Delphi Murders — Abby & Libby

On February 13, 2017, Abigail "Abby" Williams, age 13, and Liberty "Libby" German, age 14, set out for a hike on the Monon High Bridge Trail near Delphi, a small city of roughly 3,000 people in Carroll County, Indiana ^[1]. The two girls were dropped off at the trail that afternoon during a day off from school. It was the last time they would be seen alive ^[1][2].

Liberty German, in a detail that would define the investigation for years to come, used her smartphone to record video and audio of a man walking on the Monon High Bridge behind the girls. The brief footage shows a figure in a blue jacket with his hands in his pockets approaching on the dilapidated railroad bridge. Audio captured from the phone recorded the man's voice issuing a chilling command: "Guys, down the hill" ^[1][3]. Law enforcement would later release this recording publicly, and the figure became known as "Bridge Guy" ^[3][5].

When the girls failed to return to their planned pickup point, family members contacted authorities. A search was launched that evening. The following day, February 14, 2017, their bodies were discovered at approximately noon near Deer Creek, roughly one mile from the bridge ^[1][2]. Both victims had been killed by cuts to the throat ^[4][5]. Investigators found an unspent .40-caliber cartridge between the two bodies, a piece of physical evidence that would prove critical at trial ^[1][3].

Despite the audio and video evidence, which police released just days after the killings, the investigation stalled. Authorities circulated still images from the video and the audio clip, generating thousands of tips. Two composite sketches of the suspect were released at different points, but no arrest followed ^[1][5]. The case ran cold for more than five years, frustrating investigators and the victims' families as Delphi remained haunted by the unsolved double homicide ^[3].

The breakthrough came in September 2022, when a volunteer receptionist named Kathy Shank, who was organizing thousands of tips into a digital database, discovered a mislabeled "lead sheet" in a box of old tips ^[3]. The document, which had incorrectly been marked as cleared, revealed that Richard Allen had contacted investigators just days after the murders and told them he had been on the Monon High Bridge Trail between approximately 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. on February 13, 2017, precisely the window during which the girls disappeared ^[3]. Shank flagged the tip to the detective in charge, triggering a renewed investigation into Allen ^[3].

Richard Matthew Allen, then 50 years old, had lived in Delphi and worked as a pharmacy technician at the local CVS, located just blocks from the Carroll County courthouse ^[1][4]. He had been hiding in plain sight in the small community for over five years. Investigators executed a search warrant at Allen's home, recovering a .40-caliber Sig Sauer pistol. Forensic analysis determined that the unspent cartridge found at the crime scene had been cycled through Allen's gun ^[1][3]. Allen was arrested on October 26, 2022, and charged with two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping ^[1][2]. Prosecutors later amended the charges to include two additional counts of murder ^[3].

While incarcerated awaiting trial, Allen made numerous incriminating statements. Prosecutors presented evidence that he had confessed to the murders more than 60 times, to his wife, his mother, a psychologist, prison staff, and fellow inmates ^[4][5]. In one recorded phone call to his wife, Allen allegedly stated: "I did it. I killed Abby and Libby" ^[3]. An Indiana State Police Master Trooper who had listened to over 700 of Allen's prison phone calls testified at trial that in his opinion, "the voice of the 'Bridge Guy' is the voice of Richard Allen" ^[1][3].

Allen's defense team, led by attorneys Andrew Baldwin and Brad Rozzi, mounted a controversial strategy. They argued that Allen's confessions were unreliable because he had become "delirious and psychotic" after prolonged solitary confinement ^[4][5]. More provocatively, in a September 2023 filing, the defense outlined a theory that followers of Odinism, a Norse pagan religion that has been coopted by some white supremacist groups, had killed the girls as part of a ritual sacrifice ^[6]. The defense pointed to the arrangement of sticks found over the bodies and alleged connections between known Odinists and the victims ^[6]. Judge Fran Gull, the special judge assigned to the case from Allen County Superior Court, ruled that the defense could not present the Odinism theory to the jury, citing insufficient evidence to support the claim ^[6].

