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Delphi kills trial of Richard Allen updates: Focus on DNA, lead

Harry October 29, 2024

The trial against Richard Allen will continue on October 28 in Delphi, Indiana, with DNA experts taking the stand.

Allen (52), He was accused of killing two teenagers Those who went missing on February 13, 2017 and were found dead the next day. He was arrested in 2022 and faces two counts of murder in the commission of kidnapping and two counts of murder in the killings. Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German.

journalists Indianapolis Star And Lafayette Magazine and Courier The case will be handled as it progresses through the judicial system.

A crime scene investigator trained in bloodstain analysis said Libby German was likely dragged after her throat was slit; This was one of the few revelations that emerged during Monday’s hearings.

Maj. Patrick Cicero of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office said he came to this conclusion based on a blood stain on the teen’s foot (indicating that he had stepped on blood) and that he expected to see more blood pooling around his body. He said he believed German was pulled by his arm, which was above his head when he was found.

According to Cicero’s testimony, the opposite was true for Abby Williams; Police told jurors they believed Williams was injured where he was found.

Cicero also mentioned that there was no blood on Williams’ hands, stating that this was unusual because people with such wounds usually touch their wounds. He assumed Williams was either restrained or unconscious.

Jennifer Auger, one of Richard Allen’s attorneys, stated during cross-examination that Cicero was not asked to appear in the case until February of this year and that he had only seen photographs of the crime scene, not the evidence in person. He noted that trees and terrain may change.

He also noted that the bloodstain analysis diagrams made no mention of “drag marks” indicating that German’s body had been moved.

Indiana State Police forensic scientist Stacy Bozinovski said Monday that she was unable to find enough DNA material to create a DNA profile from unspent bullets collected at the scene.

Bozinovski, an expert on paternity or kinship analysis, said in his statement that he took samples from the entire surface and tried to collect potential skin cells, but it was difficult to obtain a DNA sample from such a small piece. Prosecutors say an Indiana State Police firearms investigator testified last week – the unspent bullet was said to have been chambered in the same Sig Sauer, Model P226, .40 caliber pistol Allen owned.

Bozinovski also stated that he could not find evidence that the teenagers were sexually assaulted. He said he tested samples taken from the girls, including vaginal swabs and fingernail scrapings, and found no semen or other types of male DNA.

There was some male DNA in samples taken from the girls, but he said the amount he detected was not unusual and could have been transferred through normal, everyday contact.

A strand of hair around Abby’s finger was initially It was determined to belong to an unidentified woman.Bozinovski, possibly Libby’s relative, testified. Earlier this month, Bozinovski determined that the DNA profile was consistent with Libby’s older sister, Kelsi Siebert. Bozinovski said he could conduct further tests after Siebert provided a hair sample.

Information before the Delphi trial: Officer recalls interview before Richard Allen’s arrest in Delphi murders case

At one point during the deposition, Special Judge Frances Gull addressed the audience as they were drifting off to sleep.

“I’m not holding a hearing in your bedroom,” Gull said. “I would appreciate you not sleeping in my courtroom.”

It is not clear who is sleeping. People camped out overnight to find space for the trial, which attracted international attention.

Richard Allen case: Delphi jury hears from expert who linked Allen’s gun to unspent cash at crime scene