Jurors found Richard Allen guilty on all four counts in murder of Abby and Libby
Kristine Phillips, Ron Wilkins, Sarah Nelson, Jordan Smith and Jenny Porter Tilley
USA TODAY NETWORK
lished 7:35 a.m. ET Nov. 11, 2024 |
Updated 4:25 p.m. ET Nov. 11, 2024
DELPHI, Ind. ― A jury of five men and seven women on Monday found Richard Allen guilty of all four charges in the deaths of
Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German.
The jury convicted the 52-year-old Delphi man of two counts of murder and two counts of murder while kidnapping the girls. The long-awaited decision in
one of Indiana's most high-profile murder cases comes after more than seven years of investigation, nearly three weeks of testimony and roughly 18 hours of deliberation spread over four days.
The verdict is an affirmation of the years-long and, at times, criticized law enforcement investigation of the girls’ Feb. 13, 2017, deaths. Although it may provide some closure for their families, the jury’s decision is unlikely to be the end of the case. Allen will most certainly appeal.
Before the verdict was announced, Special Judge Frances Gull asked everyone in the courtroom to keep their composure. "Regardless of what the verdict is," she said, "people will not be happy." ... There was a gasp followed by quiet sobs from members of Libby's family after the guilty verdict on the first murder charge was announced. Libby's mother, Carrie German Timmons, hugged the woman sitting next to her. After everyone was allowed to leave, Libby's relatives stayed to hug and thank Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland.
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