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Family Of Libby German Says They Don't Allow Her Killer To Have Any More Power Over Their Lives
"He’s already taken so much from our lives,” Libby German's grandmother Becky Patty told a CrimeCon 2021 audience in Austin. “I refuse to let him take more.”
The family of Libby German, one of the Delphi murder victims, opened up at CrimeCon 2021 about how they continue to grieve their loved one, but stated firmly that they refuse to let the slain girl’s killer hold any more power over their lives.
Libby’s sister Kelsi German, aunt Tara German and grandmother Becky Patty joined HLN’s Susan Hendricks on stage Saturday in Austin to talk about their beloved relative. CrimeCon 2021 is presented by Oxygen.
Liberty “Libby” German, 14, along with her 13-year-old best friend Abigail Williams, were found dead on Valentine’s Day 2017. The pals vanished one day prior while hiking on the Delphi Historic Trails, about a half mile from where their bodies were found, during a day off from school. The killings have come to be known as the Delphi Murders.
Authorities have since released video and an audio recording of a suspect found on German's phone, as well as sketches of a potential suspect. However, nobody has ever been arrested in connection with the killings. While the family noted that some DNA was found at the scene, police have generally remained tightlipped about what evidence has been gathered in the case. For example, they've never released how the friends died or if there is a murder weapon.
As the family strives for justice, they carry Libby’s spirit with them on a regular basis. Kelsi stated that during every milestone of her life, she tries to remember and honor her sibling.
“We had our own graduation,” Patty said of her slain grandchild. “We still celebrate everything with Libby. A lot of times when we are talking, people don’t even know that she’s gone.”
She went on to say that she doesn’t want to allow her killer to have any more power over their family.
"He’s already taken so much from our lives,” she said. “I refuse to let him take more.”
Kelsi echoed that statement, explaining that she has forgiven the killer for the sake of finding her own peace.
“I’ll never let him win,” she said, adding that it took a lot of work, prayers, therapy, and writing to get to that point.
As for advice on how to cope with the murder of a loved one?
Kelsi said, “keep going for them and, hopefully, you can keep going for yourself as well.”
