A 12-person jury has found Richard Allen guilty in the deaths of two Indiana teenagers who went missing while hiking in Delphi in 2017.
After about 19 hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Allen on two counts of murder and two counts of felony murder during the widely publicized Delphi murder trial.
The 52-year-old is facing a possible 130-year prison sentence, which will be determined on December 20.
All About the 2017 Delphi murder case
The Delphi murder case dates back to February 13, 2017, when Abby and Libby went for a hike on the Monon High Bridge in Delphi.
The two girls were reported missing after they did not meet Libby’s father that afternoon.
The following day, their bodies were discovered, both having died from throat cuts and partially covered with sticks.
The case gained public attention partly due to a video and audio recording of a suspect captured on Libby’s smartphone.
The video shows a man walking on the bridge with his hands in his pockets, while the audio features a muffled voice saying, “Guys, down the hill.”
Although police released the audio and a still image from the video just days after the murders, identifying the “Bridge Guy” as a prime suspect, the case remained cold for over five years until Allen’s arrest in 2022.
Allen Evaded Police Arrest
Allen had apparently managed to avoid police attention, living in the small town of Delphi and working at a local CVS pharmacy, until a clerk digitizing tips related to the investigation in September 2022 realized he had placed himself at the crime scene.
Just days after the bodies were found, Allen informed police that he had been on the trail during the time the girls were believed to have been killed.
About a month after the tip was rediscovered, Allen was arrested when police matched an unspent cartridge found between the girls’ bodies to a gun recovered from his home during a search.
After his arrest on October 26, 2022, he was charged with two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit a kidnapping five days later.
Prosecutors later amended the charges to include two additional counts of murder.
Allen’s confessed to the crime multiple times
Throughout the trial, the prosecution emphasized Allen’s numerous confessions while incarcerated: He reportedly confessed to the crime over 60 times, including to his wife, mother, the psychologist who treated him, the warden, and other prison staff and inmates.
They presented audio recordings of some of these confessions to the jury.
Monica Wala, the former lead psychologist at Westville Correctional Facility where Allen was held, testified that he initially claimed innocence but began confessing in April 2023, around the time he was placed back on suicide watch.
Wala stated that Allen told her, “I killed Abby and Libby. I’m sorry,” as reported by CNN affiliate WTHR.
He mentioned that he had originally intended to sexually assault the victims but fled when he noticed a van nearby, and he confessed to cutting the girls’ throats and covering their bodies with sticks, she testified.
Abby and Libby Gets Justice
Throughout the four-week trial, prosecutors claimed that Allen was responsible for the deaths of the teenagers.
In contrast, the defense argued for Allen’s innocence, stating there was not enough evidence to support a conviction.
The jury, made up of seven women and five men, began their deliberations on Thursday after the closing arguments.
Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland urged the jurors to take into account Allen’s numerous confessions to his wife, both spoken and written.
A recording played for the jury featured Allen saying, “I did it. I killed Abby and Libby.”
The defense brought in expert witnesses, including a psychologist, who suggested that Allen’s mental state was affected during his confessions due to 13 months spent in solitary confinement following his arrest on October 26, 2022.
Defense attorney Bradley Rozzi stressed his client’s innocence, pointing out the lack of fingerprints, DNA, or any forensic evidence tying Allen to the murders.
He also noted that no witnesses had identified Allen as the person seen on the trail when the girls disappeared.
The jury watched mobile phone footage captured by one of the girls, which showed an unidentified man saying, “Down the hill,” just before they went missing near the abandoned railway bridge.
After the jury delivered the verdict, Libby’s grandmother, Becky Patty, was seen crying as she embraced family members while leaving the courthouse, according to WTHR.
Following the announcement of the guilty verdict, the crowd outside erupted in applause and cheers, according to WTHR.
Allen’s wife, Kathy Allen, told WTHR, “this isn’t over at all,” as she exited the courtroom.
The judge has maintained the gag order that prevents those involved from discussing the case until Allen’s sentencing on December 20.
Abby and Libby’s murder case is just one of many that have been prolonged without justice being served, allowing the culprits to evade accountability.
With the jury’s verdict, we can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, and we hope that other murder cases that have been overlooked will be revisited.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.