DELPHI, Ind. — Allen County Judge Frances C. Gull released 118 court documents Wednesday afternoon in connection to the Delphi murders case.
Per Gull's order, 19 of the original 137 documents in the case are still sealed.
Click here to view and download the court documents.
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Richard Allen was arrested in October 2022 and charged with the murders of teenagers Abby Williams and Libby German, whose bodies were found near the Delphi Monon High Bridge in February 2017.
In one of the court documents, investigators believe a gun and knife were used in the murders of German and Williams. The coroner's office has still not said how the girls died.
Original court documents released
On Nov. 29, Gull ordered the release of a redacted version of a document detailing the reasons for charging Allen in the murders.
Here is what information are details from the probable cause affidavit on the Delphi murders:
- Investigators spoke with Richard Allen in 2017, who said he was on the trail from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2017. He said he parked at the old Farm Bureau building — which was later confirmed to be the former Child Protective Services building — and saw three girls at the Freedom Bridge. Allen told investigators he did not speak with the girls as he walked from the Freedom Bridge to the High Bridge.
- Allen was again interviewed by investigators on Oct. 13, 2022. He again told them he was on the trail Feb. 13, 2017. Allen said he saw girls on the trails east of Freedom Bridge before he went to the Monon High Bridge to watch the fish.
- Investigators executed a search warrant of Allen's home Oct. 13, 2022, where they found jackets, boots, knives, and guns.
- The Indiana State Police Laboratory performed an analysis on one of Allen's guns, a Sig Sauer Model P226. Investigators confirmed an unspent round found within 2 feet from German's body came from this gun.
- Allen voluntarily went to the Indiana State Police post Oct. 26, 2022, and told investigators he never allowed anyone to use or borrow the Sig Sauer Model 226. He did not have a reason why the bullet was found between the victims' bodies.
- A Carroll County Sheriff's Department detective, who has been part of the investigation since it started, believes the evidence gathered shows that Allen is the man seen on the video from German's phone who forced the girls down the hill.
June 15 hearing
During the June 15 hearing, the defense attorney and prosecutor both mentioned "incriminating" statements that Allen allegedly made while in prison.
The prosecution said Allen “confessed five or six times to killing the girls.”
The defense team said the vague statements are inconsistent with Allen’s previous statements of denial.
The judge set Allen's trial date for Jan 8-26, 2024.
Another big development that came out of the hearing is that the motion to dismiss the ballistic evidence will be considered at a later date.
Allen’s attorneys have raised questions about the science used to link the gun to the bullet at the crime scene.
The focus for the hearing then shifted to whether or not Allen should stay in a state maximum security prison. His defense team argued that Allen is being treated much different than other defendants and that treatment is impacting both Allen's mental and physical health, as well as his ability to assist in his own defense.
The original safe-keeping order in November was based on the chief at the time over concerns the Carroll County Jail could not hold Allen safely. He admitted during testimony that his concerns were based on the possibility of threats and not on any actual threat made against Allen or the sheriff's department.
Captain Gary Lewis, who oversees the maximum security unit at Westville Correctional, testified that Allen is the only pre-trial inmate currently in his facility and the only pre-trial inmate he is aware of at the Westville Correctional Maximum Security Unit in the five years since he has been with the unit. Lewis also said that Allen is not being treated differently than any other maximum security inmate.
Allen's defense attorney said he had previously worked out a plan for Allen to be moved to the Cass County Jail, but that plan is being opposed by the prosecutor. The Cass County sheriff said in court Thursday morning, "We don't want him" because of the additional security issues involved with housing a high-profile inmate, but he said that his facility is well suited to house Allen. The sheriff said he is willing to accept Allen if ordered to do so by the court. The Cass County Jail is only 20 minutes from Delphi and provides much easier access for attorneys to meet with their clients, according to the sheriff.
The judge took the matter under advisement and could make a decision at a later point.