Published September 28th, 2023 by Hachette Books
True Crime, Biography, Autobiography
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SYNOPSIS:
Former CNN/HLN anchor and veteran broadcast journalist Susan Hendricks takes an investigative deep-dive into the still-unsolved double homicide of two teens in Delphi, Indiana—and its lasting impact on the community
On February 13, 2017, two teenage girls—13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German—decided to enjoy a day off from school by exploring the popular hiking trails near the Monon High Bridge just a few minutes’ drive from Libby’s home in Delphi, Indiana. Libby’s sister, Kelsi, dropped the two girls off at the head of the trail and waved to them as they walked down the path, which was the last time they’d ever be seen alive. Less than 24 hours later, their bodies were found on the north bank of Deer Creek, about a mile from where they were last seen. There were few clues and little to go on in terms of physical evidence, except for the visual and audio remnants of a strange encounter the girls had with a stranger just hours before their disappearance, an encounter unsettling enough that Libby had thought to record it on her cellphone as it unfolded. In the years since the murders were first made public, Libby’s audio and video recordings have been released and two very different composite sketches of the suspect have been shown, but local law enforcement remained vague about developments for years—until finally, in October 2022, the long-awaited suspect was arrested and a trial date was set.
Longtime anchor and journalist Susan Hendricks was one of the first reporters to cover the case. A broadcast veteran with decades’ worth of experience under her belt, she was no stranger when it came to sharing the tragedies of the day with viewers. But there was something about this case that rattled her to her core. A year after the murders, Susan went to Delphi to interview the victims’ families for an in-depth special report where Kelsi drove Susan down the same path that she drove her sister down on the last day of her life. Over the years, Susan has built close relationships with family members, and law enforcement officials and armchair detectives alike who are determined to get justice for Abby and Libby.
In Down the Hill, Hendricks digs deeper in into the mystery that has captivated our nation for years, exploring the family’s enduring resilience and advocacy, as well as the rippling impact the case has had on not just Delphi, but the very heart of the American heartland. As a result, this book is more than just a book about a double homicide; it’s about a small town in middle America that’s been haunted by an unfathomable act of violence; it’s about the ways families and communities cope with grief and move forward after tragedy; it’s about the limitations of local law enforcement and the rise of technology in helping to solve cases in new ways. But it’s also about compassion, connection, empathy, and resilience—on a very real, very human level.
Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right)
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MY REVIEW:
“It was like a sick locked-room mystery. A killer among them. With a villain more devious than Agatha Christie could muster up.”
Down the Hill was my first book read as part of non-fiction November. True crime is my favourite non-fiction genre and I’ve discovered I particularly enjoy listening to it on audiobooks rather than reading a physical book which is why I decided to ‘read’ this via audiobook.
On February 13th, 2017 best friends Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams, 13, decided to make the most of their day off school and the unseasonably warm weather by exploring the hiking trails near Monon High Bridge, just a few minutes drive from Libby’s home in Delphi, Indiana. Her sister, Kelsi, dropped the two girls off and as she waved them goodbye she had no idea that would be the last time anyone would see them alive. Their bodies were found less than 24 hours later about a mile from where they were last seen. There were few clues and no real leads other than a recording Libby took of their encounter with a stranger on the bridge the day they disappeared. Could it help them identify the killer? For years there was little news, but in October 2022 an arrest was finally made. In this book longtime anchor and journalist Susan Hendricks, who was one of the first to cover the case, explores the crime and investigation, talking to the girls’ families, officials, and armchair detectives.
This is a case that has haunted me since I first heard about it. I was horrified that two innocent young girls could be murdered in broad daylight when they should be enjoying a care-free day off from school. My own sons were a similar age to the girls at the time and I couldn’t help imagining them in their place along with the anguish their families must be feeling. No one expects to drop their kids or siblings off at the park in the middle of the day and never see them again. The book opens with a heartrending foreward by Libby’s sister, Kesli, that reduced me to tears. You can hear the pain in her voice and it really brings home what was lost that day.
I love that this book is sp victim-focused. Through interviews with the victims family and friends the author paints a picture of who Abby and Libby were, reminding us of what was taken from the world when they were brutally murdered. She explores the effect of the crime on those who loved the girls and how they dealt with their grief while navigating public interest and a police investigation that seemed to go nowhere. Hendricks also discusses the things taken from those left behind that we might not think about. Things we take for granted, such as a sense of safety. Knowing there was a killer somewhere in the midst of this small town destroyed that feeling for so many and Kelsi discusses her lingering fear and suspicion, how she didn’t know who she could trust and was forever wondering if men she saw could be the monster that took her sister away from her. Hendricks also examines the effects of the crime on the small town and how the residents deal with their home suddenly becoming infamous across the globe.
Powerful, piercing, heartbreaking, raw and deeply human, this is a sensitively written account of a harrowing crime. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys this genre.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
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MEET THE AUTHOR:
Veteran CNN and HLN journalist Susan Hendricks anchored the network’s live news program Weekend Express from 2016 to December 2022. Among her many assignments at HLN, Hendricks anchored extensive coverage on the Delphi double murder investigation including the special report, “Delphi Murders: Teen Girls’ Killer in Custody?” along with retired veteran cold case investigator Paul Holes.
Hendricks also anchored the “Gabby Petito Investigation: Where is the Fugitive Fiance?” Susan recently sat down for a one on one exclusive interview with Gabby Petito’s father Joe Petito, who shared the struggles he and his family have gone through and the action they are taking to change laws and make it easier for the families of missing loved ones. Additionally, Hendricks delivered news updates for 5 years on Anderson Coopers CNN primetime show, AC360. Prior to joining CNN/HLN, she served as a morning news anchor at NBC affiliate station WMIR-TV, and a reporter at ABC affiliate KESQ-TV, both in Palm Springs, CA. Raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Hendricks attended the Hun School of Princeton and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Arizona State University. She resides in Atlanta with her husband, Joe, and two children, Emery and Jack.
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