The trial of Richard Allen, charged in one of Indiana's most infamous murder cases, started with opening statements on Oct. 18.
The high-profile case has drawn national attention and captured the interest of the true crime community since February 2017, when 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German were found dead near the Monon High Bridge.
Investigators said Libby's phone captured video of their killer (widely known as "Bridge Guy"), along with his voice. Various theories proliferated for years, with no arrest for more than a half-decade.
That changed in October 2022, when Indiana State Police announced local resident Richard Allen was in custody in connection with the Delphi killings. The Carroll County Prosecutor's Office later charged him with murder.
Months of contentious legal battles involving Allen's defense, the prosecutor's office and Special Judge Fran Gull--assigned to the case by the Indiana Supreme Court--followed.
After numerous hearings and several false starts, jury selection began on Oct. 14 in Allen County, with jurors being sequestered for a month as they heard the case against Allen at the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi.
Here's how the trial has proceeded so far.
Jury selection (Oct. 14 through Oct. 16)
Over three days in Allen County, 12 jurors and four alternates were selected. The jurors were informed they would be sequestered for a month as they worked to decide the fate of Richard Allen. The trial was scheduled to start on Oct. 18 in Carroll County.
Opening statements (Friday, Oct. 18)
During opening statements, Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland told the jury that Allen was "Bridge Guy" and said an "unspent bullet" found at the crime scene had been cycled through a Sig Sauer P226 owned by Allen. He revealed the girls' throats were slashed and said Allen had confessed to his involvement.
Defense attorney Andrew Baldwin suggested Allen suffered a "mental health crisis" that led him to confess to the murders. He pointed out there was no DNA or digital evidence linking him to the crime. He called the bullet evidence inconclusive and said there was reasonable doubt about Allen's guilt.
Baldwin also revealed hair found in Allen's hand didn't match Allen and hadn't been tested. Later tests found the hair belonged to Kelsi German Siebert, Libby's older sister.
Day 1 testimony (Friday, Oct. 18)
Family members of Abby Williams and Libby German took the stand to recount the last time they saw the girls and discuss the tragic aftermath of their deaths. Becky Patty, Libby's grandmother, recalls her saying, "Grandma, I'll be okay." It was the last time she ever spoke to her granddaughter.
On the stand: Becky Patty (Libby's grandmother), Kelsi German Siebert (Libby's sister), Derrick German (Libby's father), Anna Williams (Abby's mother), Mitch Catron (Carroll Co. sheriff's deputy)
Day 2 testimony (Saturday, Oct. 19)
The former Delphi police chief who serves as an investigator for the Carroll County Prosecutor's Office discussed the search for the girls. Jake Johns, a member of the search party, found Libby's tie-dye shirt in a creek. Pat Brown, another searcher, came across the bodies on Feb. 14 and said they "looked like mannequins."
On the stand: Steve Mullin (former Delphi police chief and investigator for the Carroll County Prosecutor's Office), Jake Johns (search party member), Pat Brown (search party member)
Day 3 testimony (Monday, Oct. 21)
Jurors viewed gruesome photos of the crime scene as the investigators who initially responded to the murders described what they saw.
On the stand: Darron Giancola (Carroll County sheriff's deputy), Jason Page (CSI with Indiana State Police), Duane Datzman (CSI with Indiana State Police), Brian Olehy (lead CSI with Indiana State Police)
Day 4 testimony (Tuesday, Oct. 22)
The lead crime scene investigator discussed items found at the scene and engaged in contentious cross-examination with the defense. Digital forensic investigators testified about the extraction and analysis of the "Bridge Guy" video found on Libby's phone. Jurors watched that video. Several witnesses who believe they saw "Bridge Guy" took the stand.
