Indiana Man Convicted of Murdering 2 Teen Girls Sentenced to Maximum 130 Years in Prison
Background
An Indiana man, Richard Allen, has been convicted of murdering two teenage girls, Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14, who vanished during a winter hike in 2017. The case has been a long-running and highly publicized one, with a trial that saw repeated delays, a leak of evidence, and the withdrawal and reinstatement of Allen’s public defenders.
Trial and Verdict
Allen was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping on November 11. The jury heard evidence that Allen, 52, had planned to rape the girls before a passing van made him change his plans and he cut their throats.
Sentencing
On Friday, Judge Frances Gull sentenced Allen to 65 years for each girl’s murder, the maximum sentence allowed. Gull expressed her sentiments, saying, "These families will deal with your carnage forever."
Analysis
Allen’s lawyers argued that even if Gull sentences him to 45 years on each of the two murder counts, and orders those sentences served concurrently, their client’s minimum possible 45-year sentence with good time credit would amount to 33.75 actual years in prison. However, Gull’s sentence means that Allen will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, with the possibility of release at the age of 85.
Evidence and Testimony
The case against Allen was built on a number of pieces of evidence, including a grainy cellphone video that showed a man following the teens across a bridge, a recording of Allen’s voice on the video, and an unspent bullet found between the teens’ bodies that was linked to Allen’s .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun.
Defense Arguments
Allen’s defense argued that his confessions were unreliable due to his mental health crisis and the stress of being in isolation. A psychiatrist called by the defense testified that months in solitary confinement could make a person delirious and psychotic. However, the prosecution presented evidence that Allen had repeatedly confessed to the killings, including in person, on the phone, and in writing.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Richard Allen brings to a close a long and complex case that has shocked the community of Delphi, Indiana. The families of Abigail Williams and Liberty German will never forget the brutal murders of their loved ones, but they can take some solace in knowing that the man responsible for their deaths will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
FAQs
Q: What was the nature of the evidence presented in the trial?
A: The evidence presented in the trial included a grainy cellphone video, a recording of Allen’s voice on the video, and an unspent bullet found between the teens’ bodies that was linked to Allen’s .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun.
Q: What was the defense’s argument against Allen’s guilt?
A: The defense argued that Allen’s confessions were unreliable due to his mental health crisis and the stress of being in isolation. They also claimed that no witness explicitly identified Allen as the man seen on the hiking trail or the bridge the afternoon the girls went missing.
Q: What was the prosecution’s argument against Allen’s guilt?
A: The prosecution presented evidence that Allen had repeatedly confessed to the killings, including in person, on the phone, and in writing. They also argued that the evidence, including the unspent bullet, linked Allen to the crime scene.
Q: What is the expected outcome of the sentencing?
A: Allen will spend the rest of his life in prison, with the possibility of release at the age of 85.