The trial began on October 18, 2024, in Carroll County with a jury of seven women and five men, who were sequestered for the duration of the proceedings ^[1][3]. Over nearly four weeks of testimony, prosecutors presented the cellphone evidence, the ballistic match to Allen's firearm, his placement at the scene on the day of the murders, and his extensive jailhouse confessions ^[3][5]. The defense challenged the physical evidence and the reliability of Allen's statements, but could not present their alternative suspect theory ^[4][6].

On November 11, 2024, after approximately 19 hours of deliberation over three days, the jury found Richard Allen guilty on all four counts: two counts of murder and two counts of felony murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping ^[3][5]. Allen showed no visible reaction as the verdict was read ^[3].

Sentencing took place on December 20, 2024. Judge Fran Gull imposed the maximum sentence of 130 years in prison, consisting of two consecutive 65-year terms on two of the four counts ^[2][4]. Six family members of the victims delivered impact statements during the hearing, which lasted less than two hours ^[2]. Allen's 760 days in pretrial custody were credited toward his sentence ^[4]. His defense team announced their intention to appeal the conviction and seek a new trial ^[2].

The case of the Delphi murders stands as a stark example of how critical evidence can be overlooked in the fog of a massive investigation, and how a single volunteer's diligence in 2022 cracked open a case that had tormented a community for more than five years.

Charges and Arrest

Richard Matthew Allen was arrested on October 26, 2022, and initially charged with two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping in connection with the February 13, 2017, deaths of Abigail Williams and Liberty German in Carroll County, Indiana ^[1][2]. On January 19, 2024, prosecutors filed a request to amend the charges, adding two counts of murder (knowingly killing), bringing the total to four counts ^[2][3].

Pretrial Proceedings and Defense Motions

The case was assigned to Allen County Superior Court Judge Fran Gull as special judge ^[1][4]. In a September 2023 filing, the defense outlined an alternative suspect theory alleging the murders were a ritualistic killing committed by followers of Odinism, a Norse pagan religion ^[5]. The defense sought to present testimony from expert Dr. Dawn Perlmutter and pointed to the arrangement of sticks found on the victims' bodies as evidence of ritualistic staging ^[5]. Judge Gull ruled the defense could not present the Odinism theory to the jury, finding insufficient evidentiary basis to support the claim ^[5]. The defense argued this ruling violated Allen's constitutional right to present alternative explanations ^[5].

Allen's original public defenders were removed from the case in October 2023 after allegations of leaked evidence, though they were later reinstated by the Indiana Supreme Court ^[2]. During pretrial incarceration, Allen was held in solitary confinement at Westville Correctional Facility, which the defense argued rendered his more than 60 confessions unreliable due to resulting psychosis ^[3][4].

Trial Proceedings

The trial commenced on October 18, 2024, and concluded on November 11, 2024 ^[1][2]. A jury of seven women and five men was seated and sequestered for the duration ^[2][3]. Key prosecution evidence included: (a) video and audio from Liberty German's smartphone showing a man on the Monon High Bridge and recording the words "Guys, down the hill" ^[1][2]; (b) forensic testimony that an unspent .40-caliber cartridge found between the victims' bodies had been cycled through a Sig Sauer pistol recovered from Allen's home ^[1][2]; (c) testimony that a black 2016 Ford Focus was captured on security video near the trail, and that Allen owned the only such vehicle registered in Carroll County at the time ^[2]; and (d) recordings of Allen's prison confessions, including a statement to his wife in which he allegedly said, "I did it. I killed Abby and Libby" ^[2][3].

The defense challenged the reliability of Allen's confessions, contending he had become mentally incapacitated during extended solitary confinement, and argued that no DNA, blood, fingerprint, or other direct physical evidence linked Allen to the crime scene ^[3][4].

On November 11, 2024, after approximately 19 hours of deliberation over three days, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts: two counts of murder and two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping ^[2][3].

On December 20, 2024, Judge Fran Gull sentenced Allen to the statutory maximum of 130 years in prison, imposing 65-year terms on two of the four counts to run consecutively ^[1][4]. Allen received credit for 760 days of pretrial incarceration ^[4]. Six family members delivered victim impact statements during the sentencing hearing ^[1].

Allen's defense team filed a notice of intent to appeal the conviction and seek a new trial within the 30-day post-sentencing window ^[1][4]. The appeal is expected to challenge Judge Gull's exclusion of the Odinism defense theory and the admissibility of Allen's jailhouse confessions ^[5].