DELPHI, Ind. – On Friday, the long-awaited trial of Richard Allen, the man accused of murdering two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana, in 2017, began with graphic revelations about the crime scene. During the opening statements, prosecutors offered for the first time a detailed account of the brutal killings of Abby Williams, 13, and Libby German, 14, whose deaths shocked the small community and drew national attention.
Allen, who has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder, is accused of killing the girls after forcing them off the Monon High Bridge trail on February 13, 2017. The prosecutor, Nick McLeland, told jurors that evidence includes video footage captured on Libby’s phone, which documented the terrifying moments leading up to their deaths. According to McLeland, Libby began recording the video when the girls noticed a man following them across the bridge. Moments later, the man pulled out a gun and ordered them “down the hill.”
McLeland described the crime scene as “gruesome,” revealing that both girls had their throats cut. Libby was found naked and covered in blood, while Abby was partially clothed. This was the first time the specific details of the crime scene had been made public. The girls’ bodies were discovered near Deer Creek just a day after they were reported missing.
The prosecution’s case hinges on three main points: the identity of the “bridge guy,” an unspent bullet found at the scene, and Allen’s confessions. McLeland said investigators recovered an unspent bullet that matched Allen’s gun, which was found during a search of his home. According to the prosecutor, ballistic tests confirmed that the bullet had cycled through Allen’s firearm, making it a crucial piece of evidence. Allen, who was interviewed in 2017 but not initially charged, later admitted to police that he had been on the trail that day.
McLeland also claimed that Allen had made multiple confessions, telling his wife and mother about the crime while in jail. “They had details that only the killer would know,” McLeland said, emphasizing that Allen’s words provide damning evidence of his involvement. The prosecution further argued that Libby’s cellphone video captured both a grainy image and the voice of the suspect, identified as Allen.
Allen’s defense attorney, Andrew Baldwin, countered the prosecution’s narrative by arguing that there is substantial reasonable doubt. He questioned the reliability of the timeline presented by the state, suggesting discrepancies between cellphone data and witness accounts. Baldwin claimed that the prosecution’s timeline is flawed, as Allen’s cellphone data places him near the trail at 1:30 p.m. but shows he had left by 2:15 p.m. He also argued that the state’s evidence is circumstantial, noting that Allen’s alleged confessions were made under immense psychological pressure in a small cell while under constant surveillance.
Baldwin also challenged the evidence surrounding the unspent bullet found at the scene. He noted that the same type of ammunition is commonly used by law enforcement, raising questions about whether officers could have accidentally left it. He further claimed that investigators never tested the gun of the property owner where the girls were found, who also owned a similar firearm.
In a surprising twist, the defense suggested that Abby and Libby were killed elsewhere before their bodies were moved back to the crime scene. Baldwin argued that searchers found no signs of bodies or clothing on the night of February 13 and that witnesses nearby did not hear any screams. He also revealed that the hair found in Abby’s hand was linked to a female relative of Libby, not Allen.
The trial is being held under strict security measures, with the jury brought in from Fort Wayne and sequestered for the duration of the proceedings, which are expected to last a month. Judge Frances Gull ruled that two composite sketches released early in the investigation would not be used as evidence, agreeing with the prosecution’s argument that they were meant to generate leads rather than identify Allen.
The case has gripped the community of Delphi, where both the suspect and the victims were residents. Family members of Abby and Libby were present in the courtroom on the first day, including Libby’s grandmother, Becky Patty, who was one of the last people to see the girls alive. Patty testified that the girls left for the hiking trail after reassuring her, “Grandma, it’ll be okay.”
As the trial unfolds, the focus remains on whether the evidence presented by prosecutors will be enough to secure a conviction. For many in Delphi, the trial represents a chance for long-overdue answers and justice for the two girls whose lives were cut tragically short. Meanwhile, Allen’s defense continues to argue that their client is innocent and that the case against him is based on flawed evidence and rushed conclusions.
The next phase of the trial will include testimony from witnesses, law enforcement officers, and forensic experts as both sides seek to sway the jury in this emotionally charged case. As the opening day closed, the haunting details of the 2017 crime left an indelible mark on all present, underscoring the gravity of the proceedings and the search for justice for Abby and Libby.
