INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Day 11 in the trial of Delphi Murders suspect Richard Allen begins Wednesday morning at the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi.

Allen, 52, is charged with murder and murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping in the deaths of 13-year-old Abigail “Abby” Williams and 14-year-old Liberty “Libby” German. The girls’ bodies were found near the Monon High Bridge near Delphi on Feb. 14, 2017, a day after they went missing.

Allen was first investigated in 2017 and again in October 2022. After a second police interview, he was taken into custody.

The trial began Oct. 18 and was expected to continue through mid-November. Originally, 16 Allen County residents sat as the jury on the case, but one juror was dismissed on Oct. 25.

Day 11 of the Delphi Murders trial was set to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Tune into News 8 and follow our live blog throughout the day for the latest developments.

NOTE: The times listed in the blog headers are the times which the entries were added. Specific times for courtroom events will be listed in the entries if available. These notes are compiled from photographs of written notes provided by reporters in courtroom and emailed to the WISH-TV news desk.

For a brief summary of Day 10 in the Delphi Murders trial (Monday), scroll to the bottom of the page.

To view all of our previous trial coverage, click here, and follow News 8’s Kyla Russell on X as she covers the trial live from Delphi.

• More Delphi Murders trial on WISHTV.com

4:45 p.m.

Court returned from their break around 3:48 p.m.

Steve Mullin then took to the stand again, according to News 8’s Kyla Russell. He told the jury the only 2016 Black Ford Focus SE registered in the county the year the girls died was Richard Allen’s. He also said the video from the Hoosier Harvestore doesn’t reveal the model of the car believed to belong to the killer.

State prosecutor Nick McLeland called Brad Weber to the stand. Brad Weber is a Carroll County resident who lives off County Road 625 West, just outside of Delphi. He owns the property near the Monon High Bridge where the girls were killed.

Weber worked first shift at Subaru near Lafayette and was at work on Feb. 13, 2017 – the day of Libby German and Abby Williams’ murders. Weber said he was at work from 5:41 a.m. to 2:02 p.m., and his drive home was approximately 20 – 25 minutes.

Weber told the jury he drove a van, a Ford Econoline, to work on Feb. 13.

Defense attorney Andrew Baldwin asked Weber if he drove straight home on Feb. 13, to which Weber said he dropped off a trailer. Baldwin said that was earlier in the day, adding that Weber originally told police he went to work on ATM machines after work.

This prompted Weber to scream “That’s not correct!” and to deny Baldwin’s claim multiple times.

Baldwin then gave Weber a subpoena, and court adjourned for Wednesday.

According to pool notes shared with News 8, the jury is expected to view two hours of audio during Thursday’s session. It is set to begin at 9 a.m.

4 p.m.: Court adjourns for Wednesday

3:30 p.m.: Allen’s psychologist admits to going to the High Bridge

Court returned from recess around 1:33 p.m., according to News 8’s Kyla Russell. Dr. Monica Wala returned to the stand, discussing Allen’s mental condition during his 13 months at Westville.

Allen’s defense attorney Brad Rozzi continued his cross-examination, asking about what “discovery” is in this case, and later asked her to elaborate on Allen’s condition when he was booked into Westville on Nov. 18, 2022.

Wala said Allen had symptoms of depression, and confirmed that Allen was considered a “safekeeper,” which is an inmate transferred from jail to prison without a present conviction. She added there may have been other safekeepers at WCU, but they didn’t stand out. According to Wala, Allen did not have orientation or training when he arrived at Westville.

Wala described his counseling cubicle as a 3 feet by 3 feet. Rozzi called it a cage.

“It’s all we have,” Wala said of the cubicle. “Once he’s in the ‘cage’ they would take (the shackles) off.”

Wala confirmed that Allen’s transport in the cubicle, or “dog cage,” as Rozzi put it, was not a pleasant experience.

In December 2022, Wala said Allen pushed for his innocence. In a later report, Allen told Wala he “could not get a toothbrush from commissary” and “could not visit his wife.” He said he felt that he was “being treated worse that others convicted of crimes.” He also expressed concern about roaches in the facility.

