Richard Allenaccused of Murder of two young girls in 2017 He was convicted in Delphi Ind.

After the jury deliberated over a four-day period, Allen was convicted on four counts of murder. Associated Press, Indianapolis Star And WTHR.

The bodies of 14-year-old Liberty “Libby” German and 13-year-old Abigail “Abby” Williams were found near a stream near the hiking trail in February 2017. In the opening statements of Allen’s trial, which began on October 18, prosecutors explained that the girls’ throats had allegedly been slit. access point, fox 59 And Indianapolis Star.

Citing prosecutors, Fox 59 and Star He reported that Libby was found naked and covered in blood, and Abby was found wearing Libby’s clothes.

No suspect has been identified for five years. But police arrested Allen, a Delphi resident, in 2022 after searching his home and allegedly finding knives as well as a gun that authorities allege was linked to a bullet found at the scene, the AP reported.

Prosecutors said Allen, who is behind bars while his trial was ongoing, allegedly confessed to the murders during a phone call with his wife, according to the AP. CNN and Fox 59.

However, according to Fox 59, Allen’s lawyer, Andrew Baldwin, said during his trial that the confession was made at a time when his client was in a mentally unstable state.

During closing arguments, prosecutor Nick McLeland reminded the jury of Allen’s alleged confession and asked the jury to find him guilty of murder.

Want to keep up with the latest crime news? Sign up PEOPLE free True Crime newsletter For breaking crime news, ongoing trial news and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“All the pieces are clear now,” McLeland said. WTHR. “He kidnapped them and then killed them. He slit their throats. He stole Abby and Libby’s youth and life.”

Defense attorney Brad Rozzi called into question the prosecution’s proposed timeline. Rozzi also sought to discredit state witnesses who identified a so-called “bridge man” seen on video walking through the trial where the girls were killed, who prosecutors allege was Allen.

“Something is wrong here,” Rozzi said, according to WTHR. “Something isn’t right.”

According to defense motions obtained by AP and CNN, Allen’s defense team attempted to argue that the killings were actually committed as part of a sacrificial ritual by Odinists, members of a Norse pagan religion linked to White nationalism.

But a judge prevented the defense from advancing the Odinist theory during the trial due to lack of evidence, according to court records.

Liberty’s grandfather Mike Patty after the girls were found in 2017 I told the people that they are best friends who love working out and hiking together.