WATCH | Officials from Carroll County and the families of Abby Williams and Libby German are speaking after the sentencing of Richard Allen.
DELPHI — Richard Allen was given the maximum sentence for the 2017 murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German.
On Friday, Judge Fran Gull sentenced Allen to 130 years in prison. He will serve 65 years for Abby's murder and 65 years for Libby's murder consecutively. He has credit for time served of 786 days.
As she handed out the sentence, Judge Gull told Richard Allen from the bench that in her 27 years as a criminal court judge, "you rank right up there for one of the most heinous crimes and the impact you left on this community."
The state and the defense both presented evidence supporting the sentence they'd like Judge Gull to impose. Six people offered victim impact statements in court, including Libby's mom, one of Libby's cousins and Libby's grandparents. Abby's grandparents also gave victim impact statements. All six of them focused on the loss of life and how they have been robbed of a future with the girls. They spoke of how they were left feeling empty.
Williams, 13, and German, 14, disappeared on the afternoon of February 13, 2017, near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, IN. Their bodies were found the next day not far from the bridge.
Allen was found guilty of the murders of the two girls by a jury on November 11. He was convicted of two counts of murder and two counts of felony murder.
Judge Fran Gull vacated the charges for felony murder and assigned Richard Allen a public offender for the appellate process. She also lifted the gag order on the case.
Judge Gull commented that Allen's lack of criminal history holds little weight in her sentencing decision based on the crimes committed. She said the defense argument of hardship on Allen's wife was not a mitigating circumstance and the argument of Allen's mental illness had no merit because it was not related to this crime.
WATCH | Delphi reacts to guilty verdict in trial of Richard Allen
Lawyers for Richard Allen said they are now preparing for the appellate process as Allen maintains his innocence.
"Richard Allen maintains his innocence and is hopeful that the appellate process will provide him with an opportunity to present a full defense at a second trial," they said in a memorandum filing.
Allen's lawyers have 30 days from his sentencing to file an appeal.
