The Delphi murder case finally came to a conclusion when the suspect, Richard Allen, was found guilty. The spine-chilling case left everyone in shock as it involved the deaths of two teenage girls in 2017. However, Allen's sentence is not the death penalty, which Indiana usually sentences to convicted murderers.
After a few cases, capital punishment became a sensitive and concerning issue in Indiana. However, according to ACLU Indiana, the state announced the resumption of state-level execution after a 15-year-long hiatus in June 2024.
The decision was widely opposed by people as 60 out of 97 death penalty sentences were reconsidered in the state. According to the Indiana Public Defender Council, these 60 sentences were either reversed, commuted, or dismissed.
What is Richard Allen accused of?
According to WTHR, Richard Allen has been found guilty of two counts of murder and felony murder, each in the Delphi murder trial. He was accused of killing Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14, in February 2017.
The two middle school girls went missing on February 13, 2017, after strolling along Delphi's historic trails, the Monon High Bridge. They were reported missing when they failed to meet German's father that afternoon. The next day, the police found their bodies sustaining cuts to the throat.
The case caught everyone's attention as the authorities released a clip of a man who was the suspect in the murders. The clip was obtained from German's phone, which captured a man telling them to go "down the hill." The suspect was referred to as the Bridge Guy in the investigation.
The case soon went cold due to a lack of leads until 2022, when Richard Allen was taken into custody. Prosecutors stated in a probable cause affidavit that an unspent caliber bullet, which was found at the scene, was linked to a gun in Allen's home.
According to the trial, Allen often confessed to the murders while in custody. He also allegedly told his wife that he murdered the two girls on a phone call, as well as the psychologist who was treating him. However, Richard Allen's mental health became a primary concern during the trial.
Allen's attorney also introduced an "Odinism" defense, but the judge repeatedly rejected motions to present the theory. According to WRTV, a blood spatter expert testified that the evidence indicated the fatal throat injury did not immediately kill German. The expert added that she was likely dragged back to the scene.
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A forensic pathologist also testified, saying there was no evidence of s*xual assault. However, he added that it was still possible.
A report by WNDU-TV revealed that prosecutors did not seek the death penalty for Richard Allen. Therefore, he now faces up to 130 years of imprisonment.
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