Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi

Susan Hendricks, a former CNN/HLN anchor, investigates the unsolved double homicide of two teens in Delphi, Indiana, in her book "Down the Hill." The case received national attention and remained unsolved for years, but in 2022, the long-awaited suspect was arrested and a trial date was set. Hendricks builds close relationships with family members, law enforcement officials, and armchair detectives, exploring the family's resilience and advocacy, the impact on the community, and the limitations of local law enforcement. The book is about a small town haunted by violence, coping with grief, and the rise of technology in solving cases.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: Hachette Books

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 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 were ever 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 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 investigate the case further. She spoke with local law enforcement, family members of the victims, and community members who had been affected by the tragedy. What she found was a community still deeply affected by the murders, a community that had been torn apart by the loss of two young lives. Susan's reporting shed light on the ongoing investigation and the challenges faced by local law enforcement. She also spoke with experts in the field of criminal psychology and forensic science to gain insight into the minds of the suspect and the possible motives behind the murders.

One of the most significant developments in the case was the arrest of Joran van der Sloot, a 28-year-old Dutch national, in 2022. Van der Sloot was a suspect in the murders from the beginning, but he had managed to evade capture for years. He was finally arrested in Peru, where he had been living under an assumed name, and extradited to the United States to face trial. During his trial, van der Sloot admitted to killing the girls but claimed that he did so in self-defense. However, the prosecution presented a strong case against him, including evidence that he had lied about his whereabouts in the days before the murders and that he had attempted to extort money from the families of the victims. In the end, van der Sloot was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to 28 years in prison.

Despite the conviction, the case remains unsolved, and the families of the victims continue to suffer. The murders have left a lasting impact on the community, and many residents still fear for their safety. Susan's reporting has helped to keep the case in the public eye and has brought attention to the ongoing struggle of the families of the victims. In conclusion, the double homicide of two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana, in 2017 remains one of the most mysterious and tragic cases in recent history. Susan Hendricks' investigative reporting has shed light on the ongoing investigation and the challenges faced by local law enforcement. The case has also highlighted the ongoing struggle of the families of the victims and the lasting impact of the tragedy on the community. While the case may never be fully solved, Susan's reporting has helped to keep it in the public eye and has brought attention to the ongoing struggle of the families of the victims.

Weight: 528g
Dimension: 158 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780306830242