In a packed courtroom, people gasped as a close-up photo of a young victim’s bloody face was displayed for the jury. Prosecutors in the double murder trial of Richard Allen, a 52-year-old Indiana man, shared new evidence about how 14-year-old Libby German and 13-year-old Abby Williams were killed. The chilling scene that awaited searchers who found their bodies a day after they disappeared from a hiking trail in Delphi on February 13, 2017, was revealed to the public for the first time.
For years, there was little information about the circumstances of the killings, but this trial shed light on the details only the killer would know. Allen, a Delphi resident arrested years after the murders, pleaded not guilty to murder and kidnapping charges. His defense claimed his confessions were coerced due to deteriorating mental health while in prison.
As the trial began, jurors were warned about graphic crime scene photos that would be shown. Witnesses recounted the distressing moment when the photos were displayed during testimony. The girls’ necks were slit, and their bodies were found in a wooded area near a creek. Prosecutors played a video retrieved from Libby’s cellphone, showing the girls being ordered to go “down the hill” by a man with a gun.
Additional details from the crime scene included bizarre findings such as stones with the girls’ names, branches arranged on the bodies, and an unspent bullet linked to Allen’s pistol. Despite the defense’s attempt to introduce an Odinism theory, the judge ruled against it. However, no DNA evidence linking Allen to the crime scene was found.
The trial proceedings were closely monitored, with limited access for spectators and media. The jury was sequestered throughout the trial, and strict rules were in place regarding electronic devices. Families of the victims had the opportunity to speak about their loved ones in court, describing them as bright and kind-hearted.
The trial marked a significant moment for the families, providing a chance to seek justice for Libby and Abby. Despite the pain and loss, the families expressed their enduring love and honor for the girls. The outcome of the trial remains uncertain, but the families continue to hold onto the memories of their beloved daughters.
