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

DELPHI, Ind. — The main topic on Wednesday was Richard Allen’s alleged prison confession.

Libby, 14, and her best friend Abby Williams, 13, were walking on a hiking trail in rural Delphi when their throats were slit on February 13, 2017, and they were left in the woods. 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 13 months after his arrest.

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

Dr. Monica Wala was employed as the Chief Psychologist for the Indiana Department of Corrections.

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

Wala closed her social media accounts after someone noticed that she was following the case very closely.

Wala said she first met Allen in November 2022, and he was frequently on suicide watch. Wala testified that they did not initially discuss the girls’ murders and insisted that Allen did not discuss the case with other people.

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

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

Allen allegedly told a psychologist that he was a sex addict and that his intentions towards eighth-grade girls were sexual.

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

The suspect said he saw the girls on the trail and followed them to the bridge. Allen said he did something to his gun and believed a bullet, which was a key piece of evidence, fell out.

That’s when he told the girls to “get down” and wanted to sexually assault them. But he was startled by the sight of a person or a van, and that’s when Allen ordered the girls to cross the stream, allegedly slit their throats, and then covered their bodies with tree branches.

Allen said that after killing the girls, he went to his car and led a normal life until his arrest.

Wala noted that Allen seemed “relieved” after testifying.

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

The trial in the double murder case will begin on Wednesday afternoon. The 11th day of the double murder trial will begin.

Allen’s alleged prison confession

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

John Galipeau, former warden of the Westville Correctional Facility, took his stand on Tuesday.

Allen’s lawyers repeatedly argued that he was mistreated there and called a “baby killer.”

Galipeau testified that Allen was allowed to shower three times a week, was provided three sets of clothes, had access to tablets and was entitled to indoor recreation time five days a week.

It was also revealed that Allen was on suicide watch.

Galipeau told jurors that on March 5, 2023, Allen texted him requesting an interview.

The motion said he wanted to confess to killing Abby and Libby.

The written note said: “I am ready to officially confess to killing Abby and Libby. “I hope I have the opportunity to tell the families I’m sorry.”

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

Allen said he has worked at CVS since 2013 and previously worked at Walmart for 10 years.

Galipeau said Allen acted calmly for the first month in prison and then began acting “erratic” after receiving letters from his lawyers. He said Allen began washing his face in the toilet, using the bathroom in his cell, destroying mail and eating paper.

Several other Westville correctional officers also testified that Allen repeatedly confessed to the murders.

Corrections officer Michael Clemons told jurors he was Allen’s “companion to suicide.” He was assigned to record everything Allen said and did during suicide watch.

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

Clemons said he recorded in his notes that Allen said, “I’m so glad no one gave up on me after I killed Abby and Libby.” Clemons said Allen also said, “I, Richard Matthew Allen, killed Abby and Libby myself. Nobody helped me.”

Clemons said Allen also shouted to other inmates, “I’m not crazy, I’m just acting like I’m crazy.”

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

Defense attorney Brad Rozzi asked Clemons, “Can prison get to a person?” Clemons admitted, “Yes, maybe.”

Corrections Officer Ethan Drang also took the stand and told jurors Allen pleaded guilty on April 5, 2023.

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

Corrections officer Michael Roberts was also the suicide companion assigned to Allen.

Roberts had a detailed record of the testimony he said he heard.

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

On April 23, 2023, Roberts wrote in his diary that at 2:00 p.m., Allen said, “I killed Abby & Libby. My wife wasn’t involved. I want to confess.”

Then on April 26, 2023, Roberts wrote that Allen said, “Can I speak? Can you listen, I killed Abby and Libby? How do I prove 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 inappropriate behavior intended to attract the attention of watching guards. He went on to say that he thought Allen was acting more like a reprimand than a mental health crisis.

During the hearing, Roberts was pressed about Allen’s behavior behind bars. Defense attorney Brad Rozzi asked if Roberts had any formal mental health training, to which Roberts replied only what the state provides.

Roberts revealed that Allen began smearing feces on his cell and holding it to his face.

Roberts also testified that he remembered Allen banging his head against a wall for a long time at one point, which turned his face black and blue.

He also told the court that Allen refused to eat at certain points for long periods of time.

Roberts admitted that some of Allen’s “suicide comrades” returned to the general public in prison and spread information about the murder suspect.

Corrections officer John Miller also testified; Allen expressed his desire to “burn in hell” while confessing to the killings.

Miller testified that Allen said he molested his sister and even touched his daughter.

Miller testified that Allen had an erection while telling the story.

As Miller testified Tuesday, Allen’s mouth was wide open and his eyes appeared surprised by the remarks.

Miller added 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, Allen said, “I’m sorry I killed those children… I may have touched my daughter, I don’t remember.”

The jury asked Miller whether it would be normal for him to act like Allen by refusing his medication. Miller replied, “It’s possible.”

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

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

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

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. “I’m sorry I killed them.”

Also Monday, Indiana State Police Criminal Investigator Stacy Bozinovski said no DNA linked Allen to the murder scene in Delphi, Indiana.