Richard Allen, a former CVS clerk, has been found guilty of the 2017 murders of two middle school girls, Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14, in Delphi, Indiana. The jury delivered its verdict after an extensive four-week trial that concluded on Monday, with Allen pleading not guilty to the charges. He is set to be sentenced on December 20.
The tragic case, which has resonated deeply within the tight-knit community of Delphi, involved compelling evidence presented over 17 days of testimony. This included a significant Snapchat video, recorded by Liberty on the day of the incident, which featured a man later identified by prosecutors as “the bridge guy,” pointing to Allen as the suspect. Prosecutors alleged that Allen used intimidation to force the girls away from a popular hiking trail, resulting in their deaths.
Despite the prosecution’s case, Allen’s defense challenged the identification of him as the “bridge guy,” arguing that witness descriptions did not match Allen’s physical appearance. His defense attorney also labeled Allen’s confessions as unreliable, claiming they stemmed from a severe mental health crisis exacerbated by prolonged solitary confinement.
Key evidence included an unspent .40-caliber cartridge found near the victims, which prosecutors linked to Allen’s weapon. However, the defense contended that the connection was insufficient.
This case took a turn when misfiled information about Allen was uncovered by a clerk, bringing him into the investigators’ crosshairs after years of searching for suspects. His arrest followed shortly after this revelation in October 2022.
As the judicial process continues, the resolution of this case offers a measure of closure to the families and the community, offering them hope for healing. The verdict stands as a reminder of the importance of justice and the ongoing determination of law enforcement to seek accountability in tragic cases.