DELPHI — The prosecution rested Thursday in the double murder trial of Richard Allen. Allen is charged with the murders of Abby Williams and Liberty German in February 2017. The day began with the state of Indiana calling its final witness at the Carroll County Courthouse.
PREVIOUSLY: Delphi Murders Trial: Day 11 | Prison psychologist says Allen made multiple confessions
The prosecution played eight recorded telephone conversations involving Allen. The conversations range from November 2022 to June 2023, when Allen was being held at the Westville Correctional Facility. The prosecuting attorney outlined that Allen was making incriminating statements during those calls. Jurors heard Allen tell his wife Kathy that he killed Williams and German. Kathy would tell him, "No, you didn't. You're not well. You didn't do those things."
In other telephone conversations, Allen was also heard saying he thought he did it (committed the murders of the girls,) but he also felt like he was losing his mind. He also expressed thoughts of killing himself.
Several of the phone calls were to Allen's mother Janice. He didn't talk specifically about the murders, but he did talk about how he feels the system was killing him, and told them he was "losing his mind." He stressed to them that he would never do what he was accused of doing and that he felt mentally tortured.
Jurors also heard from state witness Brian Harshman. He is the Master Trooper in charge of analyzing more than 700 recorded phone calls where Allen was on the phone. Harshman also monitored his tablet, in-cell video, and Allen's behavior review reports.
Thursday morning on the stand, Harshman testified that in his estimation, the voice of the man known as "Bridge Guy" is the voice of Richard Allen.
A prosecuting attorney asked Harshman if he could identify Allen’s voice because he had so much experience monitoring all of Allen’s calls.
Harshman replied, "Yes.
The video of the girls walking on the Monon High Bridge was played in court again. The court heard the words, “Down the Hill."
Harshman was asked by the prosecutor whose voice he thought he heard.
Harshman simply stated, “Richard Allen.”
Phone call of November 14, 2022 (Richard Allen to his wife Kathy)
The phone call begins with Allen telling his wife Kathy that he’s sorry, but he just needs her to tell the investigators that he will tell them whatever they want. “Whatever they want me to say. I’ll tell them,” commented Allen on the recorded call.
As the audio played in court, Kathy Allen could be seen crying in the courtroom.
Allen's voice continued, “I don’t want you to worry about me. All I do is worry about you,” said Allen. He then referenced wanting to kill himself.
Richard Allen could be heard crying during the call. His wife Kathy attempted to console him by saying, “You’re okay. You’re okay,” she said. They then told each other how much they love each other.
“I wish I could see you one more time. I’ll see you in the next life. I swear I will. You take care of the family for me,” Richard Allen told Kathy.
Phone call of April 2, 2023 (Richard Allen to his mother Janice)
Allen told his mother he couldn’t get in touch with Kathy because the phone system went down. His mother said it was very good to hear from him. They talked about storms that passed through Delphi, and they also talked about religion.
Allen asked his mother how long she had been going to church, and he wanted to know what church she was attending. He cried as she talked and expressed his happiness to hear her answers.
Richard Allen told his mother on that call that he found God and turned his life to Christ on March 21, 2023. He told his mother that he hasn’t slept much, but would eventually. He really wanted to reach his wife. He ended the call with, “Love you too mom. Bye.”
Phone call of April 3, 2023 (Richard Allen to his wife Kathy.)
Investigators claim Allen made incriminating statements during this telephone call.
The phone call starts with Richard Allen saying, “Hey. Are you there?”
“Yes babe,” said Kathy.
“I did it,” said Allen.
“What?” questioned Kathy.
“No, I did it. I killed Abby and Libby,” said Allen.
“No, you didn’t,” replied Kathy.
“Yes, I did,” said Allen.
“No, you didn’t. You’re not feeling well,” pushed Kathy. “Why did you say that?”
“Because maybe, I think I did,” said Allen.
“No, you didn’t. They are messing with your mind,” replied Kathy. “Don’t you ever say you did it.”
“I think I did,” said Allen.
“No. Why would you say that?” she questioned again.
“I think I did. I’ll say I did. I don’t know,” said Allen.
Kathy's response was, “Exactly. You don’t know. There is something wrong. They’re trying to get you to say you did.”
“I want to apologize to the families,” Richard Allen continued.
“Just don’t talk anymore, okay,” Kathy.
“I’m sorry,” said Allen.
“Don’t talk anymore. I’m hanging up,” said Kathy.
The call ended.
There were other conversations where Richard Allen expressed he was losing his mind. He said he wanted to kill himself and that he wanted Kathy to understand that he, “Did it” (referring to killing Abby & Libby.)
Kathy repeatedly told her husband he wasn’t well.
“I think I lost my mind… You should know I did it, babe” Allen replied.
Allen added that he did not understand what was going on.
Kathy replied, “Neither do I."
There were several breaks during the afternoon session. One was to allow Special Judge Fran Gull to watch a 30-minute video in her chambers. The state hoped to enter the video as evidence, but the defense argued it was unaware of it and said it was irrelevant to the case. After watching the video, which reportedly showed Allen acting out in the Cass County Jail and becoming irate towards the guards, Judge Gull sided with the defense and did not allow it to be played.
The prosecution rested after Judge Gull ruled on the video, and the defense team for Richard Allen promptly called its first witness to the stand.
Neither defense witness was on the stand very long Thursday afternoon. The first witness was Cheyenne Mill. She said she was on the trail on February 13, 2017, the day Abby Williams and Libby German disappeared. She told the defense attorney she saw a man on the trail who was overweight and did not speak to her when she said hi. She also testified to taking photos along the trail that day, and she shared those photos with police investigators.
The second witness was Teresa Liebert. She was shown a map of the area, and she pointed out the private road owned by her neighbor Brad Weber. She also pointed to the location of her home. Liebert said she saw someone who "appeared to be strange" standing near the mailboxes, but she could not see his face or what he was wearing.
Upon cross-examination, the prosecution asked, "So you are telling us around 8:30 AM on this day, you and your husband were coming home and saw a man you had never seen before, but you didn't see his face or take a photo of him?"
Liebert replied, "Yes."
The prosecutor responded, "Thank you for coming in today. No further questions."
The jury had one question for Liebert. A juror clarified that there was no school on February 13, 2017, then wanted to know if the person by the mailboxes could have been a student.
She said, "No."
FOLLOWING: Delphi Murders Trial: Day 13 | Judge denies motions related to Odinism, ritualistic killing
