Richard Allen, 50, was arrested last Wednesday in the murders of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, who died while hiking during a day off from school. On February 13, 2017, a relative of one of the girls dropped them off on a trail near the Monon High Bridge just outside their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Indianapolis. They were reported missing that evening after failing to show up at a prearranged meeting place. Image: Richard Allen The next day the bodies of the youths were found in a rough area near the trail. Their deaths have been ruled a double homicide, but more than five years after the murders, police have not revealed how the girls died or described what evidence they had in the case. Allen, of Delphi, was formally charged with two counts of murder on Friday. He is being held without bond in the White County Jail. Carroll County District Attorney Nicholas McLeland said of Allen, “It’s troubling that he’s a local guy.” Allen pleaded not guilty at his initial hearing on Friday. Image: Flowers left near the Monon High Bridge after the murders “We have not closed the door on the investigation,” Mr. McLeland said when asked if authorities were investigating other people. “We are not assuming anything at this time.” Image: The image of the suspect was released in February 2017. Image: AP Days after the murders, investigators released two grainy photos of a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited and a recording of a man, believed to be the suspect, saying “down the hill.” Image: In April 2019, police released a sketch of a suspect Authorities later released two sketches of the suspected killer, including one in April 2019 based on Liberty’s cell phone video believed to be more accurate than a sketch released in July 2017. Police also released footage in April 2019 showing the man suspected of killing the teenagers walking on the abandoned railway bridge the girls had visited.
