The trial of Richard Allen, charged in the Indiana killings of two teenage girls, Abigail Williams and Liberty German, began with the selection of eight women and six men for the jury. Allen is facing two counts of murder and two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping in the case. If convicted, he could face up to 130 years in prison. The trial is being held in Fort Wayne, about 100 miles from where the killings occurred, and the selected jurors will be sequestered during the trial in Delphi.
The girls went missing on February 13, 2017, after being dropped off at a hiking trail outside Delphi. Their bodies were found the next day in a rugged, wooded area near the trail. The case drew widespread attention after police released files found on Libby’s cellphone, including photos and audio of a man saying “down the hill” that they believed represented the killer. Despite releasing a suspect sketch and video, no arrest was made until October 2022 when Allen was taken into custody nearly six years after the murders.
Investigators revisited prior tips and re-interviewed Allen in 2022. He claimed to have seen three “juvenile girls” on the day the girls went missing but denied any involvement in their deaths. However, testing determined that an unspent bullet found near the victims had been cycled through Allen’s gun. The case has seen numerous delays due to evidence leaks and changes in Allen’s defense team. The trial is expected to last a month with prosecutors planning to call 50 witnesses and defense attorneys expecting to call 120 witnesses.
The judge overseeing the case issued a gag order barring anyone involved, including attorneys, law enforcement, and the girls’ relatives, from commenting on the case. Cameras have been banned from the courtroom, and the prosecution has been granted permission to present incriminating statements made by Allen in conversations with various individuals. The defense’s attempt to present a theory involving a ritual sacrifice by a pagan Norse religion and white nationalist group was rejected by the judge. The prosecutors have not disclosed the cause of death of the girls.
The defense’s argument that the killings may have been committed by others, including the previous owner of the property where the bodies were found, was also blocked by the judge. Despite these setbacks, Allen’s attorneys are preparing for the trial, which is expected to include detailed evidence and witness testimonies. The case has long haunted the town of Delphi and spurred endless speculation, with online communities closely following the developments in the trial. The community is hopeful that justice will finally be served for Abigail Williams and Liberty German, whose tragic deaths shook the small town to its core.
