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’s verdict came after a comprehensive four-week trial, during which Allen maintained his innocence against the murder charges tied to the tragic events of February 13, 2017.
The jury deliberated for four days, ultimately concluding that Allen was guilty of the heinous crime that shocked the small community. He is expected to be sentenced on December 20.
The prosecutor, Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland, presented compelling evidence during the trial, including a Snapchat video recorded by Liberty on the day of the girls’ disappearance. This footage depicted a man, identified in court as “the bridge guy,” which McLeland linked directly to Allen. In his closing argument, he described the brutality of the crime, stating that Allen forced the girls down a hill before committing the murders.
Despite the prosecution’s evidence, Allen’s defense lawyer, Brad Rozzi, argued that descriptions of “the bridge guy” did not match Allen and dismissed his alleged confessions as unreliable, attributing them to a mental health crisis exacerbated by over a year in solitary confinement prior to the trial. The defense also challenged the connection of an unspent bullet casing found near the scene to Allen’s firearm, labeling the evidence as “insufficient.”
Allen was not on authorities’ radar until a critical misclassified lead surfaced in September 2022, paving the way for his arrest shortly thereafter.
While the community mourns the loss of Abigail and Liberty, bringing the perpetrator to justice serves as a crucial step toward healing and closure. The trial highlights the importance of persistent investigative work and community support in solving such devastating cases. There is hope that this verdict will foster a sense of safety and restore faith in the legal system for those affected by this tragedy.