Richard Allen has been found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of felony murder in the killings of two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana. Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14, were murdered on the Monon High Bridge Trail in February 2017. Allen, 52, could be sentenced to up to 130 years in prison for his crimes. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty for Allen, and the verdict was reported by local news outlet WTHR on Monday afternoon.
The jury, comprised of five men and seven women, deliberated for roughly 18 hours over four days before reaching a verdict. The trial did not allow cameras or cell phones in the courtroom, and the jury was selected 100 miles away from the crime scene in an effort to mitigate the media attention surrounding the case. Prosecutors argued that Allen is the “bridge guy” seen in a Snapchat video recovered from German’s phone, walking along the trail. They allege that Allen forced the girls down a hill and cut their throats, with evidence including an unspent bullet from a gun owned by Allen found between the victims’ bodies. Prosecutors claimed that Allen has confessed to the murders over 60 times after his arrest.
Allen’s defense argued that his confessions were unreliable and made under duress, with inaccurate crime details and admissions to crimes that never occurred. It took five years for police to arrest Allen, who was working at a CVS in Delphi. The families of the victims even said that Allen helped them print photos for the funeral free of charge. This case has garnered attention from true crime enthusiasts and has been under investigation for several years. The families of Abigail and Liberty have likely been waiting for justice in this case for a long time.
The verdict in this case brings some closure for the families of the victims. While the trial did not seek the death penalty, the potential sentence of up to 130 years in prison for Allen may provide some level of justice. The prosecution presented evidence linking Allen to the crime scene, including the recovered video footage and the unspent bullet found between the victims’ bodies. The defense’s argument of unreliable confessions and duress adds a layer of complexity to the case. The families of the victims will likely continue to process the verdict and what it means for their healing and closure.
As more information becomes available about this case, updates will be provided. The ramifications of this verdict, the impact on the victims’ families, and the implications for the community will likely be topics of ongoing discussion. The investigation into the murder of Abigail Williams and Liberty German has been lengthy and complex, and the resolution of this trial marks a significant moment in the process. The court’s decision, the arguments from both sides, and the impact on all those involved will continue to be of interest to those following this story.
