The case captured the attention of the nation when two teenage girls were found dead on an Indiana trail more than six years ago.Now, the alleged killer of 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German is back in an Indiana courtroom.In the courtroom, it was announced that Richard Allen, 50, will stand trial for the murders of those two girls starting Jan. 8, 2024.Allen was in court Thursday, along with family members of his alleged victims, in the small town of Delphi, about an hour northwest of Indianapolis.Allen was arrested in October of last year.The deaths of Libby and Abby were ruled a double homicide, but police have never disclosed how they died or described what evidence they gathered. A relative had dropped them off at a hiking trail near the Monon High Bridge just outside their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Their bodies were found the next day, Feb. 14, 2017, in a rugged, heavily wooded area near the trail.Libby’s grandmother, Becky Patty, told reporters that Allen once processed photos for the family at the CVS store in Delphi, where Allen worked. He didn’t charge them for the photos, she added.The families always knew that the suspect could have been “living right amongst us, hiding in plain sight,” said Libby's grandfather, Mike Patty. “That's why we never stopped searching anywhere, because we didn't know where he was.”A judge found probable cause to arrest Allen, who entered a not-guilty plea at his initial hearing in October.Authorities released an initial sketch of the suspected killer in July 2017 and then another in April 2019 based on a video released in April 2019 showing a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited. The images and audio of the suspect came from Libby’s cellphone. Authorities hailed her as a hero for recording potentially crucial evidence before she was killed.In December 2021, state police announced they were seeking information from people who had contact with someone who used a fictitious online profile to communicate with young girls. State police said investigators determined the profile “anthony_shots” was used from 2016 to 2017 on Snapchat, Instagram and other social media platforms.Since Allen is being represented by public defenders, any expert witnesses will need to be approved by the judge.Both the defense and prosecution brought up potentially incriminating statements made by Allen in prison, with the prosecutor saying Allen admitted to the killings multiple times. The defense said those were vague and also inconsistent with previous statements.
The case captured the attention of the nation when two teenage girls were found dead on an Indiana trail more than six years ago.
Now, the alleged killer of 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German is back in an Indiana courtroom.
In the courtroom, it was announced that Richard Allen, 50, will stand trial for the murders of those two girls starting Jan. 8, 2024.
Allen was in court Thursday, along with family members of his alleged victims, in the small town of Delphi, about an hour northwest of Indianapolis.
Allen was arrested in October of last year.
The deaths of Libby and Abby were ruled a double homicide, but police have never disclosed how they died or described what evidence they gathered. A relative had dropped them off at a hiking trail near the Monon High Bridge just outside their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Their bodies were found the next day, Feb. 14, 2017, in a rugged, heavily wooded area near the trail.
Libby’s grandmother, Becky Patty, told reporters that Allen once processed photos for the family at the CVS store in Delphi, where Allen worked. He didn’t charge them for the photos, she added.
The families always knew that the suspect could have been “living right amongst us, hiding in plain sight,” said Libby's grandfather, Mike Patty. “That's why we never stopped searching anywhere, because we didn't know where he was.”
A judge found probable cause to arrest Allen, who entered a not-guilty plea at his initial hearing in October.
Authorities released an initial sketch of the suspected killer in July 2017 and then another in April 2019 based on a video released in April 2019 showing a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited. The images and audio of the suspect came from Libby’s cellphone. Authorities hailed her as a hero for recording potentially crucial evidence before she was killed.
In December 2021, state police announced they were seeking information from people who had contact with someone who used a fictitious online profile to communicate with young girls. State police said investigators determined the profile “anthony_shots” was used from 2016 to 2017 on Snapchat, Instagram and other social media platforms.
Since Allen is being represented by public defenders, any expert witnesses will need to be approved by the judge.
Both the defense and prosecution brought up potentially incriminating statements made by Allen in prison, with the prosecutor saying Allen admitted to the killings multiple times. The defense said those were vague and also inconsistent with previous statements.
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