The Delphi double murder trial of Richard Allen, accused of killing two teenage girls in 2017, is ongoing with jury deliberations still underway. The jurors, consisting of seven women and five men, spent the first full day deliberating without reaching a verdict. They will reconvene on Saturday morning to continue their deliberations.
Allen faces two murder and two felony murder charges in connection with the deaths of Liberty “Libby” German and Abigail “Abby” Williams, who were 14 and 13 years old at the time. If convicted on all charges, he could be sentenced to up to 130 years in prison. The prosecution has presented evidence linking Allen to the crime, including confessions he made to multiple individuals.
However, Allen’s defense has raised doubts about the validity of these confessions, arguing that they were made under duress while Allen was in solitary confinement. They also highlighted the lack of physical evidence linking Allen to the murders, such as fingerprints, DNA, or forensic evidence. The defense further pointed out that no witnesses explicitly identified Allen as the man seen on the hiking trail where the girls went missing.
The trial has shed light on the events leading up to the tragic murders of Abby and Libby in Delphi. The case garnered public attention due to a photo and audio recording captured by Libby’s smartphone, which showed the suspect known as “Bridge Guy.” Despite the initial cold trail, Allen was eventually arrested in 2022 after new evidence emerged linking him to the crime scene.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution has emphasized Allen’s multiple confessions, which were reportedly made to various individuals while he was incarcerated. The defense, on the other hand, has questioned the circumstances surrounding these confessions and pointed out the lack of concrete evidence tying Allen to the murders.
As the jury continues its deliberations, the community awaits a verdict in this high-profile case that has gripped Delphi for years. The outcome of the trial will determine the fate of Richard Allen and bring closure to the families of Abby and Libby, who tragically lost their lives in 2017.
