The long-awaited trial for the heinous Delphi murders has taken an unexpected twist. Prosecutors in Indiana have filed new charges, including murder, against the prime suspect, Richard Matthew Allen. The accused killer, who allegedly took the lives of 14-year-old Libby German and 13-year-old Abby Williams during a fateful hike near their hometown in 2017, now faces an even graver legal battle.
Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland, determined to bring justice to the victims and their families, filed the new felony kidnapping and murder charges against Allen on Thursday. This move aims to align the charging information with the cause’s discovery and probable cause affidavit, providing a more accurate representation of the case. If proven that Allen kidnapped or attempted to kidnap the girls, he can be held accountable for the murders, even if he wasn’t the actual killer.
The Indiana Supreme Court is yet to rule on the motion, but the filing coincided with other significant developments in the case. On the same day, the court heard arguments regarding the reinstatement of Allen’s original court-appointed attorneys, Andrew Baldwin and Brad Rozzi. The defense had petitioned for their return, but the Supreme Court denied the request. Additionally, the defense’s attempts to remove Judge Fran Gull from the trial and expedite the proceedings within 70 days were also rejected.
Baldwin and Rozzi had withdrawn from the case in October 2023 after a leak of court documents, including gruesome crime scene photographs, from Baldwin’s office. Judge Gull had issued a gag order in December 2022 due to the intense national interest in the murders, extending it to all involved parties, including the girls’ family members. The trial, initially scheduled for January 2024, was derailed by the attorneys’ sudden withdrawal.
Their departure came just a month after unveiling a bizarre defense claim that the girls were “ritualistically sacrificed” by a racist pagan cult, absolving their client of guilt. However, earlier court documents revealed that Allen had allegedly confessed multiple times to the murders during prison phone calls to his wife and mother. The defense now alleges that their client was “monitored, intimidated, and mentally abused” by corrections officers at Westville Correctional Facility, who were members of the same cult they claim were the true culprits.
The Delphi murders have haunted the small city of Delphi, with a population of approximately 3,000, since the girls’ bodies were discovered on February 14, 2017. The eighth-graders had documented their walk on Snapchat, and chilling grainy footage from German’s phone captured a man walking on a bridge near the last place they were seen. Analysis of a .40-caliber round found between the victims’ bodies linked it to a gun owned by Allen, leading to his initial arrest.
Now facing four counts of murder, Allen will only be sentenced on two murder counts if found guilty. Each murder charge carries a possible sentence of 45 to 65 years in prison. Additionally, if convicted of kidnapping, he could face an additional three to 16 years behind bars, according to Indiana law. Allen has pleaded not guilty to the original two murder charges.
As the trial date looms, set for October 2024, the new charges have injected fresh uncertainty into the proceedings. Will the additional charges alter the course of justice, or will they merely reinforce the prosecution’s case against Allen? Only time will reveal the answers, as the Delphi community and the nation eagerly await the resolution of this tragic and perplexing case.
3 Responses
I have been following the Delphi murder case closely, and the unexpected twist in the trial is certainly intriguing. It’s disheartening to think about the pain and suffering the victims and their families have endured, and I hope that this unexpected turn brings them closer to finding justice. Trials can be complex and unpredictable, but it’s important to remember that the focus should always be on seeking the truth and holding those responsible accountable. I am hopeful that this twist will lead to a breakthrough and bring closure to
I am absolutely disgusted by the unexpected twist in the long-awaited trial for the Delphi murders. How can justice be so elusive for the victims and their families? It is infuriating to see that even after all this time, the truth is still being manipulated and twisted. These heinous crimes deserve swift and decisive punishment, not more delays and surprises. My heart goes out to the families who have already endured so much pain and suffering. It’s time for the justice system to step up and deliver the
Did you know that the Delphi murders case has garnered worldwide attention and has been featured on various true crime podcasts and documentaries?