Delphi murder case: Prison officials say Richard Allen allegedly confessed to killing Libby German and Abby Williams multiple times

DELPHI, Ind. — Richard Allen’s alleged prison confessions remained the main topic Wednesday.

Libby, 14, and her best friend Abby Williams, 13, were walking along a hiking trail in rural Delphi when their throats were slit and they were left in the woods on February 13, 2017. Their bodies were found the next day.

Allen was arrested in 2022 and pleaded not guilty to murder. Allen was held at the Westville Correctional Facility for thirteen months following his arrest.

A clinical psychologist who worked closely with Allen after his arrest testified Wednesday morning.

Doctor Monica Wala served as the chief psychologist for the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Defense attorney Brad Rozzi noted that Wala had long followed Allen’s case on podcasts, YouTube and Facebook, and participated in true crime forums.

Wala shut down her social media accounts after someone pointed out that she was following the case so closely.

Wala said she first met Allen in November 2022, and that he was regularly on suicide watch. Wala testified that they had not initially discussed the girls’ murders, and she urged Allen not to talk about the case with others.

On April 5, 2023, Wala said Allen confessed to the crime, saying, “I killed Abby and Libby. I’m sorry.”

She said Allen also said he made sure the girls were dead so they didn’t suffer. Allen told her he also wanted to apologize to the girls’ families.

Allen allegedly told the psychologist that he had a sex addiction and that his intentions with the eighth-grade girls were sexual.

The clinical psychologist testified that Allen claimed he abused his sister as a child and sexually experimented with children his age.

The suspect said he saw the girls on the railroad tracks and followed them to the bridge. Allen said he did something with his gun and thought that’s when the cartridge, a key piece of evidence, came out.

Then he ordered the girls “down the hill” and wanted to sexually assault them. But he was startled by a person or a van, and then Allen ordered the girls across the creek, allegedly slitting their throats and then covering their bodies with tree branches.

Allen said that after killing the girls, he walked to his car and continued to live his life normally until his arrest.

Wala noted that Allen appeared to be “relieved” after making his confession.

The final testimony of the morning was Wala speaking in more detail about Allen’s overall mental state, describing it as “fragile” when he arrived in Westville.

The court will continue on Wednesday afternoon with the eleventh day of the double murder trial.

Allen’s alleged prison confessions

On Tuesday, jail staff testified about Allen’s many confessions and behavior while behind bars.

John Galipeau, a former warden at the Westville Correctional Facility, took the stand Tuesday.

Allen’s attorneys have repeatedly argued that he was treated poorly there, calling him a “baby killer.”

Galipeau testified that Allen was allowed to shower three times a week, given three sets of clothes, had access to tablets and was allowed to recreate in an indoor room five days a week.

It was also revealed that Allen was on suicide watch.

Galipeau told jurors on March 5, 2023, that Allen had written a request for an interview with him.

The request stated that he wanted to confess to killing Abby and Libby.

The written note read, “I’m ready to officially confess to killing Abby and Libby. I hope I get the chance to tell the families I’m sorry.”

Galipeau also told jurors that Allen admitted to throwing away a box cutter in the dumpster behind the CVS where he worked in Delphi.

Allen said he had worked at CVS since 2013, and before that at Walmart for 10 years.

Galipeau said Allen was quiet during his first month in jail and began acting “erratically” after receiving mail from his lawyers. He said Allen began washing his face in the toilet, using the bathroom in his cell, tearing up mail and eating paper.

Several other Westville correctional officers also testified about the multiple times Allen confessed to the murders.

Corrections Officer Michael Clemons told jurors he was a “suicide buddy” for Allen. He was instructed to record everything Allen said and did while on suicide watch.

Clemons told the court on April 6, 2023, that Allen admitted to killing the girls.

Clemons said he recorded his notes and that Allen said, “I’m so glad no one abandoned me after I killed Abby and Libby.” Clemons said Allen also said, “I, Richard Matthew Allen, single-handedly killed Abby and Libby. Nobody helped me.’

Clemons said Allen would also yell at other inmates, “I’m not crazy, I’m just acting like I’m crazy.”

During cross-examination, Clemons testified that he never felt Allen’s behavior was genuine.

Defense attorney Brad Rozzi asked Clemons, “Can jail get a man?” Clemons admitted, “Yes, you can.”

Corrections Officer Ethan Drang also took the stand, telling jurors that Allen confessed to him on April 5, 2023.

Drang said Allen told him, “I think coming to prison cured me of my depression and anxiety.”

Correctional Officer Michael Roberts was also a suicide associate assigned to Allen.

Roberts had a detailed log of the confessions he said he heard.

On April 7, 2023, at 12:34 PM, Roberts wrote to Allen: “Dear Lord, forgive me for bothering Abby, Libby, Kevin and Chris. I want to confess. I know a lot more.”

On April 23, 2023, Roberts wrote in his logbook that at 2 p.m. Allen said, “I killed Abby.” & Libby. My wife was not involved. I want to confess.”

Then on April 26, 2023, Roberts wrote that Allen said, “Can I talk? Can you listen, I killed Abby?” & Libby? How can I prove that I’m crazy?”

On June 18, 2023, Roberts noted that at 3:30 p.m., Allen said, “Why are you doing this? Do you know God? Do you know why I’m here? I killed Abby and Libby.”

Roberts said he saw outrageous acts of misconduct to get the attention of guards who were watching. He went on to say that he believed Allen was acting more than having a mental health crisis.

During cross-examination, Roberts was pressed about Allen’s conduct behind bars. Defense attorney Brad Rozzi asked if Roberts had any formal mental health training, to which Roberts only responded what the state provided.

Roberts revealed that Allen began smearing feces over his cell and smeared it on his face.

Roberts also testified that he remembers Allen hitting his head against the wall for a long time at one point, causing his face to turn black and blue.

He also told the court that at certain points Allen would refuse food for extended periods of time.

Roberts admitted that some of Allen’s “suicide associates” went back into the general population of the prison and spread information about the murder suspect.

Correctional Officer John Miller also testified; Allen expressed his desire to “burn in hell” while confessing to the murders.

Miller testified how Allen said he abused his sister and possibly even touched his daughter.

Miller testified that Allen had an erection while talking about this.

As Miller testified Tuesday, Allen’s mouth was wide open and his eyes were surprised by these comments.

Miller went on to say that on April 9, 2023 at 6:56 a.m., Allen said, “I only killed them to give my family more time to be free.” Then at 7:58 a.m., Allen said, “I’m sorry I killed those kids… Maybe I touched my daughter, I can’t remember.”

The jury asked Miller if it would be normal to act like Allen while refusing medication. Miller replied, “It’s possible.”

Correctional officer Brandon Fisher testified that on April 29, 2023, Allen not only confessed to the murders, but also provided some details about what happened.

Fisher said Allen wanted to rape the girls, but he panicked and ended up killing them. Allen allegedly told Fisher he killed the girls with a box cutter and threw it in a dumpster behind CVS.

After 13 months, Allen was transferred to Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Westville. Jason Bedwell, a correctional officer there, was called to the witness stand.

Bedwell testified on February 4, 2024. Allen again confessed to the murders while crying and talking to himself. Bedwell said: “I’m sorry for what I did. Sorry for killing them.”

Also on Monday, Indiana State Police forensic scientist Stacy Bozinovski said no DNA tied Allen to the murder scene in Delphi, Indiana.