  

From the bottom of the cemetery to the dumping point is approximately 500 feet, down hill, following an already well worn deer trail, would make "dragging" or the use of a deer sled easier.  Clothing, things of evidence, a pair of underwear (girls) and a cigarette butt, would be discarded in the creek, then a quick trek back up the hill to the cemetery.  

In "Pictures For Thought", we looked at Deer Creek, the crime scene and one other theory, the possibility of the girls being lead to a specific barn within walking distance from the bridge (an approximate 10 to 15 minute walk).

(This theory implies premeditation in planning the capture, transfer, detainment, and eventual transfer back to crime scene.)

In the theory of the girls being taken elsewhere and returned to the scene to be murdered or dumped at the scene after being killed, we can surmise this as a timeline: 

Abducted at approximately 2:15 - 2:30 pm Monday 02/13/2017.

Bodies returned after family ended their search and departed the area at 4:30 am Tuesday 02/14/2017.

That's at least 14 hours the girls would have been in the custody of their abductor.

Other Considerations:

Search parties met again at the trail on Tuesday at around 9:00 am.  Rumor is, "Abby was still breathing when searchers found her propped against a tree.  She passed away on the way to the hospital". 

The crime scene was described as being, "pristine".

Heat seeking drones were used during the initial search on the night of the 13th to no avail.

4 wheeler and ATV vehicles were reported as being part of the search throughout the area on the night of the 13th. 

Serial Killer?

Stalker?

Personal Confrontation?

Crime of Passion?

Crime of Opportunity?

Premeditation?

Pictures for Thought - Libby & Abby - Delphi, Indiana Murders

Choosing a direction and thinking about time.

Would BG force the girls across the creek and straight to the crime scene allowing a 40 minute window of time.
OR

Would BG direct the girls to take a right, following the creek, to the barn for the duration of The Dark Hours.

Approximately 2,000 feet from the end of the bridge to the barn would be an approximate 10 - 15 minute walk, at most. 

The barn is located just over 800 feet from the nearest house, separated by a thick forest of evergreens.  Could the homeowner hear any noises or screams coming from the barn?

Would he keep them overnight, convincing them he will release them but insists on walking them to a release point?  
Could he have lead them 1600 feet away from the barn to kill them?  Was Abby alive (as some rumors state) when searchers found them that morning?

Or would he keep them overnight, kill them at the barn and move the bodies by way of assistance such as a deer sled or kayak?

Something as simple as this 300 pound capacity deer sled would do the job.

Just under 700 feet from the end of the bridge to the crime scene if taking a direct path toward it. 

(see below)

The crime scene is 900 feet from the nearest house.  
(Not much of a difference between the distance of the crime scene to the nearest house and the barn to the nearest house.)

Choosing a less direct path toward the crime scene, staying within the wood line to reach the creek the distance is just over 900 feet.

Isn't any scenario possible?

Was this barn searched?

How One Killer Could Pull It Off - Libby & Abby, Delphi Murders - Crime Flow

There are a few details in the case of Libby and Abby that are always up for discussion, discrepancy and contradiction. 

1.  Could one killer have completed this entire act alone?

2.  Did he or did he not wear gloves at any point during the crime?

3.  Did he know one or both of the girls personally?

LE has already stated there is a possibility of two killers.  Sgt. Bursten said, "Keep in mind people out there in TV land, you can only see here, (pointing to the photo) you can not see here or here." (pointing to the peripheral vision area).

Bursten did not say there were two killers, he said there is a likelihood of two killers.  But they don't know.

In the beginning, they thought it was one killer, stating there was no risk of another attack on the community, implying it was personal.

But who knows?  Only the killer/killers.

In the event there was just one killer, let's talk about how he may have subdued or gained control over both girls and avoid the risk of losing one to escape.  

Most people who look at BG's photo, taken by Libby, see the outline of a gun in his right hand coat pocket.  Just making someone aware that you have a gun will subdue them.

Have you ever had a loaded gun in your face?

I have .  .  .  and  I wasn't alone.

There was also another female with me.  We were both under control of one gunman and there was no escape without taking a chance of being shot.  If someone is pointing a gun at another person and that person wants to live, they're not going to argue.

So, no matter where he wanted them to go, they'd go.

