Delphi Murders Trial of Richard Allen Set to Begin Monday

The highly anticipated trial of Richard Allen, accused of the 2017 murders of two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana, is set to begin on Monday, October 14. Abigail “Abby” Williams, 13, and Liberty “Libby” German, 14, were found dead on February 14, 2017, after they disappeared while walking on a hiking trail in their hometown.

The case, which has haunted the small town of Delphi for over seven years, saw no suspect named until Allen’s arrest in October 2022. Allen admitted to being on the trail that day but denied any involvement in the murders. However, police analysis revealed that an unspent round found near one of the victims had been cycled through Allen’s Sig Sauer Model P226, according to court documents.

The trial was initially scheduled to start in May but was delayed due to concerns from the defense about having sufficient time to present their case. During a pretrial motions hearing, defense attorneys withdrew their motion for a speedy trial, citing the need for more time to prepare. The trial is now expected to last several weeks, with the defense estimating they need 15 working days to present their case.

Jury selection is set to begin on Monday, marking a significant step in a case that has garnered widespread attention and public interest. The trial will include evidence from alleged confessions made by Allen, which were ruled admissible by the court).