On the stand: Brian Olehy (lead CSI with Indiana State Police), Brian Bunner (ISP digital forensic expert), Jeremey Chapman (ISP system administrator), Railly Voorhees ("Bridge Guy" witness), Breann Wilber ("Bridge Guy" witness), Betsy Blair ("Bridge Guy" witness)
Day 5 testimony (Wednesday, Oct. 23)
A "Bridge Guy" witness engaged in contentious exchanges with the defense about her varying descriptions in a series of interviews, with her use of "muddy" and "bloody" under scrutiny. The pathologist who performed the autopsies discussed Abby's and Libby's fatal wounds. Another digital forensic expert discussed cellphone pings, location tracking and activity on Libby's phone.
On the stand: Sarah Carbaugh ("Bridge Guy" witness), Roland Kohr (pathologist), Chris Cecil (ISP digital forensic examiner)
Day 6 testimony (Thursday, Oct. 24)
A volunteer who helped track Delphi tips testified how, in September 2022, she stumbled across an interview Richard Allen gave a DNR officer in 2017. The misfiled report put Allen in investigators' sights. Several investigators took the stand to discuss how they developed their initial case against him.
On the stand: Kathy Shank (retired CPS worker who organized tips on Delphi case), Dan Dulin (DNR officer who spoke to Allen in 2017), Steve Mullin (former Delphi police chief and investigator for the Carroll County Prosecutor's Office), Tony Liggett (current Carroll County sheriff and longtime Delphi murders investigator), Dave Vido (Indiana State Police), Jerry Holeman (Indiana State Police)
Day 7 testimony (Friday, Oct. 25)
A former Indiana State Police crime lab technician discussed toolmark identification and the "unspent bullet" (a cartridge) found at the murder scene. She said ballistics tests showed the round was cycled through Allen's Sig Sauer P226--a firearm police found during a search of his home in October 2022.
On the stand: Melissa Oberg (former ISP crime lab technician who examined bullet at crime scene and matched it to Allen's gun)
Day 8 testimony (Saturday, Oct. 26)
The ISP investigator whose interview with Allen ended with his arrest took the stand. He said Allen became increasingly agitated during the interview, which ended with Allen telling the investigator to "take all your evidence and just arrest me.” The investigator also admitted "there's been mistakes made" in the Delphi investigation.
On the stand: Jerry Holeman (Indiana State Police)
Day 9 testimony (Monday, Oct. 28)
An ISP forensic scientist discussed DNA evidence found at the crime scene and said no material matched Allen. The state's blood spatter expert offered his theory on the murders. He said it appeared Libby had been killed and then dragged away from a tree. Abby had no blood on her hands, leading the expert to believe she may have been unconscious or restrained when she was attacked.
On the stand: Stacey Bozinovski (ISP forensic scientist), Pat Cicero (blood spatter expert from La Porte County Sheriff's Department)
Day 10 testimony (Tuesday, Oct. 29)
Jurors watched video of Allen's initial interview from Oct. 13, 2022. It didn't end with his arrest, but police did obtain a search warrant for his home. They also saw his Oct. 22, 2022, interview with an ISP investigator. Multiple corrections guards took the stand to discuss Allen's behavior and purported confessions in prison.
On the stand: John Galipeau (former Westville Correctional Facility warden), Michael Clemons (Westville corrections officer), Ethan Drang (Westville corrections officer), Michael Roberts (Westville corrections officer), John Miller (Westville corrections officer), James Early (Westville corrections officer), Brandon Fisher (Westville corrections officer), Raymond Smith (Westville corrections officer), Jason Bedwell (corrections officer at Wabash Valley Correctional)
Day 11 testimony (Wednesday, Oct. 30)
The psychologist who treated Allen at Westville Correctional Facility discussed his cell conditions and his sometimes bizarre behavior. She also revealed his account of the Feb. 13, 2017, murders. The defense pointed out the psychologist had been a true crime fan who was familiar with the Delphi murders case and may have shared information with Allen.
Other testimony from Oct. 30 involved the number of black Ford Focus vehicles registered in and around Carroll County and a property owner who said he passed by the murder scene in his van around 2:30 p.m. on the day they girls were killed.
