Delphi Murder Trial: Richard Allen's Mental Health Analyzed in the Murders of Libby German and Abby Williams

DELPHI, Ind. — Richard Allen’s defense team started the week by calling Doctor Polly Westcott to the stand.

She went into detail about Allen’s history with mental health and its decline while in prison.

Allen is accused of killing Libby German and Abby Williams while walking in Delphi, Indiana in February 2017.

Westcott was hired by Allen’s defense in May 2023. She said she looked into Allen’s mental health history, performed a neurological exam and determined the extent and context of his decline when he confessed to killing the girls.

She testified that it was unusual to have more than 20 hours of videos from a patient. She also had access to notes taken while he was on suicide watch.

In August 2023, Westcott met with Allen for the first time and conducted a two-hour evaluation, along with a five-hour test conducted over two days.

She determined that Allen arrived at the Westville Correctional Facility with depression and anxiety.

Westcott also diagnosed him with dependent personality disorder and was especially dependent on Kathy.

The clinical psychologist said Allen “fell apart” when he was cut off from Kathy.

She said his depression became increasingly apparent and escalated into psychosis.

Westcott further testified that Allen showed a “significant decline” during his captivity, progressing to hallucinations, psychosis and suicidal ideation.

“Solitary confinement can change brain chemistry,” she said.

Westcott explained that someone with Allen’s mental health history is much more likely to suffer from psychosis, especially under the circumstances he was in.

She testified that other inmates would yell at Allen while he was in solitary confinement, calling him a “baby killer” and telling him to kill himself.

She said Allen had no windows, slept irregularly and lost weight quickly. “Your brain can’t see what’s real,” she said. ‘It’s like being in a nice house. You don’t know
what is reality and what is not.”

The doctor also said that Allen made up stories while in his psychotic state.

When asked by the state how it could come to that decision. Westcott told the court at one point that Allen said, “Satan killed the girls.”

During cross-examination, the State pressed Westcott about Allen’s confession.

Prosecutor Stacy Diener asked, “Is everything a person says when they are in a psychotic state distorted as a result of their psychosis?”

Westcott responded, “Most of what a person says or perceives while in a psychotic state does not correspond to the world perceived by others around him.”

Diener continued with, “but they can say things that are true?”

Westcott replied, “yes.”

The other witness Monday morning was Max Baker, who watched “hundreds of hours” of jail cell videos of Richard Allen’s incarceration.

Baker edited those videos together to show the jury things like getting a bag for Allen, showering, getting x-rays and meeting with nurses and psychologists.

He said the edited video was typical of Allen’s activities in prison and that he could have shown more.

“I chose videos that I thought were the most important,” he said.

The trial continues Monday afternoon.