On November 11, 2024, a jury found Richard Allen guilty of the murders of teenagers Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German, who disappeared during an afternoon hike on February 13, 2017, in Delphi, Indiana. After 18 hours of deliberation, the jury of five men and seven women confirmed Allen’s guilt.
However, a new docuseries titled “Capturing Their Killer: The Girls on the High Bridge,” which premiered on Hulu on August 5, raises questions about whether police apprehended the correct suspect. In the trailer, Libby’s grandfather, Mike Patty, passionately asserts, “Richard Allen is guilty and always will be.” Abby’s mother, Anna Williams, expressed gratitude for achieving justice, while Libby’s mother, Carrie Timmons, was featured in the docuseries, which revisits key elements of the tragic case.
In the docuseries, Kathy Allen, Richard’s wife, voices her skepticism about her husband’s guilt, stating, “I want true justice for Abby and Libby, but it should not be at the expense of an innocent person.” This sentiment is echoed in the interrogation footage where Richard Allen claims, “You’re not going to find anything that ties me to those murders, so I’m not really that concerned.”
The prosecution’s case against Allen included significant evidence such as a round of ammunition found at the crime scene and several confessions he allegedly made while imprisoned. Notably, a 43-second video taken by Libby before they went missing showed a man known as “Bridge Guy” following them, leading authorities to claim that Richard Allen was this individual.
The defense painted Allen as a mentally fragile man who succumbed to psychosis due to his imprisonment, urging jurors to question the overall investigation’s validity. They also proposed theories involving cult members and potential satanic elements orchestrating the killings, which the docuseries appears to explore.
As of now, Richard Allen is serving a 130-year sentence for the murders, leaving behind a community still grappling with the ramifications of this tragic case.
This ongoing story highlights the complexities of justice and the differing viewpoints surrounding accountability in serious criminal cases. The impact on the victims’ families is profound and reminders of the precious lives lost resonate deeply within the community. The conversation initiated by the docuseries may provide a platform for further discussion on the case and those affected by it.