In Delphi, Indiana, the sentencing of a man found guilty of the 2017 murders of two teenage girls will occur on Friday. Richard Allen, who was convicted of the murders of 13-year-old Abigail Williams and 14-year-old Liberty German, faces a potential prison term ranging from 45 to 130 years. After a lengthy trial that concluded on November 11, a jury found him guilty of two murder charges and two additional counts associated with murder during the commission of kidnapping.
Allen, 52, lived in Delphi and worked as a pharmacy technician at a pharmacy located just a short distance from the county courthouse where his trial took place. His arrest in October 2022 came over five years after Abigail and Liberty disappeared while hiking in February 2017. The case generated significant media attention, exacerbated by multiple trial delays, evidence leaks, and the temporary withdrawal and subsequent reinstatement of his public defenders by the state Supreme Court.
During the sentencing, special judge Fran Gull, who presided over the trial, will determine Allen’s punishment. The court has scheduled the hearing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and family members of the victims may have the opportunity to address the court. According to the defense team’s sentencing documents, even if the judge opts for the minimum sentence of 45 years on two counts, with the possibility of good time credit, Allen would still be looking at nearly 34 years in prison before release, meaning he would be 85 years old when eligible for parole.
The jury, consisting of seven women and five men from Allen County in northeastern Indiana, was isolated throughout the trial, which commenced on October 18 in the rural place where the girls grew up. In the tragic events of February 13, 2017, the girls were dropped off for a hike but never made it to their designated pickup location, leading to their families reporting them missing. Tragically, their bodies were discovered the following day in a forested area, with fatal injuries.
In his closing arguments, prosecutor Nicholas McLeland accused Allen of using a firearm to coerce the girls off the trail, with a clear intent to kidnap them. Details revealed that an unspent bullet found near the victims was connected to Allen’s handgun, further implicating him in the crime. McLeland asserted that a grainy video recorded by Liberty captured Allen stalking the girls and included his voice instructing them to go “down the hill.” He confidently stated, “Richard Allen is Bridge Guy,” asserting that he was responsible for their abduction and subsequent murder.
The prosecutor’s assertions were bolstered by numerous confessions made by Allen, including one recorded conversation with his wife where he admitted, “I did it. I killed Abby and Libby.” However, the defense countered these claims by suggesting that Allen was suffering from severe mental health issues during the initial questioning, arguing that the circumstances surrounding his detainment led to his mental deterioration. A defense psychiatrist testified about the effects of prolonged solitary confinement, which could cause significant psychological stress.
In further defense efforts, attorney Bradley Rozzi claimed that the prosecution lacked direct eyewitness testimony linking Allen to the crime scene, contesting the absence of any forensic evidence, such as fingerprints or DNA. Rozzi insisted that Allen had numerous chances to escape but remained present because he was innocent.
Additionally, Allen’s legal team attempted to introduce a theory that the murders might have been a ritualistic act linked to a white nationalist faction known for pagan Norse beliefs. Nonetheless, the judge dismissed this angle, expressing that the defense presented no credible evidence to support such claims.
After Allen’s sentencing, it is anticipated that a long-standing gag order will be lifted, allowing law enforcement and family members of Abigail and Liberty to provide statements to the media in a scheduled press conference.