Down the Hill

My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi

By: Susan Hendricks

Narrated by: Susan Hendricks, Kelsi German Siebert

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Susan Hendricks (P)2023 Hachette Books

Critic reviews

“With compassion, integrity, and accuracy, journalist Susan Hendricks takes a closer look inside the tragic homicides of two young girls, Abby and Libby, in Delphi. Having formed a close relationship with the victims’ loved ones over several years, Hendricks provides unprecedented insight into their families’ resilience, challenges, and relief once an arrest was made. Her sharp eye for detail shines through as she explores various facets of the case using her unique connections, including my thoughts about the investigation and assessment of the suspect. DOWN THE HILL is an incredibly compelling read that is hard to put down; you’ll never look at this case the same way again.”—PAUL HOLES, retired cold case investigator and New York Times bestselling author of Unmasked

“In DOWN THE HILL, Susan Hendricks deftly navigates the complexities of the Delphi case, presenting a narrative of tragedy, resilience, and hope. The book offers a deep dive into the investigation, laying bare its successes, setbacks, and detours. It stands as a model for what every book in this genre should strive to be: compelling in its truth, courageous in its narrative, and compassionate in its approach.” —KEVIN BALFE, founder & executive producer, CrimeCon

“Susan Hendricks is a veteran journalist who has always captivated audiences with her soothing delivery and compassionate relatability for every interview and story told. Hendricks garnered a trusting relationship with the families of Abby and Libby and the respect of law enforcement with her long track record of telling stories with grace and empathy. Her deep dive into the Delphi case captures not only the twists and turns of the investigation, but at the human level, shows how this tragedy rippled through the victims’ loved ones and ignited the strength of the community in their shared pursuit for justice. Hendricks takes us on a truly compelling journey.”—MELISSA MCCARTY, true crime correspondent

So well done!

Susan Hendricks' book on the Delphi case is probably one of the most respectful and family oriented book about a true crime that I have ever read. Not only did she dive into the case of Abby and Libby's murders, but she got to know the families on a truly deep and personal level. They were the main focus of the book, and I think that is something that is severely lacking in the true crime genre. The book did not go into too much detail about the actual crimes, though part of that could be because a lot of the evidence hasn't been made public, but this book was so well done. I hope that she releases some sort of bonus content once the murderer has been convicted.

Excellent

Good book, excellent narrative, loved the experts included and family perspective. So heartbreaking but glad to see the case is finally moving along

Awesome book!

Very detailed and respectful depiction of this terrible tragedy. Must read for all true crime lovers!

Awesome book

This book is a must read/listen to book. It really goes into detail and you can almost feel like you’re in Delphi Indiana . My heart goes out to all of Libby and Abby’s family. Thank you Susan for telling this story to help us get a better understanding of this case which I have been with since the beginning. Well done.

detail

humanity and caring for those involved in this case. The way the book flowed seamlessly and kept my attention.

Love it

This case is always in the back of my mind. I've felt heart broken for these girls and there family's sense the beginning. Finally someone putting out real information while also keeping this just about the victims.

A book that will age well, but likely miss with contemporary audiences

The writing is quality and I appreciate that the author voiced the audiobook version. She has always come across as an ethical true crime reporter, and specifically her handling of this case has always been very respectful. I think, importantly, this book does not contain graphic and violent descriptions. That aspect makes it accessible to people who want to be informed but also filter out the disturbing specifics.

If you have closely followed this case as it has unfolded, or you became aware of it and did a deep dive, this book might not suit you. It covers some mostly familiar ground, often with transcripts of key events/press conferences in the investigation. It's not filler if you're completely unfamiliar with this case, but it could feel that way if you've already seen or heard that material elsewhere. The most compelling part of the story is Kelsey's narrative. It was wonderful to hear her insights, and about the family's journey, and dealing with an absolutely horrifying situation with incredible dignity and grace.

My primary criticism is that the narrative lingers on the behind the scenes reporting perspective and the more compelling central narrative is on pause. It's almost as if an editor insisted on including personal details in order to engage the audience in the style of I'll Be Gone in the Dark (which works fairly well given the content, but also feels like two different books thrown together). I think the insights about the author's personal experience are relevant, so I don't want to discount them entirely. But it's not quite an In Cold Blood or All the President's Men story, where the author is also heavily influencing events. What works well is the observations of the town, the people, and those heartfelt moments with the people closely affected. I really wanted more of that.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and I'm glad I listened to it. I am convinced that this book will age incredibly well. It's best suited to a reader that will pick it up in 10+ years or much further in the future. It's thoughtful and nuanced, but is not that one definitive comprehensive book about this case.

Must read for True Crime Folliwers

I really liked this book!Written with compassion and caring for the families of murder victims!

Take a different trip Down the Hill

As much as I have read, watched and followed this case, Susan has done and continues to do brilliant work presenting the available facts of this case to us. She does so in an organized and consume way while allowing her human emotions to breathe life into the story. Though she refers to her self admonishment about her personal feelings toward this horrible tragedy, I see it as allowing the readers to see that reports are human too and they are indeed affected by the mountains of loss they report on day to day.

Excellent work

This was spot on. There are times when one has to choose



this was informative and showed true human emotion. Gripping from page 1.