LIBBY GERMAN & ABBY WILLIAMS: Indiana vs. Richard Allen for 2017 murder of two Delphi girls *TRIAL IN PROGRESS*

On February 14, 2017, the bodies of Abigail Williams and Liberty German were discovered near the Monon High Bridge Trail, which is part of the Delphi Historic Trails in Delphi, Indiana, United States, after the young girls had disappeared from the same trail the previous day. The murders have received significant media coverage because a photo and audio recording of an individual believed to be the girls' murderer was found on German's smartphone. Despite the audio and video recordings of the suspect that have been circulated and the more than 26,000 tips that police have received, no arrest in the case has been made.[1][2][3]

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Police have not publicly stated nor released details of how the girls were murdered.[6] As early as February 15, 2017, Indiana State Police began circulating a still image of an individual reportedly seen on the Monon High Bridge Trail near where the two friends were slain; the grainy photograph appearing to capture a Caucasian male, with hands in pockets, walking on the rail bridge, head down, toward the girls.[4] A few days later, the person in the photograph was named the prime suspect in the double-homicide.[5]

On February 22, law enforcement released an audio recording where the voice of the assailant,[7] though in some degree muffled, is heard to say, "Down the hill." It was at this news conference that officials credited the source of the audio and imagery to German's smartphone, and, further, regarded her as a hero for having had the uncanny foresight and fortitude to record the exchange in secret. Police indicated that additional evidence from the phone had been secured, but that they did not release it so as not to "compromise any future trial." By this time, the reward offered in the case was set at $41,000.[5]


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At the same time, she couldn’t see a way for the trial to be held outside of Carroll County, given the convenience of the witnesses. She said the costs to move the trial to another county would be “extraordinary.”

The solution will involve bringing in jurors from an outside county. The defense and prosecution have a week to agree on a suitable county from which jurors could be bused into Carroll County and sequestered during the trial.

The gag order will remain in effect, although attorneys from both sides can talk about procedural issues and the bail hearing set for Feb. 17. They are not to discuss the facts of the case.

What county are Peru and Mexico in? I hope they don't choose that county. Is it Miami county?
 
This is just one sting that has been mounted in Indiana to catch paedophiles. This one was only in November but there have been more. I don't particularly want to be googling this stuff but this was just one of several that came up. The phrase used reminded me of the warning given in the Delphi case early on.

"During the operation, officers posed as underage children online and agreed to meet with the potential offenders at a specified location. The individuals believed they would be partaking in a sexual encounter with a minor, according to investigators.

Some individuals traveled from different states to meet with the supposed minors and some even brought items ranging from alcoholic beverages to drugs to firearms, police said.

"We will never know the true extent or impact these investigations have on the safety of our children. Knowingly meeting with a minor and wanting to take that minor away from their home travel miles away scares all of us. Will we ever truly know what the suspect’s true intentions were?" the Facebook post read.

More than half of the 20 people who were arrested as a result of this operation have bonded out, police said. The rest remain in jail.
Between Dec. 2020 and Nov. 2022, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Franklin Police Department have successfully run four sex sting operations which have resulted in a total of 49 arrests.

"We want parents to be very diligent in knowing what their children are doing and who they are speaking with on the internet. The number of online apps and what can be discussed is very alarming. Almost everyone carries a smartphone which makes it so easy to access these sites," the post read. "

 
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Ok so RA gave an interview early on saying he was at the bridge and confirmed he saw the other people on the trail that day. This was before the video and audio was released. So his wife and daughter knew about this interview and that he was at the bridge at the time of the murders did they? I wonder what they thought when the recording came out? Do we know the name of the DNR guy who conducted the interview? Why didn't he follow up with LE about this? What did he also think when the recording came out?

Do we know the time RA's car was caught on camera at the Hoosier store?
 
Not sure if this has been posted on here yet. It is a press release from RA's defence attorney.


