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Carroll County prosecutor to step down amidst two high-profile, unsolved cases

Posted at 2:03 PM, Nov 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-11 20:01:06-05

DELPHI, Ind. -- Carroll County's prosecutor has decided to step down while two of the highest profile investigations the county has ever seen remain unsolved. 

Robert Ives' wife said he will step down at the end of the year for a variety of personal reasons.

"It just seemed like a good time to do it and I chose to do it," Ives told WLFI in West Lafayette, which first reported the news.

Ives was first appointed prosecutor in 1987. He went through a volley of election wins and losses over the years, but most recently has been the prosecutor for Carroll County going on seven years.

The decision comes while two of the most high-profile cases ever to hit Carroll County remain unsolved: The deaths of four young girls in an intentionally set fire in Flora, and the murders of 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German on the Monon High Trail in February. 

LATEST ON DELPHI | Daniel Nations is neither included nor excluded as suspect in Delphi girls' murders  

LATEST ON FLORA | ISP Supt. Carter: I'd give my life to find out what happened to those girls

Ives told WLFI that normally, the county puts out 20-25 subpoenas and search warrants. In just a three month period this year, Ives said the county put out 190.

"No one has given up, no one has given up hope and there are always good developments, but I can say this--there are no charges imminent, nothing is going to happen in the near real future, unless something breaks," Ives told WLFI.

Ives said if charges had been filed, he would not resign and try to see them through, and that he will be willing to offer any help to whomever replaces him. 

The Republican party will seek to replace Ives for the remaining year of his term.

Anyone with information in the death of the Flora girls is asked to contact the Indiana State Arson Hotline at 1-800-382-4628 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 1-317-262-TIPS.

RELATED FLORA STORIES  Fire that killed four sisters ruled intentional, no suspects | Community, first responders coping with grief after four sisters killed in Carroll County fire | Investigators asking for help to find whoever started Flora fire

Indiana State Police released a picture of a suspect in the Delphi murders, which was taken by Libby on her cellphone. She also captured a man's voice saying "down the hill" during what police call "criminal activity." You can listen to that recording and see the photo below.

 

 

 

Indiana State Police ask anyone who recognizes the man or the voice, or who may have any other information, to call the Tip Line at (844) 459-5786 or 1-800-225-5324 (800-Call FBI). Tips can also be emailed to Abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com. Information can be reported anonymously.

RELATED DELPHI STORIES Delphi Daughters: The Untold Stories of Who Abby & Libby Were | Delphi investigation: The latest on finding the killer | TIMELINE: The disappearance and murders of Abby & Libby | 360 VIDEO: A tour of the Monon High Bridge Trail | Delphi Daughters: Families tell their story for the first time | Delphi girls murdered: What is the evidence? | Take 1 minute for justice for Abby & Libby