BG approached the girls at the end of the bridge and instructed them to go "down the hill".  Obviously with a gun pointed at them, they're going to go down the hill and anywhere else BG demands they go and they're not going to fight it.

If he acted alone, subduing two girls with the threat of a gun wouldn't be that difficult.  There has been no mention of ligature marks (within the rumors of the condition of the bodies) but we can surmise that it was possible BG held them at gunpoint, making one tie up the other.

BG obviously had a pouch around his waist.  Some say it is a deer kit.  Some say it's a rape kit.  The outline of a gun appears to be showing from within his coat pocket.  His hands are protruding from the front pockets of his jeans, no watch.  The "shiny spot" some refer to as a watch, is his hand.  A watch would not be that big.  

The point?  BG did not have on gloves.  I've said this before and I'll continue to repeat this.  BG did not have any concern of his fingerprints or DNA being found.  This was for one of three reasons.

1.  He knew one or both of the girls so personally that finding his prints or DNA at the scene would be expected.

2.  He was in the search party and would make sure he was there when the girls were found, compromising the scene with his DNA.  (BUT - He would have no idea there would be a search party formed to plan ahead in this manner.  Strike #2.)

3.  He has no prior arrests with nothing to identify him in the system.

OR both 1 and 3.

Some say, "He would be too obvious in his plans if he had on gloves".  

I disagree because he had on enough layers to justify wearing gloves without appearing suspicious.  

Some say, "Maybe he put them on after he stopped the girls".   

I can't see him doing that unless he has already tied up or subdued both girls by some manner.  He could have had one girl tie the other to a tree but he'd have to put down his weapon long enough to put on gloves before attacking or even tying up the other girl.  

Would he really take that risk?

Another thing I've noticed is the lack of facial concealment by BG.  Meaning, he could have put on sunglasses to hide his face more.  It was a pretty day, no one would have suspected a thing.  So why didn't he use any other aids for disguising himself? 

I'm sure the photo from Libby's phone was not something he expected to come out but that really doesn't matter.  The fact that he never tried to disguise his face or cover his hands .  .  . matters.  I'm sure he expected to run into other people out there that day.  Other people who would remember him.  That didn't matter to him either.  

So, did he have help waiting at the end of the bridge?  

In the audio, a few people have said they could hear a slight scream immediately after BG said, "down the hill".  If one of the girls did scream, was it because she saw the weapon or because she saw a second party hiding at the end of the bridge?  

It could have been either.  

It has been said, "No way could one person pull off a crime like this alone".  

I disagree with that as well.  

It's already obvious BG wasn't afraid of being identified by DNA or prints.  It seems he wasn't afraid of being seen at Monon High Bridge that day either.  

Let's look at another scenario or crime flow for just a moment. 

[I am using the following example as if Libby received the most brutal attack between the two girls.  This scenario can obviously be reversed as far as the girls go.]

BG follows Libby and Abby across the bridge.  As they reach the end of the bridge, he pulls his gun and says, "go down the hill".  

The girls are directed across the creek and into the wooded area.  He obviously knew his surroundings well enough to know exactly where to direct the girls to go without hesitation.  

BG instructs Libby to tie Abby to a tree and gag her.  

His DNA is expected to be found on Libby because he knows her personally.  

He attacks Libby brutally while Abby is forced to watch.  

Once he is finished with Libby, he turns to Abby, sticks a knife in her throat 

(as an example of a quick, silent kill) 

and carefully removes his rope and the gagging material 

(if it is not the girls' personal property, i.e. clothing/sock), 

leaving only prints and/or DNA on Libby.

How Did Baby Harlan Die? - Authorities Suspect More Than Just A Car Crash To Be Responsible

In Anderson, Indiana on February 25, 2018, a green 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier crashed at the 1900 block of Poplar Street.  Officers identified the driver of the car as Dylan T. Tate.  

Soon afterward, an unknown person brought an 18 month old child who had been in the accident into Community Hospital Anderson.  It was later determined the child's name was Harlan, who was the son of Jenny Harris, Tate's girlfriend. 

