DELPHI, Ind. – Tuesday’s testimony in the Delphi murders trial included contentious cross examination of the lead crime scene investigator.
Richard Allen faces four counts of murder in connection with the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German near the Monon High Bridge. Indiana State Police announced his arrest in October 2022.
Investigators believe an unspent bullet found at the crime scene was cycled through a gun owned by Allen, linking him to the case.
Monday’s difficult testimony included the viewing of unsettling crime scene photos as investigators described what they found near the “ground zero” investigation area. Exchanges became testy at times, as Allen’s defense challenged the handling of evidence and questioned investigators about branches found on the girls’ bodies.
Tuesday’s session started with additional testimony from Brian Olehy, the lead crime scene investigator on the case. Several key pieces of evidence were brought into court. Each piece was contained within a brown paper bag and was not physically shown to the jury.
The evidence included:
- Hollister blue jeans
- Tie dye t-shirt
- Gray sweatshirt (medium size)
- Sonoma brand pink underwear
- Black and purple sock
- Pink sock
- Green headscarf
- Blacked Faded Glory spaghetti strap shirt
- Converse tennis shoes
- .40 caliber Smith & Wesson cartridge
- Collection of strand of material found between fingers on Abby’s right hand
- Strand from Abby’s left arm
- Libby's phone
- Black Nike tennis shoe under Abby’s body
The items were either collected from the creek or recovered from the crime scene.
Other evidence included swabs taken from various parts of the girls’ bodies (arms, wrist, etc.). One swab was blood from a tree and taken approximately four feet above the ground, while others were of blood found on the ground near the girls and nearby trees. Investigators also swabbed Libby’s phone.
Sexual assault kits were completed and turned over to police. Evidence from the autopsy included a black hooded sweatshirt with the words “Delphi swimming” and “German” on it, size XL blue jeans with blood on them, gray cotton bra, pink sleeveless shirt and black bra with red stains.
Abby Williams was wearing the blue jeans and sweatshirt; investigators said the clothing belonged to Libby German, meaning Abby was wearing her friend’s clothes.
Defense attorney Brad Rozzi cross examined Olehy. He asked multiple times if the swabs contained DNA connecting Allen to the crime scene.
Olehy said he was not aware of any connection between the DNA and Richard Allen.
FOX59/CBS4 reporter Max Lewis described Rozzi’s approach as “aggressive.” Rozzi asked about the sticks/branches found on the girls’ bodies and questioned Olehy about the bullet evidence and shoe impressions. He asked about the time of death, with Olehy telling him it was an “imprecise science.”
Of the branches found on the bodies, Olehy said he believed someone placed them there to conceal the bodies. Rozzi also asked if Olehy believed the sticks were there to “communicate,” which Olehy answered in the negative. He also said he had not observed any manmade cut in one of the sticks.
He said since Abby was wearing some of Libby’s clothes, it was a “logical assumption” that Libby “was disrobed.” He said investigators were not able to determine where the events occurred and told Rozzi that investigators didn’t test the sticks found with the girls.
Olehy told Rozzi he wasn’t aware of photos of the ground after the bullet was removed. Rozzi asked Olehy if he agreed that he “did a poor job” of documenting the bullet.
That led to an objection from the state—one of many during Rozzi’s tough cross examination. When asked if he wished he’d taken more pictures, Olehy said no.
During his redirect, deputy prosecutor James Luttrell asked how many items of ammunition were found and packaged at the scene. Olehy said there was only one—the unspent bullet at the center of the state’s case.
At one point, Rozzi referred to the cartridge as a “magic bullet,” leading to another objection. Judge Fran Gull sustained it, calling the characterization improper.
Rozzi, during another redirect, again questioned Olehy about whether he wished he had taken more photos. Olehy also told the court that there were no signs of defensive wounds on Libby.
Jurors submitted a handful of questions, asking about the method of collecting and sealing evidence. They also asked how the bullet was collected and stored and whether the undergrowth under Abby's body appeared to be disrupted.
Olehy stepped down at 10:48 a.m., leading to a break with testimony set to resume later.
"Bridge Guy" witnesses take the stand
After jurors saw video pulled from Libby German's phone showing the infamous "Bridge Guy," several witnesses took the stand who were out walking the trails and crossing the High Bridge on the day the girls vanished.
Railly Voorhies was a 16-year-old Delphi high school student back in 2017 when she was out walking near the Freedom Bridge. She described seeing an "unsettling" man near the bridge who glared at her. She did not recognize the man and said he wore a mask up to his nose.
When shown a blown-up photograph of "Bridge Guy," Voorhies said "that was the man I saw on the trail."
Voorhies described "Bridge Guy" as wearing black jeans, a black hoodie, black boots and a black mask. Claimed the man had a "bigger build" and estimated him to be 20-30 years old.
Voorhies admitted her memory may have been impacted by the photo of "bridge guy" released by police during the investigation into the murders.
Betsy Blair took the witness stand next. Blair said she had been out walking the trails on Feb. 13, 2017, and also saw the alleged "Bridge Guy." Blair also saw Abby and Libby during one of her many loops while walking the trails.
After learning of the girls' disappearance, Blair spoke to police who wanted her to help them create a sketch of the man she spotted near the bridge. She said the man had brown, poofy hair and described him as looking younger. She didn't recall him having facial hair.
Blair told the jury she was roughly 50 feet from "Bridge Guy" and claimed she thought, due to his posture, that he was looking for someone.
Due to both witnesses bringing up the composite sketches, Allen's attorneys broached "opening the door" on bringing the sketches back into the trial. Judge Gull previously ruled that the sketches aren’t admissible in court.