Delphi, Indiana: Trial Progresses in 2017 Murders of Abby Williams and Liberty German
For almost six years, the murders of Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German haunted the town of Delphi, Indiana. The investigation took a pivotal turn on September 21, 2022, when a retired government worker named Kathy Shank, who had been volunteering as a clerk on the case, discovered a lead sheet about a man named Richard Allen.
This discovery significantly changed the course of the investigation. Shank had been sorting through old boxes of tip sheets when she found the document related to Allen. Three days after the girls vanished on February 13, 2017, Allen had reported to police that he had also been on the trail that day. Shank recognized a potential connection between Allen’s presence on the trail and the ongoing investigation.
Testimonies and Developments
During a hearing on Thursday, Shank testified about her findings and their impact on the case. She recollected how she had been involved in assisting the investigation since the girls’ disappearance, taking on various roles over the years. This included processing tips and organizing investigative reports. The lead sheet about Allen had caught her eye, especially since it was marked with a green dot, indicating that it had previously been cleared.
Shank’s testimony revealed that she felt there was a valuable correlation between the girls’ disappearance and the man who had self-reported being in the area. After alerting the authorities about her find, the investigation quickly shifted focus to Allen.
Richard Allen, who faces two counts of murder and two counts of murder while kidnapping the girls, appeared in court wearing khaki pants and a teal shirt. This trial has been long-awaited, coming over seven years after the tragic deaths of Abby and Libby, and two years after Allen’s arrest.
The Day of Disappearance
On that fateful day in February 2017, Allen had self-reported that he was on the Monon High Bridge trail during the same time Abby and Libby were there. He told Detective Dan Dulin that he observed three girls near the Freedom Bridge. However, after that initial contact, Allen was cleared, and his information was stored in a box for five years.
Things changed dramatically for Allen after Shank’s discovery. In October 2022, investigators returned to his home for the first time since making contact with him in 2017. They learned that he had been in Miami County earlier on the day of the girls’ disappearance and returned to the trail shortly after, claiming he had seen them while he was there.
Inconsistencies and Arrest
Some inconsistencies arose in Allen’s statements during his second interview with detectives. While he originally stated he was at the trail between 1 and 3:30 PM, his later comments in 2022 suggested he arrived around noon and left by 2 PM. These discrepancies raised concerns among the investigators.
Just a couple of weeks after the police returned to Allen’s home, he was arrested on October 26, 2022. The lead investigator, Tony Liggett, mentioned in court that there were past procedural issues which led to Allen being overlooked for several years, despite him having self-reported his presence on that day.
Search and Evidence
During the recent trial proceedings, law enforcement officials presented evidence gathered from Allen’s home. They displayed photographs of his residence, his vehicles, and various knives, including a box cutter found in his kitchen. Jurors were also shown images of a .40-caliber handgun allegedly linked to the unspent round found between the girls’ bodies. The focus now lies on determining if Allen’s involvement can be firmly established through this evidence.
The trial continues with emotional testimonies and evidence unfolding about the tragic events that took place more than seven years ago. As longtime residents of Delphi watch closely, the case against Richard Allen proceeds, becoming a significant chapter in the community’s journey toward seeking justice for Abby and Libby.
