INDIANAPOLIS — One of the specialized police units that has made a major impact on the investigation into the murders of two Delphi teens is running out of funding - but there may be some hope in sight.
The Computer Crimes Against Children unit is responsible for getting the video clip from Liberty German’s cell phone that allowed investigators to release an image and an audio clip from the suspect in her and Abigail Williams’ murders.
When it comes to solving cases involving some of the youngest victims, the elite team of detectives is called into help.
But what that elite team does, isn’t cheap. It costs about $130,000 for training and another $100,000 for equipment, per investigator.
The unit has never received any specific state funding for the program and their federal dollars are drying up.
The state does pay the salaries of the 10 detectives assigned from the Indiana State Police Department, but none of that pays for the equipment and training that each investigator needs.
For the fourth year in a row, Senator Michael Crider is trying to get funding for that unit.
“This is one of those things that you have to fight for the issues you believe in,” Crider said. “That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Crider says support has been hard to come by, until now. Ten senators have jumped on board to back his bill this session.
“It’s a difficult topic that most people realize that it is happening in their backyards and it is something we do have to address,” Crider said.
Without that unit, the key clip from Libby’s cell phone may have never been recovered and now, without funding, other cases could also go without the specialized unit’s help.
Right now, the funding amount has been stripped from the bill. After it passes the full Senate and the House an amount will be added back during the budget process.
Call 6 Investigates asked the governor’s office about their support for the bill. They say it isn’t something currently on the governor’s agenda.