PRESS RELEASE
As Richard (Rick) Allen’s attorneys, we have received multiple requests from local and
national media for interviews and comment since the unsealing of the probable cause
affidavit. It would be virtually impossible to comply with these requests and continue to
focus on the merits of Rick’s defense. Therefore, we offer up these thoughts:
We do not want to try this case in the media and we intend to adhere to the Indiana
Rules of Professional Conduct that provide guidance on pretrial publicity. However, the police
and prosecutor’s office have conducted many press conferences over the five-plus years of this
investigation and following our client’s arrest. On the other hand, Rick’s ability to assert his
innocence has been reduced to only one short, post-hearing press conference. Accordingly, we
feel it appropriate, necessary, and within the bounds of our rules of professional conduct to
make a few comments concerning the probable cause affidavit and Rick’s innocence.
• Rick is a 50-year-old man who has never been arrested nor accused of any crime in
his entire life. He is innocent and completely confused as to why he has been
charged with these crimes.
• The police did not contact Rick after Libby German and Abby Williams went missing,
rather Rick contacted the police and voluntarily discussed being on the trail that day.
Like many people in Delphi, Rick wanted to help any way he could. Rick contacted
the police to let them know that he had walked on the trail that day, as he often did.
Without Rick coming forward, the police probably would not have had any way of
knowing that he was on the trail that day.
• Rick volunteered to meet with a Conservation Officer outside of the local grocery store to offer up details of his trip to the trail on the day in question. Rick tried to
assist with the investigation and told the police that he did recall seeing three
younger girls on the trail that day. His contact with the girls was brief and of little
significance. Rick does not recall if this interaction with the Conservation Officer was
tape-recorded but believes that the Conservation Officer scribbled notes on a
notepad as Rick spoke to him
After Rick shared his information with law enforcement officials, he went back to his
job at the local CVS and didn’t hear from the police for more than 5 years.
• The next time Rick heard from the police was in October, 2022. This was
approximately two weeks before a contested Sheriff’s election and within days of a
federal lawsuit filed against the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office by its former second
in command, Michael Thomas.
• In the lawsuit, Thomas claims that he (Thomas) “had made suggestions and offered
assistance in the investigation of a high-profile child homicide investigation” but
those suggestions and offers were rejected by the Sheriff. Thomas further claimed
that the Sheriff and others in the department feared the disagreements with
Thomas would become publicized as a result of the political campaign for Sheriff.
• Thomas claims in the suit that he was ultimately demoted and replaced by Tony
Liggett, who later that year won the 2022 election for Sheriff. Furthermore, Thomas
claims he was also removed from high profile cases.
• Rick was ultimately arrested on or about October 28, 2022.
• In the 5+ years since Rick volunteered to provide information to the police, Rick did
not get rid of his vehicle or his guns and did not throw out his clothing. He did not
alter his appearance; he did not relocate himself to another community. He did
what any innocent man would do and continued with his normal routine.
• The probable cause affidavit seems to suggest that a single magic bullet is proof of
Rick’s guilt. It is a bit premature to engage in any detailed discussions regarding the
veracity of this evidence until more discovery is received, but it is safe to say that the
discipline of tool-mark identification (ballistics) is anything but a science. The entire
discipline has been under attack in courtrooms across this country as being
unreliable and lacking any scientific validity. We anticipate a vigorous legal and
factual challenge to any claims by the prosecution as to the reliability of its
conclusions concerning the single magic bullet.
• On Rick’s behalf, we argued to have the PCA unsealed. Rick has nothing to hide. As
importantly, we were hoping that we would receive tips that would assist us in
proving up his innocence. Not surprisingly, we have been inundated with tips from
a variety of sources, all of which will be vetted by our team. Although it is the
burden of the prosecutor to prove Rick’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the defense team looks forward to conducting its own investigation concerning Rick’s innocence. We appreciate those that have reached out to support his cause. • The prosecutor mentioned, at the last hearing, his belief that others may have been involved in the killing, yet there was no mention in the PCA about a second suspect involved in the killing. The defense is confused by such discrepancies in the investigation and will be in a better position to respond as more discovery is received. • Rick Allen owned a Ford Focus in February of 2017. His Ford Focus is not, in any way, similar to the distinctive look of the PT Cruiser or Smart Car that was described by the witnesses. It seems that the CCSD is trying to bend facts to fit their narrative. • At this point in time, we have received very limited information about this case and look forward to having something more to view than that which was offered up in the sparse PCA. Moving forward, it is our intent to scrutinize the discovery, as it is received, and give the necessary attention to the volumes of tips that we are receiving. To the extent we continue to discover information that points to Rick’s innocence, we will offer up this information to the public, so long as we are not prohibited from doing so as a result of the recent request by the Prosecutor for a gag order or by the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct. Brad Rozzi Hillis, Hillis, Rozzi and Dean Andrew J. Baldwin Baldwin Perry & Kamish, P.C. Attorneys for Rick Allen
 
