The Delphi Murders — Double Child Homicide in Indiana

The Case

The Delphi Murders are the February 13, 2017 double homicide of Abigail "Abby" Joy Williams, 13, and Liberty "Libby" Rose German, 14, near the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Indiana. The case remained unsolved for more than five years until the October 2022 arrest of Richard Matthew Allen, a local pharmacy technician who lived in Delphi. On November 11, 2024, Allen was convicted on all counts, and on December 20, 2024, he was sentenced to 130 years in prison by Judge Fran Gull in Carroll County Court.

The murders shocked the small Indiana community and drew national attention, becoming one of the most closely followed unsolved cases in recent American true crime history. The breakthrough in the investigation came from forensic ballistics evidence linking an unspent cartridge found at the crime scene to Allen's pistol, along with witness testimony placing him on the trail that day.

The Crime

On February 13, 2017, Abigail Williams and Liberty German were dropped off at the Delphi Historic Trails to spend the afternoon hiking. The girls walked along the Monon High Bridge Trail, a popular recreational area featuring an abandoned railroad bridge. When a family member returned to pick them up that evening, the girls could not be found. A search was immediately launched.

The following day, February 14, 2017, both girls' bodies were discovered near Deer Creek, not far from the trail. According to court testimony and media reports, both victims had their throats cut. Prosecutors later revealed that Allen had forced the girls "down the hill" from the bridge area to the location where they were killed.

Critical evidence recovered at the scene included an unspent .40-caliber round found near the bodies. This cartridge would become the key forensic link to Richard Allen more than five years later. The crime scene also yielded other physical evidence, though many details remained sealed during the investigation to protect the integrity of the case.

The Victims

Abigail "Abby" Williams was 13 years old at the time of her death. Liberty "Libby" German was 14. The two were close friends who attended school together in the Delphi area. Both girls were described by family and community members as bright, active young people who enjoyed outdoor activities.

Libby German's quick thinking during the attack would prove crucial to the eventual investigation. Using her mobile phone, she captured audio and possibly video of a male figure on the bridge—evidence that would be released to the public and become central to identifying suspects. The phrase "down the hill," spoken by the suspect and recorded on Libby's phone, became one of the most haunting pieces of evidence in the case.

The murders devastated the small community of Delphi, a town of fewer than 3,000 residents. Vigils and memorials were held for both girls, and their families became advocates for justice throughout the lengthy investigation.

Investigation

The investigation into the Delphi Murders spanned more than five years and involved multiple law enforcement agencies. Early in the case, investigators released images and audio captured on Liberty German's phone, showing a man on the bridge and the audio clip of him saying "down the hill." These became some of the most widely circulated pieces of evidence in American true crime, generating thousands of tips.

Despite the audio and visual evidence, the case went cold for years. Richard Allen had reportedly been interviewed early in the investigation as someone who had been on the trail that day, but he was not immediately identified as a suspect. It was not until 2022 that investigators focused on Allen after reexamining earlier witness statements and tip information.

The breakthrough came when forensic examiners tested the unspent .40-caliber cartridge found at the crime scene. According to court proceedings, forensic analysis determined that the round had been cycled through a Sig Sauer .40-caliber pistol—the same type of weapon seized from Allen's home when he was arrested in October 2022. This ballistics match became the cornerstone of the prosecution's case.

Allen, approximately 50 years old at the time of his arrest, had lived in Delphi and worked as a pharmacy technician. His arrest stunned the community, as he had no apparent criminal history and lived an outwardly normal life in the town where the murders occurred.

Trial and Verdict

Richard Allen's trial took place in Carroll County, Indiana, before Judge Fran Gull. The prosecution presented the ballistics evidence, witness testimony placing Allen on the trail on February 13, 2017, and other forensic findings. Graphic crime scene photos and detailed testimony about the victims' injuries were presented to the jury, painting a disturbing picture of the violence inflicted on the two young girls.

The defense challenged the reliability of the ballistics evidence and questioned whether Allen could be conclusively placed at the exact location of the murders at the time they occurred. However, the jury found the prosecution's case compelling.

On November 11, 2024, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts against Richard Allen. The conviction brought a measure of closure to the families of Abigail Williams and Liberty German after more than seven years of waiting for justice.

On December 20, 2024, Judge Fran Gull sentenced Allen to 65 years in prison for each murder count, to be served consecutively, for a total sentence of 130 years. Given Allen's age, the sentence effectively amounts to life in prison.

Today

The Delphi Murders case is now considered solved following Richard Allen's conviction and sentencing. However, legal proceedings may continue as Allen's defense team could pursue appeals or post-conviction relief in Indiana's appellate courts.

The case has generated extensive media coverage, including documentaries, true crime television programs, and podcast series. Notable coverage includes programs by Court TV and Vinnie Politan Investigates, as well as Crime Nation and numerous other true crime media outlets. The case's combination of haunting evidence, lengthy investigation, and small-town setting has made it one of the most discussed criminal cases of the 2010s and 2020s.

For the families of Abigail Williams and Liberty German, the conviction and sentencing represent the conclusion of a painful chapter, though the loss of their daughters continues. The community of Delphi has worked to memorialize the girls while processing the revelation that the person responsible lived among them for years after the crime.

The case has also sparked discussions about forensic ballistics evidence, the role of civilian-captured evidence in solving crimes, and the challenges of cold case investigations. Liberty German's courage in recording her attacker has been credited with ultimately leading to Allen's identification and conviction, making her actions a lasting part of the case's legacy.