Richard Allen received a 130-year prison sentence on Friday (December 20) for the 2017 murders of Liberty “Libby” German, 14, and Abigail “Abby” Williams, 13, in Delphi, Indiana. The sentencing follows his conviction on November 11 for two counts of murder and two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping.
The case, which has haunted the small town of Delphi, began when the two eighth graders went missing during a hike on February 13, 2017. Their bodies were discovered the next day near an abandoned railroad trestle. The investigation gained widespread attention due to a video and audio recording from Libby’s smartphone, which captured a man, later identified as Allen, saying, “Guys, down the hill.”
Allen, a Delphi resident and pharmacy technician, was arrested in October 2022 after a tip placed him at the crime scene. During the trial, Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland presented evidence linking an unspent bullet found between the girls’ bodies to Allen’s handgun. McLeland argued that Allen had planned to rape the girls but changed his plans after being interrupted.
Despite the defense’s claims of Allen’s innocence and arguments about his mental health during confessions, the jury found him guilty. The judge, Allen County Superior Court Judge Fran Gull, imposed the maximum sentence. Allen’s attorneys noted that even with good behavior, he would likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
The case, which included delays and evidence leaks, drew significant attention from true-crime enthusiasts. The gag order on the case is expected to be lifted, and a news conference is planned following the sentencing.
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