Richard Allen, Delphi Murder Suspect, Was a Witness in the Case – How Did This Manipulate the Investigation & Will There Be Other Arrests?

Richard M Allen

It’s not uncommon for a murderer to involve themselves in an investigation by stating they were a witness or were in the area when the crime occurred. It’s an old trick investigators are well aware of. Being a witness could explain why the person’s DNA or fingerprints were at the scene or explain why they may have been seen in the area around the time the crime occurred. It might give them an opportunity to receive updates on case progression. It may also allow them to control the investigation’s direction by giving false witness testimony that will lead investigators away from the murderer.

We waited nearly six years for an arrest in the Delphi IN case. Richard Allen of Delphi IN was arrested on Wednesday, October 26th in connection with the double homicide of Abby Williams and Libby German. Allen was charged with two counts of Murder on Friday, October 28th. The arrest came just days after Allen’s home was searched in relation to the case.

Abby and Libby were reported missing on February 13, 2017 after taking a hike on the Delphi Historic Trails. Their bodies were found the following afternoon. The two teens had been horrifically murdered, their bodies moved and posed then left on private land belonging to Ronald Logan.

The following day, February 15th, three pixelated images were released by the Indiana State Police. The images were still photos taken from a cell phone video in which Libby had captured her killer only moments before he would lead the two girls to their deaths.

The images portrayed a man walking towards the girls on the Monon High Bridge. He wore jeans, a blue jacket, what appeared to be brown sweatshirt or brown waist pack and a hat or hood. The image was too pixelated to identify the man in the images.

Three images of the suspected Delphi killer

Several witnesses stepped forward to state that they saw the man on the trails that day. Some saw him wearing the blue jacket, some stated he also wore a white scarf over his face and others stated it was the same man and he had no jacket but was wearing the white scarf. Witness testimony led to at least two suspect sketches.

Richard Allen, the man now charged with two counts of murder, was allegedly a witness in the Delphi case. What information he provided to investigators is unknown.

It’s been reported that several days after the homicides Richard Allen stepped forward and told investigators that he was at the Delphi Historic Trails that day. As a witness, it’s possible that Allen used his testimony to sway the investigation away from himself.

New speculation has led to the rumor that two other arrests have taken place in connection with the Delphi homicide case. No additional arrests have been confirmed at this time.

We are only left with questions.

Were investigators negligent in not vetting the witness testimony of Richard Allen? What information did Allen give to investigators? Did he claim to see the murderer on the trails that day? Did he contribute to the witness sketch? Was his testimony reason for investigators to pursue landowner, Ronald Logan?

One of the oldest tricks in the book is for the perpetrator to step forward as a witness to the crime he/she has just committed. It’s law enforcement 101. This is why all witnesses are under that veil of scrutiny. Their statements are vetted. They are often given polygraphs.

Social media photo of Richard Allen wearing a blue jacket

Why didn’t investigators pursue Allen as the suspect? We, the general public, saw social media photos of Allen wearing what very much appears to be the infamous blue jacket in the suspect video. He resembles the suspect sketches. He has the same hair color. Same facial hair. He is within the weight and height range witnesses reported. He lives 1.32 miles from the crime scene. Allen and his family are known to visit the trails and bridge often. He can take a path from his backyard and follow a wooded trail straight to the bridge.

Blue jacket worn by the Delphi suspect

A lot can be said for hindsight. Undoubtedly, the Delphi task force investigators are kicking themselves for not seeing this one. He was right under their noses the entire time. Something like this could be easily missed and often is. Allen is your average guy and wouldn’t appear to be a ruthless killer. He could slip under the radar easily….had he not involved himself in the investigation! That’s the turning factor here. He presented himself on a silver platter to investigators but they didn’t take a seat at that table.

Why didn’t investigators red flag Allen having the knowledge that Delphi police had responded to a domestic disturbance at his home in 2015? That incident allegedly resolved with his wife, Kathy, stating that Allen was drunk and she would take him to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.

CVS store in which Richard Allen worked

Now we find ourselves asking, who else knew Allen was involved? Did he tell anyone? Did anyone question him about his possible involvement?

What about those who knew Allen? He had a wife, daughter and other family members, friends and coworkers. We cannot cast blame on those close to Allen but questions are warranted. Did anyone know that he was a witness? Did they know he was on the trail that day? Did they know he had been questioned by investigators more than once?

Didn’t anyone around Richard Allen question his involvement knowing that he had the blue jacket? That he was on the trail that day? That he had, at some point, sought inpatient help at a mental health institution? That he had one prior incident of domestic violence in which police responded to the home?

What led to the search of Allen’s home? Was this part of the Kegan Kline child pornography case? Did someone close to Allen break and decide to come forward and point investigators towards the homicide evidence? Had Allen told someone and they turned him in? Was Allen involved in some petty crime that led investigators to his home?

The Probable Cause Affidavit for the search and charging documents has been sealed. There will be a hearing on November 22, 2022 at 9am that will determine the sealing of the record on the case.

Hearing notice over the dealing of the Probable Cause Affidavit

Carroll County Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Diener, according to the Carroll County Prosecutor’s Office, made the decision to seal the documents. While rare, case documents can be sealed if the information could jeopardize the case or place police officers, witnesses or the community in danger. Nearly all files pertaining to the Delphi case have been sealed from the beginning of the investigation.

The sealed Probable Cause Affidavit and charging documents have spurred rumors that other arrests pertaining to the case have taken place or will be executed in the coming days.

Will there be additional arrests in connection to the Delphi homicides? It’s possible. Some potential scenarios could be:

*The homicide is related to the Kegan Kline child pornography case. Kline created two false social media accounts used to groom children/teens and entice them to send explicit photos and video. Kline created the EmilyAnne45 and Anthony_Shots accounts. The Anthony_Shots account was used to communicate with Libby German in the days leading up to the murders and was the last known communication with Libby the day she was killed when she and ‘Anthony’ made plans to meet on the trails. Kline has denied communicating with Libby that day and had not yet publicly identified additional users of the accounts.

*Richard Allen confessed to a friend or family member and that person did not report the confession. Murderers often are compelled to tell their story. It’s common for a murderer to brag about a crime or feel that they need to get of off their conscious. It’s possible Allen confessed, the person didn’t report the confession and now they can be charged federally for failure to report.

*Someone knew that Allen was going to the trail that day to commit a crime and either aided, promoted, facilitated, instigated or planned the crime with him but did not commit the crime themself. It might be that Kline told Allen that Libby and Abby would be at the trails and vulnerable, expecting an encounter but not a homicide. This would warrant arrest.

*Someone knew that Allen committed the homicides and assisted him in a coverup. It’s not unusual for a friend or loved one to assist with a coverup to protect the murderer from a lengthy prison sentence. It’s possible that someone close to Allen hid or disposed of evidence, corroborated a false alibi or manipulated the investigation in a way that would alter the course away from Allen.

*An accomplice assisted with the homicides. Law enforcement has always appeared adamant that only one man committed this double homicide. However, they can never rule out an accomplice.

Unofficial suspect sketch

Investigators have left the tip lines open. If you have information regarding the Delphi homicide or the Kegan Kline child pornography case, you can contact investigators at:

Email:abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com
Tip Line: (765) 822-3535

For more information on the Delphi homicide case you can visit the Indiana State Police webpage for case details here: https://www.in.gov/isp/crime-reporting/delphi-homicide-investigation/

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