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Richard Allen condemned the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams at Delphi

Richard Allen condemned the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams at Delphi

Allen was convicted of murdering the two girls near the Monon High Bridge in 2017.

DELPHI, Ind. – Richard Allen was sentenced Friday, Dec. 20, to 130 years in prison for the 2017 Delphi murders of Abby Williams and Libby German.

Special Judge Frances Gull sentenced Allen to 65 years for Abby’s murder and 65 years for Libby’s murder, the maximum sentence for both charges.

Gull told Allen: “You are at the top of the list of the most heinous crimes” she has committed in 27 years.

Gull told the court there was a “generational influence” on the two girls’ families. The term was coined by Libby’s grandmother when she spoke to the judge and in the courtroom, saying the impact of these murders would last for generations.

“These families will forever struggle with your bloodshed,” Gull said, looking directly at Allen. “You sit there and keep rolling your eyes.”

A few moments later she announced the maximum sentence.

In November, a jury found Allen guilty of four murder charges, two for each girl. Under Indiana state law, a person can only be convicted of murdering a person once. Counts 1 and 2 were dismissed by the judge. He was convicted on counts 3 and 4.


Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland asked the judge to seal the autopsy and crime scene photos that made up a large portion of Friday morning’s hearing. Abby and Libby’s families took action against the defense team, saying they recklessly allowed those photos to be published online, causing enormous harm to the families.

As for mitigating factors, Gull noted that Allen had no prior criminal record, but said she did not give it any weight due to the heinous nature of the crime.

RELATED: Delphi Murders Trial Costs Top $2.5 Million; More bills will follow

Victim impact statements during sentencing

Carrie Timmons, Libby’s mother, said during the sentencing that it had been “absolute hell” for Libby’s family for eight years. She said it left “a literal hole in my soul.”

“I’ll never understand how you got away with this for so long,” Timmons said in an interview with Allen.

Timmons also told Allen to “please put me on your visitor list. “I will listen” if Allen is willing to apologize and explain his actions.

Diane Erksin, Abby’s grandmother, said, “I will never be the same person I was before Abigail was murdered.”

Eric Erskin, Abby’s grandfather, said, “Losing Abby is like losing a limb that will never grow back.”

Eric also addressed Allen when he said, “You, Richard Allen, will never take away our memories or the girls’ legacies.”


The grandparents of one of the victims spoke to Allen directly and said they could not forgive him at this point. They said they are still sitting in tremendous pain.

Press conference after the verdict

Officials and family members addressed the media for the first time since the confidentiality order was lifted following Allen’s conviction.

“As we move forward, we remain committed to keeping Abigail Williams and Libby German at the center of our focus,” said Indiana State Police Sgt. Jeremy Piers said.

“Justice was served for the girls,” said Mike Patty, Libby’s grandfather, who thanked the jurors for their openness and objectivity. “I will always be grateful for that.”

“There will never be closure in this case…some form of justice has been achieved, but it does not bring back Abby or Libby,” Carroll County Sheriff Tony Liggett said. “Today isn’t a conclusion – it’s just about turning the page and starting a new chapter.”

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter noted the crime occurred 2,866 days ago.

“I wish you all could have been in the courtroom to hear the victim impact statements. I will always remember her,” Carter said. “We lived by this obligation of confidentiality. The defense didn’t do that, and it cost a life. Anyone who shares these photos of these two little girls should be held accountable… I will never forgive this.”

“To the Delphi community and to Abby and Libby’s family, words cannot possibly explain what we all feel, but what Nick McLeland and the rest of the team involved in this have done… we owe them a huge thank you for that “They could never be repaid,” Carter said. “How about we start healing now? How about we hit the reset button and understand that justice has been served in this country, and if you don’t like justice in this country, go to another one.”

McLeland thanked his law enforcement team, the ISP, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and other agencies for their assistance in the sentencing.

McLeland also thanked Kathy Shank, a volunteer records officer who found Allen’s file in 2022 under a false name and marked “deleted.” She alerted police to Allen’s name again.

“Without them we wouldn’t be here. Without them we would have no arrest, no conviction and no punishment,” McLeland said of Shank.

“Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Abby and Libby myself. Libby for recording the defendant walking across the bridge. She had the wherewithal to pull out her phone and record this person and the wherewithal to know that.” “Something wasn’t right,” McLeland said. “And then to Abby, who hid the phone from the killer so he couldn’t take it… Without the efforts of those two little girls, we wouldn’t be here today, so Abby and Libby, thank you.”

What’s next for Richard Allen?

The gag order was lifted by Gull on Friday. The families were unable to speak throughout the trial and leading up to the trial.

Allen asked his family not to be present for the sentencing.

Jennifer Auger of Allen’s defense team spoke briefly to reporters after the verdict and said: “What they went through is unimaginable. We look forward to the next steps in our appeals process. Otherwise we have nothing to say.”

Jennifer Auger speaks with Richard Allen's defense team after Allen was sentenced to 130 years in prison for the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German.

In a sentencing memorandum filed Dec. 19, the day before the sentencing, Allen’s attorneys said he “maintains his innocence and looks forward to the appeal process.”

“Richard Allen believes that he is entitled to due process under the law and that he will be permitted to present a full defense in a future trial in this case,” his attorneys said in the filing. “For this reason, as well as for all other reasons set forth herein, Richard Allen: (1) has elected not to participate in the pre-sentencing proceedings; (2) will not present evidence at the sentencing hearing other than this memorandum; and (3) His attorneys will speak and articulate their arguments in a minimal manner during the sentencing hearing.”

(Below is video of Allen’s attorneys leaving the Carroll County Courthouse after the verdict.)

Richard Allen's defense team left the courthouse after he was sentenced to 130 years in prison in connection with the 2017 Delphi murders of Libby German and Abby Williams.

During pre-trial hearings, Gull ruled that Allen’s defense team could not present third-party suspects or alternative theories to the murders, including that the girls were killed as part of a pagan ritual.

Allen’s attorneys have 30 days from the sentencing to file an appeal.

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