Seven years later, trial begins in Indiana town stunned by deaths of 2 girls.

Richard Allen, a man from Delphi, Indiana, is on trial for the murder of two teenage girls, Abigail Williams and Liberty German. The prosecutor described how Allen forced the girls off a hiking trail before cutting their throats, with images and audio recordings on one of the victim’s phones as evidence. The trial is receiving outsized media attention, prompting jurors to be sequestered in Fort Wayne.
The prosecution claims that Allen’s image and voice were captured by the victim’s phone, and that he made incriminating statements to various individuals. Defense attorney Andrew Baldwin argued that Allen’s statements were made under stress and suggested there is reasonable doubt, pointing out inconsistencies and police belief that more than one person could have committed the homicides.
The case had remained unsolved for five years, with investigators revisiting old tips and eventually identifying Allen as a suspect. Previous hearings revealed attempts by the defense to suggest the girls were killed in a ritual sacrifice by a pagan Norse religion and white nationalist group. The trial is closely monitored by Judge Fran Gull, who has set strict rules for media coverage inside and outside the courtroom.
As the trial progresses, jurors will be presented with evidence from the crime scene and witness testimonies, with the prosecution arguing that Richard Allen is indeed the man responsible for the murders. The small community of Delphi continues to grapple with the tragedy that unfolded on that fateful day in February 2017.

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