Upon arrival at the emergency room the examination of Harlan revealed: 

• Bruising on the body inconsistent with an automobile accident
• Paper towels shoved inside the child's throat
• Indications of rectal sodomy with a foreign object
• No brain activity
• The child's breathing had stopped
• The child's heart had stopped

Doctors were unable to revive the child.

As the story unfolds, with more details coming, we have thus far learned these facts: 

1.  Harlan was born to Jenny Harris and Jackie L. Haines III on July 29, 2016
2.  Harlan had a twin who died in the womb
3.  Some time later, the couple separated
4.  The mother took custody of the child
5.  She later began a relationship and shared a home with Dylan T. Tate

The actual cause of death and manner of death are pending further investigation at this time.  

Baby Harlan was laid to rest at a family cemetery - Parkview Cemetery in Alexandria.

In a search for previous offenses by Dylan Thomas Tate, my findings were the following: 

• 5/30/2013  Manufacturing Meth
• 5/30/2013  Maintaining a Common Nuisance
• 5/30/2013  Possession or Sale of Chemical Reagents or Precursors
• 5/31/2013  Possession of Meth
• 12/16/2013 Failure to return to lawful detention
• 11/27/2013 Violation of Work Release
• 5/19/2014  Contempt of Court
• Source: https://arrestfacts.com/Dylan-Tate-2S2l72

These are my questions:  

1. Was the accident an intentional and very poor attempt to cover up the murder?  I doubt this is true.  We'd expect the paper towels to be removed from the mouth first. 
2. Was Tate trying to take the baby's body elsewhere to dump it and had the accident on the way?
3. Who carried the child into the hospital?

Other Sources: 

http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/investigation-continues-in-toddler-s-death/article_7692f504-1c29-11e8-9521-d33cac12bbab.html

http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/cause-of-toddler-s-death-pending-father-seeks-justice/article_f70e94f8-1b26-11e8-95e5-77341b0636f9.html

Like Evil Unsolved on Facebook for Updates!

Upcoming Trial of Canales-Hernandez - Repeat Abuser/Offender

It was October 11, 2013 when the 2 year old son of a former girlfriend and other neighborhood children were left in the care of Juan Canales-Hernandez.  Being homeless in Fort Collins at the time, Canales-Hernandez had taken on this responsibility in exchange for a place to live.

A statement from Canales-Hernandez revealed the 2 year old had thrown water on Canales-Hernandez.  He in turn grabbed the child, sucking on his face, which left bruising and bite marks.  Then he wrestled with the little boy, spinning the both of them around the room until they became dizzy.  He said they crashed into the glass TV stand, which pinned the child between Canales-Hernandez and the furniture.  Canales-Hernandez stated he then poked the child twice telling him to "shake it off", with no response.  

When the child's mother arrived home from work, Canales-Hernandez told her about the injuries to the child's face, but no more of the story.  She told police she saw other bruising on his body but she assumed he would be just fine.  However, later that night, she awoke to the sound of her child screaming in pain.  

She called her mother who lived in Maryland.  The grandmother traveled to the home, picked up the child and had him transported to Carroll Hospital in Westminster, Maryland.  Later he was transported to John's Hopkins Memorial Hospital in Baltimore.  

The examination revealed the child's pancreas had been torn in half, he had over 100 bruises on his body, his liver was bruised and his arm was fractured.  The child underwent pancreatic surgery, losing half of his pancreas.  

The child was left with permanent physical and emotional scarring.

Canales-Hernandez accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to child abuse.  He was sentenced to four years and was released in May, 2016, only 2 1/2 years after his arrest.  

On September 7, 2016, just 4 months after his release, Alexia Coria walked into the hospital emergency room with her 11 month old daughter, dangling in her arms.  When detectives responded to a call from staff members to question the parents.  Coria stated she was in the bathroom when her 11 month old daughter RaeLynn fell while trying to climb up into her high chair.  She told authorities the little girl was bleeding from her mouth and was limp.  

Canales-Hernandez told police he was visiting a neighbor when the incident occurred.  Stating he heard about it through Coria who had texted him while he sat in the apartment two doors down. 

The mother also stated she did not immediately call 911 nor take the child to the hospital immediately, having spent 30 to 45 minutes placing her in water.  When the condition did not improve, she and Canales-Hernandez transported the child to the hospital. 

