Jury deliberations are ongoing in the high-profile double murder trial of Richard Allen, who stands accused of killing two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana, over seven years ago. Allen has pleaded not guilty to two murder and two felony murder charges in connection with the deaths of Liberty “Libby” German, 14, and Abigail “Abby” Williams, 13. If convicted on all charges, Allen could face up to 130 years in prison.
The 12-person jury began deliberations on Thursday and will continue deliberating from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday until a verdict is reached. Last month, 16 Allen County residents were selected to serve on the jury, with four alternates also chosen.
During closing arguments, Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland presented compelling evidence linking Allen to the murders. This evidence included graphic photos of the victims, a video from one of the victim's smartphones capturing the final moments of the girls' lives, and a recording of Allen allegedly confessing to the crimes.
Defense attorney Brad Rozzi argued for Allen's acquittal, citing a broken timeline, false confessions, and a lack of DNA or weapons evidence. The defense emphasized that there is no physical evidence directly tying Allen to the murders.
The case dates back to February 13, 2017, when the two girls went missing after going for a hike in Delphi. Their bodies were discovered the following day, both having suffered fatal injuries. The case gained widespread attention due to a photo and audio recording of the suspect taken from one of the victim's smartphones.
Allen was arrested in 2022 after a tip led authorities to him. Throughout the trial, prosecutors highlighted Allen's numerous confessions while incarcerated, while the defense portrayed him as a mentally ill individual whose confessions were coerced.
Despite the confessions, there is limited physical evidence linking Allen to the crime scene. The prosecution presented a .40-caliber unspent round found near the victims, which matched a pistol owned by Allen. However, the defense raised doubts about this evidence.
The prosecution also attempted to match Allen with the video and audio recordings from the crime scene, with conflicting opinions from witnesses. The jury will continue deliberating until a verdict is reached in this complex and emotionally charged case.