Here, Rozzi asked Wala to confirm that Westville was in the process of building a new facility and tearing the original down, which she did.

Wala said in a report from April 4, 2023, Allen was experiencing suicidal ideation. On April 13, she ruled that Allen had a “grave disability,” which prompted discussion to involuntarily inject Allen. Wala did not specify what he would be injected with, but later reported that his cognitive state was getting worse.

Allen received his first injection sometime in April, a second on May 18, and a third shot on June 4. According to Wala, the shots were supposed to last for 30 days. Rozzi told the court that Allen confided in him that the shots weren’t working, and added on May 18, Allen had two black eyes. Wala continued, saying Allen’s third shot was different from the first two, this one “aimed at stopping the head banging.”

Wala said Allen’s eyes were bulging. Rozzi added that they were bulging “out of his head” as a result of his depression. In August, Wala noticed Allen’s eyes were no longer “protruding out of his head” like they had been in the past four months.

In November 2023, Allen weighed around 174 lbs, compared to the approximately 250 lbs he weighed when he arrived at Westville.

Wala said she didn’t have any idea what the discovery documents included. She also mentioned a psychiatrist named Dr. Martin who helped treat Allen and helped administer medicine. Wala said Martin helped with the “backlog” of mental health care needed at Westville.

Rozzi then said Wala destroyed notes she shouldn’t have, prompting a back-and-forth between the attorney and the doctor. News 8’s Kyla Russell reports that the notes in question were notes she documented during meetings with Allen which she later put together in a word doc.

Wala continued, confirming Allen had a mental illness and it’s “reasonable to believe solitary confinement contributed to that.”

Department of Corrections policy states that inmates should not be kept in solitary confinement for more than 30 days if they have a severe mental illness. Richard Allen was in solitary for 13 months.

Wala told the jury she questioned the authenticity of Allen’s behavior in prison, then admits that she now questioned if Allen was faking it.

In response to questions from the state, Wala said the written notes from her meetings with Allen were always properly put into a word document, and that she had to toss out the handwritten notes due to the nature of the case.

Wala then told the jury she was interested in the case prior to treating Allen. She said she spoke with two supervisors before taking Allen as a patient. The supervisors did not have issue with Wala’s interest in the case, she confirmed, and added that Allen came into the prison on Prozac. His dosage was later adjusted.

She mentioned she told Allen he had “supporters” on the outside, which was in reference to Allen saying he was sexually abused.

When asked about her interest in the case, she said, “I mean, there’s always that interest.” She added that she’d looked things up on the database for personal reasons.

Wala then admits to visiting the High Bridge in Delphi, the infamous bridge on the Monon Trail where Libby German and Abby Williams were last seen before their deaths.

The jury asked questions about Allen’s mental illnesses, inquiring if brief psychotic disorders can reappear over time and if he knew the consequences of not eating four meals. Wala said psychotic symptoms of the disorders can reappear after going away, and Allen did know the consequences, saying they discussed it at one point.

Court recessed for a quick break around 3:10 p.m.

2:34 p.m.: Allen defense makes new push to tell Delphi Murders jury about Odinism

Defense attorneys for Richard Allen have made a new request to tell the jury in the Delphi Murders trial about evidence of Odinism.

The request was part of a new request filed Wednesday morning asking Judge Frances Gull to admit evidence about a connection between Odinism and the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German.

It’s the second such request filed by Allen’s attorneys since testimony began in his trial.

In the court filing, Allen’s defense team claims testimony by prosecution witnesses in the first 10 days of the trial have “opened the door to admission of Odinism/Norse Paganism/Ritualistic Killing.”

The filing cites testimony from Lt. Jerry Holeman from the Indiana State Police.

Lt. Holeman testified that sticks placed on the girls were intended to conceal the bodies. Under questioning from the prosecutor, Lt. Holeman testified the sticks may have been placed as a part of “undoing”, a crime scene behavior considered an attempt to symbolically reverse a homicide or restore honor to the victims.

Allen’s defense team claimed in the court filing that Lt. Holeman’s testimony means the defense should now be allowed to submit its theory to jurors: that the sticks were placed as part a ritual related to Odinism/Norse Paganism.

