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Richard Allen found guilty on all counts in Delphi murders

Harry November 12, 2024

DELPHI, Ind. – A jury of five men and seven women on Monday found Richard Allen guilty on all four charges related to the deaths. Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German.

A jury found the 52-year-old Delphi man guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of murder while kidnapping the girls. The long awaited decision One of Indiana’s most high-profile murder cases It came after more than seven years of investigation, nearly three weeks of testimony and roughly 18 hours of deliberation spread over four days.

The verdict is a vindication of a years-long, and at times criticized, investigation by law enforcement into the girls’ deaths on February 13, 2017. Although it may provide some closure for their families, the jury’s verdict is unlikely to be the end of the case. Allen will certainly appeal.

Before the verdict was announced, Special Judge Frances Gull asked everyone in the courtroom to maintain their composure. “Whatever the decision,” he said, “people are not going to be happy.”

After the guilty verdict was announced on the first murder charge, there were gasps followed by quiet sobs from Libby’s family members. Libby’s mother, Carrie German Timmons, hugged the woman sitting next to her. After everyone was allowed to leave, Libby’s relatives stayed to hug and thank Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland.

Members of Allen’s family stood in a corner near the courtroom door, surrounding and comforting his wife, Kathy Allen.

People started shouting “guilty” in front of the courthouse. Many rose in cheers.

Gull had previously issued a gag order preventing law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys and families from speaking publicly about the case. The gag order will remain in effect until lifted by a judge, Capt. Ron Galaviz, chief of public information for the Indiana State Police, told reporters.

Allen will appear in court again at 9 a.m. on December 20 for sentencing. Allen faces between 90 and 130 years in prison. The victims’ families will likely speak at the sentencing hearing.

journalists Indianapolis Star And Lafayette Magazine and Courier will provide updates on the decision and what happens next.

Sources say jurors in Richard Allen’s double murder trial have reached a verdict.

Allen, 52, is charged with murder Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” GermanPerson who disappeared while hiking on the Monon High Bridge trail on February 13, 2017. Their bodies were found dead the next day by searchers in the area.

Five men and seven women negotiated for nearly 18 hours spread over four days. Members of the media were informed at around 1.30pm on Monday that the jury members had reached a verdict. Lawyers and victims’ families were also seen entering the courthouse.

Jurors continue deliberating Monday morning

The jury is at 9 a.m. Monday morning. Richard Allen’s murder trial He returns to the Carroll County Courthouse to discuss two counts of murder and two counts of murder during the kidnapping.

After both sides completed their closing arguments Thursday afternoon, jurors deliberated until 3:30 p.m. They returned at 9 a.m. Friday morning and continued negotiations until 4 p.m., unable to reach a decision. After debating for hours on Saturday, November 9, they still could not reach a decision. Officials said they deliberated for about 14 hours in total at the end of Saturday’s session.