Indiana man could face 130 years for murder of two teenage girls
- Richard Allen was convicted of murdering two teenage girls in Indiana.
- The sentencing took place after a lengthy trial that included family victim impact statements.
- Allen received the maximum possible sentence, facing 130 years in prison, bringing some measure of closure to the community.
In Indiana, Richard Allen was convicted on November 11, 2022, for the murders of Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14. The girls vanished during a winter hike on February 13, 2017, leading to a case that has drawn significant attention from the public. Allen, who lived in Delphi and worked as a pharmacy technician, was arrested in October 2022, over five years after the girls' deaths. During the trial, powerful evidence was presented, including how Allen allegedly forced the girls off the trail at gunpoint and later confessed to the crimes. He received a sentence of 130 years in prison, with each of the two murder counts carrying a 65-year term to be served consecutively. The case was highlighted by gruesome details and evidence that prosecutors argued pointed directly to Allen, including an unspent bullet linked to his firearm and a cellphone video capturing his voice directing the girls. While the defense claimed that no physical evidence or eyewitnesses could definitively place Allen at the murder scene, prosecutors successfully argued that Allen's confessions were consistent and incriminating. Following the sentencing, the defense expressed intentions to appeal, indicating a pursuit for a new trial. The community of Delphi has endured prolonged distress due to these tragic events, and the case has significantly impacted the small town. Victim impact statements from family members during the hearing underscored the profound grief and loss experienced by the victims' loved ones. With the judge lifting the gag order following the sentencing, it is expected that further discussions regarding the case will resume in public forums. The lengthy trial process and Allen's subsequent conviction have become focal points for true-crime discussions, drawing in widespread media coverage and public interest. As the families seek to find closure, Richard Allen's case remains a haunting reminder of the violence that affected the lives of the two young girls and their community.