Judge Gull has previously rejected defense requests to present the ritualistic sacrifice theory to the jury.

In the same filing, Allen’s attorneys ask to be allowed to present evidence of 3rd party suspects.

The defense filing cites testimony from a forensic pathologist who told jurors that as many as four knives may have been used in the killings.

Judge Gull did not indicate when she might rule on the request.

12:35 p.m.

Court resumed at 11:08 a.m. and Dr. Monica Wala resumed her testimony in direct examination.

The prosecution asks about Allen’s physical appearance in November 2022. She tells the jury he was about 250 lbs and had began refusing meals and over exercising. She said the exercising “seemed positive at first.”

Wala tells the jury that if you miss three meals, they don’t report. If you miss four, they have to report. She said Allen was mindful not to miss the fourth meal.

Wala references another report from Nov. 10, 2022. She said Allen said he felt he was a burden, didn’t understand who he should be speaking with about his case because he had not been assigned a public defender.

The next report shown was from April 7, 2023. Wala told Allen that he had confessed and told him it was not in his best interest, that it could get to the media. Wala told the jury that she felt like he was being more blatant with his confusion. She said she felt he was purposeful being that way, faking it.

Wala told the jury that Allen said that he “didn’t sign anything, right?”

The next report is from April 10, 2023. Wala tells the jury that she noticed “faking” symptoms. She said Allen was naked during this meeting, that there were papers on the floor and was doing “unknown things” to his penis and talking about his wife. Wala tells the jury that the papers on the floor were the discovery paperwork for the case.

Wala told the jury “it appeared he received the discovery around the time he started confessing.” She said the prison warden did not want other incarcerated individuals to see the discovery papers and that is why the guards started watching him instead of other inmates.

The next report is from April 12, 2023. Wala said she noticed Allen was masturbating, clapping, banging his head and naked. She said he refused to wear his kimono. She said she felt like his behavior was done in order to get something.

Another report was shown to the jury from April 13, 2023. Wala told the jury that Allen’s behavior was escalating, that he was laying in and consuming his feces. She said a psychiatrist offered medication and Allen refused, she said the psychiatrist said Allen didn’t qualify for an emergency injection.

It was at this time, Wala told the jury, that Allen’s watch changed from close to constant. She said she thought he was having an “emotional breakdown” related to the discovery paperwork. She said she still felt like he was “faking it.”

Wala told the jury it was “getting to the point where it almost doesn’t matter whether he is faking it or not faking it because he is deteriorating.”

Another report is shown to the jury from April 17, 2023. Wala told the jury that Allen’s window was greasy and dirty and that he was standing in his cell with his eyes closed praying. She said he agreed to come out of his cell. Wala told the jury it seemed like he “switched from bizarre to coherent.” She said he kept his eyes closed for the session, he said he was having nightmares.

Wala told the jury Allen said “I just want to tell the truth, I am afraid, I lied so much.” She said Allen told her he did vulgar and disgusting things. Wala said Allen told her the last thing he remembered was “falling asleep and activating nuclear war.” Wala said his words were disjointed.

Wala said Allen received involuntary medication on April 14, and she said that improvement was seen in Allen.

Another report was shown from April 21, 2023. Wala said she felt Allen’s odd behavior not to be genuine.

A report from April 25, 2023 said Allen denied experiencing “anything like this in the past,” and thought “this could be due to him not taking his medication, including Prozac.”

Wala told the jury that she advocated for Allen to visit his wife, which is not typical for patients in the Westfield Correctional Unit. She said Allen continued to ask to be transferred.

The next report shown was from April 28, 2023. Wala said she observed Allen on his bed naked and the cell “smelled” and he asked for a shower. She told the jury that his “awareness on his smell on was a good sign.” She said Allen told her he had not been showering because he was selfish. She said he “went on about flushing the bible down the toliet.” She said “I didn’t see him as psychotic, it was possible he was severely depressed.”

At 11:53 a.m., the defense began to cross-examine Wala. Defense attorney Brad Rozzi asked Wala about her career history and Wala said that she is no longer works with the IDOC and she is now working at a different facility through a contractor.

