Indiana Man Sentenced to 130 Years for Chilling Murder of Two Teens – Justice Finally Served

Richard Allen, from Delphi, Indiana, was handed the maximum sentence, bringing an end to the case known as the Delphi Murders. His defense attorneys have announced plans to appeal the ruling.

By Sheenu Gupta On Dec 21, 2024 Share with new partner:

An Indiana judge has sentenced Richard Allen, a 52-year-old man, to 130 years in prison for the 2017 murders of two teenage girls, Liberty German and Abigail Williams, a case that became widely known among true-crime enthusiasts as the Delphi Murders. The sentence, handed down by Judge Frances C. Gull of the Allen Superior Court in Fort Wayne, Indiana, represents the maximum punishment for the charges Allen faced.

On Friday, Judge Gull sentenced Allen to 65 years for each of the two murders, with the terms to be served consecutively, meaning he will serve a total of 130 years behind bars. In her remarks during the sentencing, Judge Gull spoke of the severity of the crimes, stating, “I’ve spent 27 years as a judge, and you rank right up there with the most heinous crimes in the state of Indiana.”

The sentencing marked a significant moment for the families of the victims, who had been restricted from making public statements about the case throughout and following Allen’s trial. However, they were given the opportunity to speak at the sentencing, allowing them to address the court and reflect on the impact of the tragic loss of their loved ones. Media outlets reported on the families’ emotional statements during this crucial moment in the proceedings.

Liberty German’s mother, Carrie Timmons, expressed her shock at the evil that could exist in the world, saying, “I was blind that such evil existed,” according to ABC. Abigail Williams’ grandmother, Diane Erskin, reflected on the profound sadness the family felt, stating, “This is a day of great sadness for our family. We won’t be going home to celebrate with champagne.”

Liberty, 14, and Abigail, 13, were tragically found dead on February 14, 2017, a day after they had gone on a hike together in Delphi, Indiana, a small town located about 80 miles northwest of Indianapolis. It wasn’t until five years later, in October 2022, that police arrested Richard Allen and charged him with the murders.

In November of 2024, after a lengthy trial, a jury convicted Allen on two counts of murder and two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping. Prosecutors argued that Allen had been following the girls before ultimately taking their lives.

Richard Allen’s attorneys have announced their intention to appeal the conviction, asserting that their client maintains his innocence. In a memo filed this week, they stated that Allen hopes to “present a full defense at a second trial.”

Court records and prosecutors reveal that on February 13, 2017, at 1:49 p.m., Liberty German and Abigail Williams, often referred to by their nicknames Abby and Libby, were dropped off at the entrance to a hiking trail near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi. It was the final day of their middle school break.

During their hike, one of the girls recorded a video on her phone showing a man in a dark jacket and jeans following them. In the video, one of the girls mentions a “gun,” and a man’s voice can be heard telling them to “go down the hill,” according to an affidavit filed by a detective with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation later revealed that an unspent round from a .40-caliber gun was discovered near the girls’ bodies. Detectives interviewed hikers and witnesses who reported seeing a man whose appearance and clothing matched that of the figure in the video. One witness even mentioned that the man’s clothing appeared to be stained with blood and covered in mud.

In 2017, investigators interviewed Richard Allen, a CVS employee, who acknowledged being on the trail at the same time as the two girls. He claimed to have seen three young women but stated that he couldn’t recall any details about their appearance, according to the affidavit.

Richard Allen was interviewed again in October 2022, and during a search of his home, investigators discovered a gun that was later linked to the unspent bullet found near the victims’ bodies, according to the affidavit. When questioned about this, Allen claimed he didn’t know how the bullet ended up at the scene and denied any involvement in the girls’ deaths.

During the sentencing on Friday, the families shared their grief, mentioning the pain of missing the girls on their birthdays and seeing their peers achieve milestones, such as graduating from college.

After the hearing, Sheriff Tony Liggett held a news conference where he expressed his apologies to the families for the lengthy delay in resolving the case. He revealed that for five years, Richard Allen’s name remained among the many tips and pieces of information collected by investigators, despite Allen’s admission that he had been on the trail that day, according to ABC.

During the trial, prosecutors told the jury that Mr. Allen had planned to rape the girls. They also said Mr. Allen had admitted to killing them, including in a statement in which he said he used a box cutter in the murders.

Richard Allen’s defense attorneys argued that his admissions were made while he was in a psychotic state, caused by being held in solitary confinement during his time in jail.

Bradley Rozzi, one of Richard Allen’s attorneys, pointed out that there was no forensic evidence linking Allen to the murder scene. He also questioned the significance of the bullet found at the scene, which was connected to Allen.

Over the years, the Delphi Murders became a widely discussed topic among true-crime enthusiasts online, who scrutinized the cellphone video and analyzed the available evidence. The trailer for the podcast Down The Hill: The Delphi Murders captures the intrigue, describing the case as unfolding in “this small town in the middle of nowhere,” set to a suspenseful soundtrack.

While jurors deliberated last month before finding Allen guilty, a crowd gathered outside the courthouse, some holding signs with the girls’ names and messages like “never forgotten.” Others carried signs declaring Allen’s innocence.