Behind the Scenes of the Delphi Trial: Haunting Truths, Unbreakable Community, and Justice in Focus

Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

On February 13, 2017, teenage friends Liberty German and Abigail Williams went for a walk near Delphi, Indiana, but never returned home. The next day, their bodies were found in a clearing, victims of a brutal murder. Liberty recorded a blurry video of the man approaching them in her final moments, capturing his gruff command: “Down the hill.” The haunting clues sparked public obsession and rampant speculation online, while investigators explored every lead. Despite years of effort, the case remained unsolved, leaving a community searching for answers.

Guest Bio and Links:

Susan Hendricks is a renowned journalist from HLN, podcaster, and author. Áine Cain is a journalist and co-host of Murder Sheet. Kevin Greenlee is an attorney and co-host of Murder Sheet.

Resources:

Murder Sheet Podcast

Shadow of the Bridge: The Delphi Murders and the Dark Side of the American Heartland By Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, is joined by journalists Susan Hendricks, Áine Cain, and attorney Kevin Greenlee as they share their powerful experiences from the Delphi trial. They primarily highlight moments of camaraderie, the emotional toll of witnessing evidence, and the struggles of maintaining accuracy amidst misinformation. Áine and Kevin discuss their dynamic approach to covering the trial, while Susan shares personal anecdotes that emphasize the human connection forged through this shared experience. They also reflect on the remarkable grace of the victims’ families and the resilience required to endure the trial's grueling schedule and rules.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum

• (0:15) Sheryl introduces guests, Áine Cain, Kevin Greenlee, and returning guest, Susan Hendricks to the listeners

• (1:00) Reminiscing the experience of the true crime community

• (2:30) Courtroom experiences and observations

• (3:45) Behind the scenes with journalists

• (6:00) Áine and Kevin share their teamwork strategy

• (14:00) Susan recounts humorous moments waiting outside

• (15:00) Áine describes journaling under pressure

• (23:00) Condemning sensationalism and misinformation

• (28:00) The failures in the defense strategies

• (30:00) Legal stunts used in court

• (31:30) Jury questions impress Sheryl with their sophistication

• (35:00) Áine and Kevin reflect on their favorite parts of Delphi

• (41:00) Áine speaks about the emotional toll of the crime scene evidence

• (44:00) Journalistic challenges and accuracy

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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.

Social Links:

• Email: [e-mail]

• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips

• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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