Rozzi tells the jury that Wala was following the Delphi murders case “far before treating Mr. Allen.” That she followed the case on Facebook through podcasts, Wala agrees.

Rozzi tells the jury that Wala used the IDOC database to find information about the case and that the IDOC is investigating her for that. He says this is why she is not at the IDOC right now. He tells the jury Wala was contributing and recommending on social media where to get information earlier than 2024.

Rozzi tells the jury that Wala was commuting two hours every day to Westville for work and listened to Delphi podcasts on the way there. At some point, Rozzi said she shut all her social media accounts down.

Wala tells the jury that she told IDOC of her interest in the case whenever they found out Allen was coming to Westville, Rozzi says she did not. He tells the jury that Wala was sharing her thoughts with Allen while he was in custody.

Rozzi asks Wala about clinical testing experienced by Allen, says he was diagnosed with a depression disorder when he got to Westville. Rozzi asks Wala if she thought Allen suffered from dependent personality disorder. Wala says it is possible. She says Allen was fragile when he came to Westville.

Rozzi asks Wala about the condition of Allen’s cell, she says “they wouldn’t let him out of that cell.” Rozzi asks if Allen was a “Code D” of mental health, she confirms.

12:22 p.m. Court in recess

10:58 a.m.

Court resumed at 9:09 a.m. Judge Gull mentioned there were logistical security issues that needed to be addressed to explain the delay.

News 8’s Kyla Russell reports that Nancy Grace is in the courtroom today.

The prosecution asks for a side bar, which lasts 15 minutes. At 9:25 a.m. the jury enters. Judge Gull says the jury again had supervised contact with their phones.

The state calls clinical psychologist Dr. Monica Wala. She is a contractor and lead psychologist at the Indiana Department of Corrections at the Westville Correctional Unit, where Allen was housed.

Wala tells the jury she handles the more serious cases at Westville. Wala says initially it was just her that worked with Allen, but then other professionals including psychiatrists began seeing him.

Wala said when she met with Allen, he was unshackled and seated in a cubicle. She said she began seeing him in 2022. She describes Allen as being on suicide watch and was watched every 15 minutes by a suicide companion. She tells the jury that “things had obviously taken a turn, that Allen would have a “safety blanket and a kimono outfit.”

Wala told the jury she wanted Allen to have what he needed but couldn’t control the conditions of his cell. She said she began sessions with Allen by asking how he was doing. She said she felt he was educated and had done research on his background. Wala said at times he was a good communicator.

Wala told the jury on April 5, 2023 Allen discussed his case with her, unprompted.

In her report she said Allen told her “I killed Abby and Libby” and became tearful. Wala said Allen told her “he made sure they were dead because he did not want them to suffer.”

Wala told the jury that Allen told her his intentions were sexual in nature. He told her he thought the girls were 18 or 19 but thought they could have been as young as 11.

Wala said Allen told her he’s been “selfish all of his life.” Allen told her he wanted to apologize to the victims’ families, Wala said.

Wala said Allen claimed he molested his sister and experimented sexually with male and female children his age when he was a kid. Wala said Allen told her this is where he thought his problem started.

Wala told the jury Allen said he had been an alcoholic twice since 2011. Allen told her he accepted God on March 21, 2023, and expressed remorse for the killings, according to Wala.

Wala said Allen expressed appreciation for being clothes and fed at Westville, he asked for bibles and slept with one. She said he asked to speak with a chaplain.

Wala told the jury she that Allen “had a bizarre smile” and claimed he had memory lapses. She said he “confessed in a very matter of fact manner.” Wala said she thought he could have been purposeful and instrumental with his confessions. She said she was aware he had written confessions in request and requested an interview.

Wala said Allen’s normal eye-contact was “sometimes intense,” and that she saw “intermittent gazing, but then would be normal.” “His emotions were kind of up and down,” she said.

Wala told the jury he was able to talk about things concisely and chronologically. She said she thought his depression had improved at that point.

The prosecution asks Wala about her May 2, 2023 report. Wala said the meeting with Allen was very tangential and focused on the same topics as before.

Wala tells the jury that Allen said he killed Abby and Libby, that he “will kill everyone” and mentioned starting World War III.