On September 8, 2018 Coria called detectives, changing her story.  She stated she had left RaeLynn in the care of Canales-Hernandez long enough to go pick up her other child.  While she was out, she received a call from him saying RaeLynn had been injured.  

Canales-Hernandez also changed up his story.  He told police that he was in fact charged with the care of RaeLynn during Coria's absence that day.  He also stated he was playing with the child, tossing her up in the air.  During this playtime the 11 month old fell and hit her head.  He said he then tried to feed her and couldn't get her positioned correctly in her high chair.  

Then he echoed the same word used by so many abusers, "frustrated".  

He stated to police he became frustrated with the situation and grabbed the kitchen chair beside him, picked it up off the floor and swung it at RaeLynn.  He hit her so hard, the blow knocked her off of her high chair causing her to bleed from the mouth with severe brain damage as she went into cardiac arrest.

[It is still unclear as to whether or not Coria's statement of placing the child in water for a time before getting help is true or false.]

On September 9, 2018, RaeLynn died at 5:05 pm of the injuries sustained at the hand of an abuser of what the Larimer County Coroner's Office detrmined as homicide by blunt force injury.  

Coria defended her act of trying to cover for the abuse by stating she wasn't given the entire truth herself.  

The 10 day trial of Juan Canales-Hernandez is scheduled for March 26, 2018.  Charged with first degree murder and felony child abuse Canales-Hernandez also faces a habitual offender sentence enhancer if he is found guilty, due to the previous conviction in the case of the two year old child mentioned above.

Horrific Abuse of 10 month old Baby

A Wyoming County, West Virginia couple, Rebecca Lester and her boyfriend Ryan Campbell were arrested on Saturday for the horrific abuse of their 10 month old baby.

According to court documents, Troupers obtained the January hospital medical records for the infant who was previously seen by hospital staff who reported the infant had bruising on its head at the time of the visit to their facility for seizures.

One witness told troupers they saw Ryan Campbell, allegedly under the influence of Meth, hit, kick, and shake the infant for 15 minutes, stating he wanted the infant to "toughen up", while the child's mother Rebecca Lester watched.  

The witness stated Lester was upset and crying but didn't know what to do because she didn't want to make Campbell mad. 

Another witness stated she saw Campbell pull the infants hair out and kick the child's car seat while she was sitting in it. 

Both have been charged with Felony Child Abuse. 

Campbell is being held in the Southern Regional Jail on $10,000 bond while Lester is at the same jail on $5,000 bond.

No current updates are available on the child's condition at this time.

2 Year Old Boy Murdered

It was Rolando Oriz' sister-n-law who received the first call.  The devastatingly, shocking call that her nephew was dead.  

37 year old Rolando Ortiz has been in America for 14 years.  He and his wife worked at the same factory in Chicago, but different shifts.  They shared a home in the Little Village neighborhood and with 3 children, one would take care of them during their off shift while the other was at work.  

On Wednesday, February 21, 2018, Oriz' wife was at work while Ortiz was at home taking care of Mateo.  Ortiz was trying to get some sleep before his shift.  His 2 year old son, Mateo Garcia Aguayo was running around, keeping him awake.  Oriz became frustrated and enraged.  

Ortiz grabbed the 2 year old child in the kitchen, kneeling over his child, he held him down and retrieved a knife.  He cut the baby in the throat, causing his death.  

He then made a weak attempt at cutting his own wrists.  

He put the baby's body in a trash bag and tried to call his wife, whom he couldn't reach.  

He then called his wife's sister (who then called other family members), confessing to the murder of his son, Mateo.  Two family members rushed into the second floor apartment to find the body of the 2 year old boy in a trash bag and noticed Ortiz was bleeding from the wrists.  

Ortiz fled the scene, disappearing into the night.  Authorities later tracked him down, miles away in Kankakee County.  

Ortiz confessed to the murder of his son on camera to Chicago Police, reenacting the slashing of his own child's throat with a doll supplied by officers.  

Rolando Ortiz has been charged with 1 count of First Degree Murder and is being held at Cook County Jail without bail. 

Supt. Eddie Johnson stated during a press conference, "He was just an innocent kid, whose trust and safety, was betrayed by the one man that he should never have to question, his father."