Richard Allen, 52, has been sentenced to 130 years in prison for the brutal murders of 14-year-old Liberty “Libby” German and 13-year-old Abigail “Abby” Williams. The girls had gone missing on February 13, 2017, while hiking on the Monon High Bridge trail in Delphi, Indiana.
An Indiana jury convicted him in November of two counts of murder, with each count carrying a 65-year sentence. His 760 days served since his arrest will be credited towards his sentence.
The families of Libby and Abby expressed their gratitude to the jurors, investigators, and the community for their support throughout the ordeal. Mike Patty, Libby’s grandfather, said, “I want to send out my appreciation that justice has been served for the girls. I’ll always be grateful.”
Sheriff Tony Liggett reflected on the case, saying, “A form of justice was served, but it does not bring Abby and Libby back. They did not deserve this.” Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter thanked the families and residents of Delphi, stating, “Let’s heal.”
The investigation into the girls’ disappearance and murders was extensive, with thousands of leads pursued and multiple composite sketches of the suspect released.
A breakthrough came in 2022 when a CVS pharmacy clerk related to the investigation noticed Allen had placed himself at the scene of the crime.
Allen’s arrest followed an interview with police, during which he claimed to have been walking in the area around the time the girls were killed. However, he denied speaking to them. A subsequent search of his home uncovered a pistol, and an unspent cartridge found between the girls’ bodies was matched to the weapon.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Allen’s multiple confessions while incarcerated, including audio recordings of him admitting to the crimes. Allen confessed to the psychologist who treated him, the warden, and other prison employees and inmates, saying, “I killed Abby and Libby. I’m sorry.”
The defense argued that the confessions were made involuntarily and that Allen was suffering from mental illness at the time. However, the jury ultimately found him guilty of the murders.
