After years of twists, turns, and heartbreak, justice has been served for Liberty “Libby” German and Abigail “Abby” Williams, two teenage girls brutally murdered while on a hike in Delphi, Indiana, in 2017.
On Friday, Richard Allen, 52, was sentenced to 130 years in prison, ensuring he will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the heinous crime... Continue reading here ▶
The sentencing brought raw emotions from the victims’ families, who confronted Allen in court. “This man has made my family’s life a living hell,” declared Josh Lank, Libby’s cousin, as reported by WXIN. “Now it’s time for your life to be a living hell.”
Despite the emotional proceedings, Allen maintained his innocence, and his attorneys announced plans to appeal.
A High-Profile and Controversial Trial
Allen’s conviction in November marked the culmination of a 17-day trial that captivated Indiana and the nation. The jury found him guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of felony murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping. The trial was one of the most contentious in Indiana’s history, fraught with challenges, including missing evidence and disputes over legal strategies.
The case began on February 13, 2017, when Abby, 13, and Libby, 14, disappeared while walking the Moon High Bridge Trail near Delphi. Their bodies were discovered the next day in a wooded area just off the trail, their throats slashed. The chilling discovery shook the tight-knit community and launched an investigation that spanned years.
A Case Without Physical Evidence
Prosecutors built their case against Allen without any direct physical evidence—no DNA, no fingerprints, and no forensic links. Instead, their arguments hinged on circumstantial evidence and alleged confessions.
During the trial, prosecutors presented a recorded phone conversation between Allen and his wife in which he reportedly said, “I did it. I killed Abby and Libby.”
They also argued that Allen was the mysterious “Bridge Guy” captured on Libby’s cellphone, walking ominously behind the girls shortly before their deaths.
Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland emphasized this connection in his closing argument: “Five years, he lives in the city. Five years, he lives amongst us.”
A Trial Plagued by Missteps
The case was not without its controversies. Prosecutors admitted to losing 70 days’ worth of police interview recordings, including tapes involving individuals the defense identified as “key suspects.”
This mishap compounded already-existing tensions, with Allen’s attorneys accusing prosecutors of retrofitting evidence to secure a conviction under mounting public pressure.
Adding to the chaos, Allen’s defense team was temporarily removed from the case after accidentally leaking sealed evidence but was later reinstated. Throughout the trial, defense attorneys Brad Rozzi and Andrew Baldwin argued that Allen’s confessions were false, claiming they were coerced after months of solitary confinement and harassment.
A Ritualistic Killing Theory Denied
Allen’s defense team also sought to introduce a controversial theory: that the murders were a ritualistic sacrifice carried out by members of an “Odinism” cult, a white nationalist group. However, the judge ruled that this theory could not be presented to the jury due to insufficient admissible evidence.