Wala said she asked Allen if he would kill himself, Allen told her other inmates tell him to do that. She said Allen told her he would kill himself by standing on the sink, but said he didn’t want to die.

Wala told the jury that Allen said “I am insane,” when asked why he consumed feces. Wala said Allen then said he wanted to die. Wala said Allen did not “present as psychotic”, that she thought at this point that he was in brief “psychotic disorder remission.” She told the jury she proved Allen reading materials and puzzles and that he was receptive in the beginning.

Wala said he broke his tablet and that she discussed getting him a television, but he declined.

Wala told the jury that there was no indication of hallucinations and that Allen had disordered speech.

Wala said on May 3, Allen wanted to call his wife, but the call did not go through.

Allen told her on Feb. 13, 2017, he went to see his parents on the morning of the murders. He decided not to go with lunch with his mom, and decided to drink 3 beers and went to the bridge. He told Wala he saw the girls, that he wanted to rape the girls. He followed the girls, and while walking, a bullet fell from his gun. Then, he told the girls “down the hill.” He originally told investigators he wanted to rape the girls. He saw a van and got scared, then telling the girls to cross the creek. Allen then said he cut their throats, and covered their bodies with branches.

Wala told the jury that “he almost seemed relieved.” She said Allen said that if he died, he wanted his wife to know her loved her. Wala said Allen kept saying he “didn’t want to miss Easter.”

Wala said Allen had no psychotic symptoms at this point.

Wala showed a document from May 5, 2023 that showed that Allen went from being constantly watched to being a “close watch.” She said Allen went back to being watched every 15 minutes and that this signals improvement.

The jury was then shown a document from May 9, 2023 in which Allen said to Wala “I just want to sign my confession.” Wals said Allen mentioned self-harm, snapping his neck and planning his last meal. Wala said he did not indicate that he was exhibiting psychotic symptoms.

Another report from May 10, 2023 is shown to the jury. Wala told the jury that this visit began ok, but Allen was upset he couldn’t use a phone. Wala got him a phone and he called his wife.

Wala told the jury she left the room but that Allen said he wanted to “call her back to say he did it.” Wala told the jury Allen called back and asked if his wife and family loved him, “I killed Abby and Libby,” he said on the phone, according to Wala.

Wala told the jury that his wife Kathy told him “stop saying that,” and the phone shut off. Wala said Allen told her after the call that Kathy did not believe him. Wala said he was affectionate to Kathy on the phone.

The next report shown to the jury was from May 11, 2023. Wala said Allen started the meeting by saying he wanted closure and wanted to apologize to the families and that he “wanted to go to heaven and wanted to die and say bye to family.” She told the jury he indicated he felt his family did not want him to contact them.

Court recessed at 10:50 a.m.

9 a.m: Court session begins

News 8’s Kyla Russell is back in Delphi for continuing coverage of the double murder trial of Richard Allen.

The first court session of the day is expected to begin at 9 a.m. The court adjourned at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A line of people stood outside the doors to the Carroll County Courthouse for hours before the start of Wednesday’s proceedings. Only a limited number of observers and members of the media are allowed inside the courtroom each day.

Brief summary of Day 10 in the Delphi Murders trial

Tuesday’s court proceedings included testimony from multiple witnesses, including:

• Steve Mullin, Delphi’s police chief in February 2017
• John Galipeau, former warden at the Westville Correction Facility
• Ethan Drang, who supervised Allen while he was on suicide watch
• Westville Correctional Officer Michael Clemons

The day began with two videos of police interviews with Richard Allen from October 2022.

The first video was an interview that took place on Oct. 13, 2022, before the search of Allen’s home and his arrest. The interview was conducted by Mullin and Carroll County Sheriff Tony Liggett.

Allen repeatedly denied being involved in the killings of Abby Williams and Libby German, saying at one point, “You’re not going to to find anything that ties me to the murders.”

Allen ran through his version of what happened on Feb. 13, 2017. This included a description of what he was wearing, what car he was driving, what time he arrived at the trails, and what time he thought he left for home.

At one point in the video, investigators asked to extract data from Allen’s phone. Allen agreed at first, but then hesitated, saying he feels they think he had murdered the girls.