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Ok so RA gave an interview early on saying he was at the bridge and confirmed he saw the other people on the trail that day. This was before the video and audio was released. So his wife and daughter knew about this interview and that he was at the bridge at the time of the murders did they? I wonder what they thought when the recording came out? Do we know the name of the DNR guy who conducted the interview? Why didn't he follow up with LE about this? What did he also think when the recording came out?

Do we know the time RA's car was caught on camera at the Hoosier store?
Is this what you're looking for?

By that time, the female witness had reached her car near the Mears farm. Video from the nearby business, Hoosier Harvestore, showed the woman leaving the trail parking area at 2:14 p.m.

[..]

The Hoosier Harvestore camera captured what appeared to be Allen’s car arriving at the trail just before 1:30 p.m., which coincides with the time Allen said he’d gotten there.

 
Not sure if this has been posted on here yet. It is a press release from RA's defence attorney.


PRESS RELEASE
As Richard (Rick) Allen’s attorneys, we have received multiple requests from local and
national media for interviews and comment since the unsealing of the probable cause
affidavit. It would be virtually impossible to comply with these requests and continue to
focus on the merits of Rick’s defense. Therefore, we offer up these thoughts:
We do not want to try this case in the media and we intend to adhere to the Indiana
Rules of Professional Conduct that provide guidance on pretrial publicity. However, the police
and prosecutor’s office have conducted many press conferences over the five-plus years of this
investigation and following our client’s arrest. On the other hand, Rick’s ability to assert his
innocence has been reduced to only one short, post-hearing press conference. Accordingly, we
feel it appropriate, necessary, and within the bounds of our rules of professional conduct to
make a few comments concerning the probable cause affidavit and Rick’s innocence.
• Rick is a 50-year-old man who has never been arrested nor accused of any crime in
his entire life. He is innocent and completely confused as to why he has been
charged with these crimes.
• The police did not contact Rick after Libby German and Abby Williams went missing,
rather Rick contacted the police and voluntarily discussed being on the trail that day.
Like many people in Delphi, Rick wanted to help any way he could. Rick contacted
the police to let them know that he had walked on the trail that day, as he often did.
Without Rick coming forward, the police probably would not have had any way of
knowing that he was on the trail that day.
• Rick volunteered to meet with a Conservation Officer outside of the local grocery store to offer up details of his trip to the trail on the day in question. Rick tried to
assist with the investigation and told the police that he did recall seeing three
younger girls on the trail that day. His contact with the girls was brief and of little
significance. Rick does not recall if this interaction with the Conservation Officer was
tape-recorded but believes that the Conservation Officer scribbled notes on a
notepad as Rick spoke to him
After Rick shared his information with law enforcement officials, he went back to his
job at the local CVS and didn’t hear from the police for more than 5 years.
• The next time Rick heard from the police was in October, 2022. This was
approximately two weeks before a contested Sheriff’s election and within days of a
federal lawsuit filed against the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office by its former second
in command, Michael Thomas.
• In the lawsuit, Thomas claims that he (Thomas) “had made suggestions and offered
assistance in the investigation of a high-profile child homicide investigation” but
those suggestions and offers were rejected by the Sheriff. Thomas further claimed
that the Sheriff and others in the department feared the disagreements with
Thomas would become publicized as a result of the political campaign for Sheriff.
• Thomas claims in the suit that he was ultimately demoted and replaced by Tony
Liggett, who later that year won the 2022 election for Sheriff. Furthermore, Thomas
claims he was also removed from high profile cases.
• Rick was ultimately arrested on or about October 28, 2022.
• In the 5+ years since Rick volunteered to provide information to the police, Rick did
not get rid of his vehicle or his guns and did not throw out his clothing. He did not
alter his appearance; he did not relocate himself to another community. He did
what any innocent man would do and continued with his normal routine.
• The probable cause affidavit seems to suggest that a single magic bullet is proof of
Rick’s guilt. It is a bit premature to engage in any detailed discussions regarding the
veracity of this evidence until more discovery is received, but it is safe to say that the
discipline of tool-mark identification (ballistics) is anything but a science. The entire
discipline has been under attack in courtrooms across this country as being
unreliable and lacking any scientific validity. We anticipate a vigorous legal and
factual challenge to any claims by the prosecution as to the reliability of its
conclusions concerning the single magic bullet.
• On Rick’s behalf, we argued to have the PCA unsealed. Rick has nothing to hide. As
importantly, we were hoping that we would receive tips that would assist us in
proving up his innocence. Not surprisingly, we have been inundated with tips from
a variety of sources, all of which will be vetted by our team. Although it is the
burden of the prosecutor to prove Rick’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the defense team looks forward to conducting its own investigation concerning Rick’s innocence. We appreciate those that have reached out to support his cause. • The prosecutor mentioned, at the last hearing, his belief that others may have been involved in the killing, yet there was no mention in the PCA about a second suspect involved in the killing. The defense is confused by such discrepancies in the investigation and will be in a better position to respond as more discovery is received. • Rick Allen owned a Ford Focus in February of 2017. His Ford Focus is not, in any way, similar to the distinctive look of the PT Cruiser or Smart Car that was described by the witnesses. It seems that the CCSD is trying to bend facts to fit their narrative. • At this point in time, we have received very limited information about this case and look forward to having something more to view than that which was offered up in the sparse PCA. Moving forward, it is our intent to scrutinize the discovery, as it is received, and give the necessary attention to the volumes of tips that we are receiving. To the extent we continue to discover information that points to Rick’s innocence, we will offer up this information to the public, so long as we are not prohibited from doing so as a result of the recent request by the Prosecutor for a gag order or by the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct. Brad Rozzi Hillis, Hillis, Rozzi and Dean Andrew J. Baldwin Baldwin Perry & Kamish, P.C. Attorneys for Rick Allen
I assume this was posted before the gag order? Was the gag order file just last week? I haven't been keeping up with this case.
 
