DELPHI, Ind. – Nearly 3,900 tips have been reported since Indiana State Police released an audio recording of the suspect in the murders of two Delphi teens.
State Police have encouraged people to report any information, no matter how insignificant, to the Delphi Murder Tip Line since Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14, were reported missing Feb. 13 and their bodies were found the following day.
As of Thursday, the tip line is being answered at the FBI's Major Case Contact Center in Washington, D.C. The number remains the same: (844) 459-5786. Information can also be reported by calling 1-800-225-5324 (800-CALL FBI). Email tips to Abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com.
While there has been a spike in the number of tips received, many people have turned to social media to swap theories about the suspect and how the girls were killed.
A spokesperson with ISP said sharing information this way may cause confusion or lead to someone being falsely accused.
There has been no arrest in the Delphi investigation. No one is in custody, please don't jump to conclusions if u c investigators working.
— Sgt. Tony Slocum (@ISPPeru) February 23, 2017
Report of arrest in Delphi Murder Investigation, Lebanon, IN is FALSE. Investigation continues. Person arrested for unrelated civil warrant
— Indiana State Police (@IndStatePolice) February 23, 2017
The reward for information leading to an arrest of the suspect was increased to $50,000 Thursday after a $9,000 donation was made by the Office of U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita. Rokita released this statement about his donation::
"What happened to my constituents -- those young girls -- breaks my heart. I know my supporters feel the same way. To make the reward money for their killer's capture a nice round figure, I directed money that I raised, and which is still in my old Secretary of State campaign account, to be used for this community purpose."
In addition, the FBI activated 6,000 electronic billboards in 46 states requesting information on the murder of the two teens.
German and Williams went missing after being dropped off to go hiking near the Monon High Bridge. The girls’ bodies were found by volunteers who had been scouring the area throughout the night. Police have not arrested anyone in their murders.
On Wednesday, Indiana State Police released an audio clip found on German’s phone of a man saying "down the hill" in hopes of spurring more leads.
Listen to the audio by clicking “play” below.
Police said the audio may not be from the suspect seen in a photo released last week, which was also taken on German's cell phone. They said more than one suspect could be involved.
FBI special agent Greg Massa asked people to think back to Feb. 13, the day the teens were reported missing, to recall anything unusual.
"Just think if you had an interaction with an individual who inexplicably canceled an appointment that you had together," Massa said. "Or an individual called into work sick and canceled a social engagement. At the time, they gave what would have been a plausible explanation. 'My cell phone broke, or I had a flat tire on my car.' In retrospect, that excuse no longer holds water."
He also told the public to call in with information about anyone who changed their appearance recently, like shaved their facial hair or changed their hair color.
MORE DELPHI COVERAGE
Security concerns on Delphi trails after murders | Don’t share the Delphi suspect ‘sketches’ | German family friend: ‘She was a good kid’ | Delphi business selling t-shirts to honor murdered teens, support family | See somebody walking near Delphi? Call police |Prosecutor: Don’t harass people about Delphi | ISP on Delphi murders: "Everyone is a suspect" |PHOTOS: Motorcycle fundraiser for families of Delphi murder victims | Search warrant served at Delphi home in connection to teen murders, no arrests made | Public events scheduled to honor the lives of murdered teens, help their families | Friend of killed Delphi girl: ‘I question everything’ | State Police say an Amber Alert would not have done ‘any good’ | A look at the property where the bodies of two missing teen girls were found | ISP wants to speak to this man and anyone who was near Delphi trail when two teens went missing | Community in shock after bodies of two missing teens found | Community concerned about safety as police search for suspect in death of teens | MAP: Where the two bodies of the teen girls were found near Delphi, Indiana | Why wasn’t an Amber Alert issued when girls were reported missing in Carroll County? | Delphi Timeline: Teen girls found dead after disappearing while hiking |Two bodies found during search for Carroll County teens | MISSING: Two 13-year-old girls dropped off to go hiking near Carroll County trail