On the stand: Dr. Monica Wala (psychologist who treated Allen), Steve Mullin (former Delphi police chief and investigator for the Carroll County Prosecutor's Office), Brad Weber (owner of property across from murder scene)
Day 12 testimony (Thursday, Oct. 31)
An Indiana State Police master trooper discussed phone calls Allen made to his wife and mother. Several of the calls were played in court and include confessions from Allen, although they're not specific. Allen also mentions he feels like he's losing his mind. The investigator is convinced it's Allen's voice on the "Bridge Guy" video and believes a key detail about a van in Allen's confession shows he did it.
The state wanted to admit a video from the Cass County Jail showing Allen violently threatening guards. The defense objected, saying it wasn't part of discovery, and Gull ultimately decided not to allow it.
Around 4 p.m., the prosecution rested its case. The judge allowed the state to submit Allen's Google search history as evidence.
The defense then called its first two witnesses. Both recounted unfamiliar men they saw near the Monon High Bridge on the day of the murders.
On the stand: Brian Harshman (Indiana State Police master trooper), Cheyenne Mill (defense witness), Theresa Liebert (defense witness)
Day 13 testimony (Friday, Nov. 1)
The defense called a Hammond police investigator to the stand to discuss his February 2017 interview with Brad Weber. The investigator, assigned to assist with the Delphi investigation, couldn't recall many details of the interview, especially whether Weber said he went directly home from work on Feb. 13, 2017.
The defense's fourth witness was the director of behavioral health for the Indiana Department of Correction. She told the court that solitary confinement can have a negative impact on a person's mental health, especially those suffering from mental health issues. She said she was concerned about constant video monitoring of Allen.
One witness discussed an "out of place" car he saw in the area and another witness, a photographer, said he didn't see or hear anything strange during his time on the trails on the afternoon of Feb. 13, 2017.
Delphi's former fire chief discussed the "hasty" overnight search and said teams didn't find the girls before abandoning the effort around 2:30 a.m. He couldn't recall many details of the night. The defense grilled Delphi's former police chief about key testimony from witness Brad Weber and other aspects of the case.
Carroll County's former sheriff testified he didn't play a "huge role" in the investigation.
On the stand: Christopher Gootee (Hammond investigator who interviewed Brad Weber in 2017), Dr. Deanna Dwenger (director of behavioral health for the Indiana Department of Correction), Brad Heath (car witness), Dave McCain (photographer), Darrell Sterrett (former fire chief), Steve Mullin (former Delphi police chief and investigator for the Carroll County Prosecutor's Office), Tobe Leazenby (former Carroll County sheriff)
Day 14 testimony (Saturday, Nov. 2)
Jurors watched 15 videos of Allen in custody at Westville Correctional Facility. The monitor showing the video was turned away from the gallery so that only the jurors could see it. Prosecutors and defense attorneys had to move in order to watch. Allen didn't view it. Some of the videos showed the defendant nude.
The videos spanned from April 2023 through June 2023. Since court observers could not see them and they had no audio, media pool notes relied on jurors' reactions. One juror seemed "aghast" at what played out while defense attorney Jennifer Auger was left "staring in horror" by the end of one clip. Even Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland, the pool reporter noted, appeared "taken aback" at one point.
A later set of media notes included limited descriptions from journalists who were able to see the video from a laptop computer about 15 to 20 feet away.
Day 14's proceedings also saw brief testimony from Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter, who discussed federal resources in the Delphi murders investigation. He said he made the decision to part ways with the FBI in August 2021. His testimony lasted less than 10 minutes.
On the stand: Max Baker (defense intern), Doug Carter (superintendent, Indiana State Police)
Day 15 testimony (Monday, Nov. 4)
Defense expert Dr. Polly Westcott testified about Allen's mental state in prison. She listened to Allen's phone calls from prison, watched video and read various reports and records related to Allen. She also spoke to him in person at Westville Correctional Facility.
Westcott said Allen had a history of mental health issues, including depression, and experienced psychosis while in custody. She said he has dependent personality disorder and relies on other people to feel whole. She doesn't believe he was faking symptoms or psychosis at Westville.
