Delphi Murders Trial: Day 10

DELPHI — On the 10th day of the Delphi murders trial Tuesday, video evidence of Richard Allen’s interviews with police was shown in court for the first time.

It was also the first time the court heard the voice of Allen, who faces multiple charges in the February 2017 murders of Abby Williams and Libby German.

On October 13, 2022, Allen met with Indiana State Police at the ISP Post in Lafayette. He was questioned by former Delphi Police Chief Steve Mullin and Carroll County Sheriff Tony Liggett.

“We just want to find out what you saw when you were there,” Liggett told Allen. “In February 2017, you told Dan Doolin of the DNR that you parked at the old Social Security office between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.”

Doolin took Allen’s first statement in 2017 that he was on the trail on Feb. 13, 2017, the same day the girls went missing.

Portions of the interview also show Allen joking and laughing with investigators about his membership in the “50 Club.” He discussed family history and health history. He said he had a heart attack and several disabilities and suffered from depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

In terms of employment, Allen said he has worked at CVS in Delphi since 2013. Previously, he was a store manager at Wal-Mart.

Allen chronology

On February 13, 2017, Allen told police that he visited his mother in Peru that morning from 11:00 to 11:15 and went home.

He said it was warmer than usual, so he put on his jacket and headed out onto the trail.

Around noon he went down to the bridge.

Allen then said he went to look at the fish for a while. “I love fishing,” he told police.

Allen said he sat for a few minutes and then left. He tried to remember where he had parked, but he couldn’t be sure.

Regarding his first police interview in 2017, Allen said he went to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office to report that he saw three girls on the trail. He said he was heading to the grocery store. Allen then paused and apologized, saying, “I’m sorry. Years have passed. I’ve thought about it a lot.”

He said he left around 1:30-1:45 p.m. but “really forgot the time.”

Allen again told police he remembered seeing three girls at the trailhead and remembered seeing two cars at Farmer’s Interest. He couldn’t remember what kind of vehicles they were, but said it could have been an SUV or a sedan.

As interviews continued in the courtroom about Allen’s interactions with police, Allen nodded his head in agreement.

Liggett then asked how Allen got to the bridge after he parked.

Allen said he was walking down the road. Allen said he remembers seeing cars parked outside Mears, but said he was focused on trading stocks while walking.

“I like trading stocks, just trying to get rich,” Allen said.

Lee Bushka

Investigators asked what he was wearing

Allen couldn’t remember exactly what he was wearing, but said he was wearing blue jeans and probably a Carhartt jacket and tennis shoes or combat boots. He said his jacket would probably have been black then. “I have hoodies, hoodies, a little bit of everything,” he said.

Investigators asked to check Allen’s phone.
Allen asked, “How long will you have my phone?”

Mullin read Allen the rights to the phone, to which Allen responded:

“I’m not going to give in to anyone. I was trying to be helpful.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised we’re even talking. I don’t want to be anyone’s fake boyfriend. This doesn’t seem like a conversation, you seem to think I did it.”

Liggett told Allen they were just “crossing the Ts and dotting the Is.”

Video of the interrogation played in court showed Allen preparing to give police his phone. He then pulled away and said he needed to talk to his wife first.

“I don’t want to be associated with this case any more than anyone else,” Allen said.

Allen said he didn’t want police looking at all the websites he was on. Delphi’s former police chief began to press the issue, saying the phone would help.

“We’re here because we haven’t found the guy who did this,” Mullin said.

“I don’t want to become that guy,” Allen said. “I had nothing to do with it.”

The court is currently still reviewing this video evidence.

Before the videos were played, special judge Fran Gall asked jurors if any of them had been contacted by the media or anyone about the case. All the jurors answered “no.”

This web story will be updated with additional information.

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