I assume this was posted before the gag order? Was the gag order file just last week? I haven't been keeping up with this case.
The gag order was issued on December 2, 2022 and was to be heard again in a motions hearing on January 13, 2023. The court order can be viewed via the MSM link below.

 
Purrfect! Thanks!
The gag order was made permanent at the January 13, 2023 hearing.


In Friday's hearing, Special Judge Frances Gull made the gag order permanent -- it was temporarily put in place just days after Allen's probable cause documents were made public.
 
The gag order was made permanent at the January 13, 2023 hearing.


In Friday's hearing, Special Judge Frances Gull made the gag order permanent -- it was temporarily put in place just days after Allen's probable cause documents were made public.
Gotcha. That's why I was confused. I was watching a vlogger who merely said a gag order was put in place last week and I thought there already was one, but like I said, I haven't had a chance to keep up with this case.

I'm very curious about the charges and want very much to keep up with this case when it goes to trial.
 
Is this what you're looking for?

By that time, the female witness had reached her car near the Mears farm. Video from the nearby business, Hoosier Harvestore, showed the woman leaving the trail parking area at 2:14 p.m.

[..]

The Hoosier Harvestore camera captured what appeared to be Allen’s car arriving at the trail just before 1:30 p.m., which coincides with the time Allen said he’d gotten there.

Ok so he arrived just after 1:30. The girls were dropped of at 1:30 IIRC.
 
I have not been to this site, but thought it may be of interest

The Murder Sheet interviewed a former coworker of Richard Allen. She worked with the man now accused of murdering Abigail Williams and Liberty German at the CVS in Peru, Indiana.

 
Plastered all over Indiana news today:
Change of venue request by defense for holding the trial has been denied by the judge.
Jury will be chosen from either Allen County (Ft. Wayne area) or St. Joseph County (South Bend-Mishawaka area). Jury will be brought to place where trial is held.

Side Note: Mishawaka was an Native American princess. Her father was the tribal chief. The city was named in her honor. It's nickname is The Princess City.
 
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Attorneys for both sides have told Special Judge Fran Gull of Allen County that they think a fair and impartial jury can be selected from either Allen County or St. Joseph County and transported approximately 90 miles to Delphi to hear the case, while jurors would be sequestered in a nearby city for as long as it takes to hear the evidence and reach a verdict.
 

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