Jurors watched two additional videos of Allen in custody. The monitor was again positioned so that only Gull and the jury could see it. There were multiple objections during this portion of the proceedings, including testy exchanges between Prosecutor Nick McLeland and defense intern Max Baker.
Two of Allen's family members testified that he didn't molest them and told the court they wouldn't lie for him. A witness discussed what she saw on the day of the murders (Feb. 13, 2017).
Steve Mullin returned to the stand to discuss missteps in the investigation, the number of Ford Focus SE vehicles in the Carroll County area and the "white van" at the center of the state's theory. The defense further grilled Brad Weber about his van and when he drove home from work on Feb. 13, 2017.
On the stand: Dr. Polly Westcott (defense psychologist), Max Baker (defense intern), Jaimie Jones (Allen’s half-sister), Brittney Zapanta (Allen’s daughter), Shelby Hicks (Feb. 13 witness), Steve Mullin (former Delphi police chief and investigator for the Carroll County Prosecutor's Office), Brad Weber (owner of property across from murder scene)
Day 16 testimony (Tuesday, Nov. 5)
The defense called a psychiatrist to the stand to discuss the impact solitary confinement can have on a person. The expert said extended time in solitary can lead to delirium, psychosis and strange behavior. He said people can convince themselves they've committed a crime they didn't actually commit.
A forensic expert cast doubt on the crime lab analysis that matched an "unspent bullet" found at the murder scene to Allen's Sig Sauer. The expert said it was "apples to oranges" to compare an unspent round to a test-fired one and didn't agree with the conclusion of the state's ballistics expert.
Stacey Eldridge, a former FBI forensic examiner, scrutinized data from Libby German's phone. She said data logs showed someone inserted a headphone jack into the phone at 5:45 p.m. and removed it about five hours later.
The testimony left the courtroom stunned and raised serious questions about the state's murder timeline.
On the stand: Betsy Blair (Feb. 13 witness), Dr. Stuart Grassian (defense psychiatrist and expert on solitary confinement), Dr. Eric Warren (forensic consultant on ballistics evidence), Stacey Eldridge (former FBI forensic examiner), Chris Cecil (ISP digital forensics expert), Brian Bunner (ISP digital forensics expert)
Day 17 testimony (Wednesday, Nov. 6)
The defense rested its case to kick off the day's proceedings. Attorneys then discussed jury instructions outside the presence of the jury.
The state called three rebuttal witnesses to the stand. Two had previously testified. The third, Dr. John Martin, was a psychiatrist who treated Allen at Westville Correctional Facility.
Martin described his observation of Allen's psychotic state and the efforts used to treat him. He said the "height" of his psychosis was April 13, 2023, and believes his psychotic state was over by May 2.
Closing arguments were scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7.
On the stand: Breann Wilber (Feb. 13 bridge witness), Brian Harshman (ISP master trooper), Dr. John Martin (prison psychiatrist)
Day 18: Closing arguments (Thursday, Nov. 7)
Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland delivered closing argument for the state. He said Allen admitted he was on the bridge that day and confessed to the crime in prison. He said the "unspent bullet" found at the crime scene matched Allen's gun.
Attorney Bradley Rozzi delivered the closing argument for the defense. He criticized the investigation, the "bungled" ballistics evidence and said the confessions Allen made in prison were false and the result of his time in solitary confinement.
McLeland had one final chance to make a rebuttal before the case went to the jury at 1:25 p.m. The jury left around 3:30 p.m. without rendering a verdict.
Day 19: Jury deliberations (Friday, Nov. 8)
Jurors arrived at the courthouse around 9 a.m. to begin deliberations. They left without a verdict around 4 p.m.
Day 20: Jury deliberations (Saturday, Nov. 9)
Jurors again arrived around 9 a.m. Allen's defense team was seen walking into the court around 10 a.m. Allen was also transported from the Cass County Jail to the Carroll County courthouse on Saturday. He has the right to be in court if jurors have questions while reviewing evidence.
The jury left the courthouse around 2:45 p.m. without a verdict. They will reconvene on Monday.
Find the Delphi murders timeline below: