Delphi Murders’ suspect Richard Allen was accused of murdering Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German on February 13, 2017, in Delphi, Indiana. After three weeks of trial and nearly 20 hours of jury deliberation, Richard Allen was found guilty of the Delphi Murders. On December 20, 2024, Allen appeared in court one last time to be sentenced. Judge Fran Gull sentenced Richard Allen to 65 years for each of the murders set to run consecutively.
The Delphi Murders
On February 13, 2017, Abby Williams and Libby German went hiking along a trail near Delphi, Indiana. Not long into their hike, Richard Allen approached the teenage girls. The following day, authorities found the girls covered under a pile of leaves and branches. Their throats were slashed, and their bodies nude. At the beginning of the investigation, Allen was a person of interest but was disregarded soon after due to the lack of physical evidence. The case went cold for several years until it was reopened in 2022. Police officially arrested Richard Allen and charged him with the Delphi Murders in October of that year.
Allen pleaded not guilty to all charges and remained in jail awaiting trial. During his time in prison, he frequently saw a psychiatrist to whom he admitted many times that he committed the Delphi Murders of the two teenage girls. There were also recorded phone conversations between him and his wife, in which he admitted to the murders. However, his defense team claimed that he became delirious and suffered from mental health issues while locked away. That was not enough to convince a jury, and with the evidence the prosecution had stacked against him, he did not stand a chance.
Richard Allen’s Sentencing
Allen was charged with four counts, including two felony murders and two attempted kidnappings of Williams and German in the Delphi Murders. He ruined the lives of many the day he walked onto the trails, and the girls’ families continue to suffer to this day. After a gag order prevented them from speaking during the trial, they broke their silence at his sentencing. Libby’s mom, Carrie Timmons, said, “I was blind that such evil existed.” She explained that due to Allen’s horrific actions, she suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety, and guilt. The family said Libby would have been 22 years old this year, but they have stopped celebrating her birthday because it has become too difficult.
Libby’s grandmother, Becky Patty, said, “I can never change my choice to let Libby and Abby go to the trails that day.” She continued, “I hope he lives with the same fear he caused Abby and Libby in the last hour of their lives.” Abby’s grandmother, Diane Erskin, spoke as well and said, “This is a day of great sadness for our family. We won’t be going home to celebrate with champagne.” It is unimaginable how these families continue after such a great loss. They are strong individuals. Hopefully, the sentencing can bring them some closure.
Final Thoughts
Allen showed no remorse upon hearing his sentencing for the Delphi Murders but did seem to react to the fact no one from his family, not even his wife, showed up to court that day. His family has also been suffering from the thought that their loved one could have done something so heinous. During sentencing, Judge Fran Gull told Allen, “I’ve spent 27 years as a judge, and you rank right up there with the most heinous crimes in the state of Indiana.” She said, “You rank right up there in the extraordinary impact on family, including the generational impact.” She continued, “These families will deal with your carnage forever.”
Allen’s attorneys reported they intend to appeal his sentencing and claim that he maintains his innocence in the Delphi Murder case. They seem convinced that while he was on the same trail on the day the girls were murdered, he was not responsible. However, Libby’s grandfather, Mike Patty, views it differently. At the sentencing hearing, Mike Patty said, “You could’ve taken accountability.” He continued, “You need to stand up and not appeal.”
