DELPHI — The trial of Richard Allen, accused of the 2017 murders of best friends Libby German and Abby Williams, took a poignant turn over the weekend as witnesses recounted their traumatic experiences searching for the girls following their disappearance. The emotional testimony highlighted the community’s struggle with the horrific events that unfolded near the Monon High Bridge on February 13, 2017.
Jacob Johns testified about discovering clothing believed to belong to one of the girls tangled in tree roots along Deer Creek shortly before community member Pat Brown found the bodies on the far bank the following morning. Brown choked back tears as he recalled announcing, “We found ‘em,” upon making the grim discovery, initially mistaking the bodies for mannequins.
As the trial progresses, it is expected that investigators will introduce crime scene photographs into evidence today, which may shed light on the disturbing details surrounding the girls’ deaths. Investigators have described the girls as possibly posed, with Libby disrobed and Abby still clothed. At the same time, a dispute has emerged regarding the arrangement of sticks around the bodies—whether they were placed there to disguise the site or were part of a Nordic pagan ritual linked to Odinism.
The defense had suggested this alternative motive but faced a setback when Special Judge Fran Gull ruled against allowing this argument before the jury. In opening statements, Defense Attorney Andrew Baldwin asserted that the so-called “Bridge Guy”—a figure seen in a photo on Libby’s phone—forced the girls off the bridge onto private property after telling them, “Guys, down the hill.”
Steve Mullin, chief investigator for the Carroll County Prosecutor’s Office, also testified, describing the crucial evidence-gathering process following the murders. At the time, Mullin was the police chief of Delphi, overseeing the investigation alongside the FBI and Indiana State Police. He noted the significant resources brought in to assist with the case despite the challenges faced by the small town of roughly 2,500 residents.
Mullin disclosed that a critical error erased recorded interviews with key individuals, including Abby’s boyfriend and his father, which could have provided vital information. This revelation prompted Baldwin to raise concerns about the integrity of the investigation, particularly as evidence linking Brad Holder to Odinism had been investigated despite him providing an alibi.
As the trial unfolded, witnesses are anticipated to testify about seeing a man, suspected to be the killer, walking near the crime scene wearing muddy or bloody clothes shortly after the girls’ disappearance. Baldwin argued that while Allen admitted to being on the bridge that day, he was not present when the suspected killer was seen.
The prosecution’s case hinges on circumstantial evidence, with no DNA or murder weapon directly linking Allen to the crime. During jury selection, Baldwin revealed that a strand of hair found in Abby’s hand did not match Allen’s DNA, further complicating the prosecution’s argument.
As the courtroom proceedings continue, the defense aims to establish that while a crime undoubtedly occurred, Richard Allen is not the perpetrator. With testimony expected to delve into phone records and forensic evidence, legal experts suggest the upcoming weeks will be crucial in determining the strength of the prosecution’s case.
The trial is anticipated to last until mid-November, as the Delphi community remains focused on the quest for justice for Libby and Abby, whose tragic deaths have left a lasting mark on their families and friends.