Allen became irritated during the interview and told Mullins and Liggett several times that he was not going to admit to something he didn’t do, according to News 8’s Kyla Russell.

The second video was an interview by Indiana State Police Lt. Jerry Holeman on Oct. 26, 2022. The video, parts of which had been redacted, is connected to Holeman’s testimony from Saturday, Russell says.

Holeman asked Allen if anyone borrowed his car, clothes, or gun for long periods of time, to which Allen said “no.” He also denied having his firearm with him on Feb. 13, 2017, the day of the murders.

He told Allen that a forensic report said the cartridge found at the scene had been cycled through his SIG Sauer P226. Allen had no explanation and told Holeman “there’s no way” that was true.

As he did with Mullin and Liggett, Allen told Holeman repeatedly that he did not kill “the two little girls,” Libby German and Abby Williams.

When Holeman said several people suggested Allen was “Bridge Guy,” Allen again denied it. Ed. Note: Holeman testified Saturday that this was one of several lies he told Allen “as a tactic.”

The video included a brief reunion between Allen and his wife, Kathy Allen. He told her he didn’t do it and then told Holeman “he would pay” for what he was doing to Kathy.

When court resumed after lunch, the first person to take the stand was John Galipeau, the former warden of the Westville Correctional Facility. Richard Allen was held at the facility from the time of his arrest until December 2023.

Galipeau answered rapid fire questions from both the state and the prosecution about Allen’s circumstances during his 13-month time of custody in their facility. He came into the unit on suicide watch and remained on it much of the time.

Allen was in the “prison inside of a prison” and his cell was 12 ft x 8 ft. He was there as his case was pending, unlike the many convicted offenders housed there. Galipeau said he has not heard of a safekeeper being held like that before, according to News 8’s Kyla Russell.

Galipeau said Allen was watched by inmates at first, but later, guards were put in charge of watching him. He said this change happened after Allen received some “legal mail” in April 2023 and began defecating in his cell and washing his face with toilet water.

Around the same time, Allen wrote his first confession, Galipeau told the court.

He slipped an envelope under his cell door with a request for interview inside. The paper read, “I’m ready to officially confess to killing Abby and Libby. I hope I get the chance to apologize to their families.” – Galipeau said he sent the confession off to internal affairs.

Eight correctional officers testified after that; seven of them worked at Westville. All eight guards told the court they heard Allen confess to the murders. Two of the officers, Ethan Drang and Michael Clemons, observed Allen while he was on suicide watch and documented his actions in real time.

Drang told the court he had no training on “when someone is faking a mental health condition.” He also described the events of April 5, 2023, a day when he said Allen was “crying and screaming” and later slipped an interview request under his cell door.

Westville correctional officer Michael Clemons was the next to testify.

Clemons’ log was shown to the court. It included the following timestamped entries:

• 7:30 a.m.: “God, I am so glad nobody gave up on me after I killed Abby and Libby.”
• 8:01 a.m.: “I, Richard Matthew Allen, killed Abby and Libby all by myself, nobody helped me.”
• 8:03 a.m.: “I am not crazy, I am only acting like I’m crazy.”

Clemons mentioned a few other quotes from Allen, including “I am ready to confess,” “I don’t want to die,” and an unspecified moment where Allen was screaming nonsense.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Brad Rozzi asked Clemons if Allen said how he killed Abby and Libby. Clemens said “no.”

Rozzi said that Allen’s statement at 8:03 a.m. was his response “to other inmates watching him.” Rozzi added that other inmates would call Allen “baby killer.”

Clemons then said he was not there when Allen was tased, and didn’t see or hear that Allen was smearing or eating feces. He also didn’t believe Allen was acting crazy, saying his shift in behavior was like a switch flip.

Rozzi asked Clemons about mental health codes, to which Clemons said if he knew Allen had a code, that might have changed his mind.

News 8’s Kyla Russell said court adjourned Tuesday around 6:45 p.m. Day 11 is set to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Mental health resources

• Be Well Indiana
• Indiana Suicide Prevention
• Indiana Department of Child Services’ Children’s Mental Health Initiative
• National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 or 800-273-8255
• More resources