DELPHI, Ind — It's been over seven years since the bodies of Abby Williams and Libby German were found near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi. Richard Allen, the man accused of killing the two teenagers, will stand trial for the 11th day Wednesday.
The trial began Friday, Oct. 18.
Sixteen Allen County residents were selected to serve on the jury. Twelve of those people (eight women and four men) began the trial as jurors with four (two men and two women) serving as alternates.
From opening statements to verdict, 13News will be at the Carroll County courthouse every day of the trial to explain what happened inside the courtroom.
Follow along with the latest updates from Wednesday below:
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(WARNING: Some of the testimony described in this story may be disturbing to some readers.)
Day 11 Summary
On Day 11 of the Delphi murders trial, a prison psychologist told jurors about alleged confessions made by Richard Allen that the prosecution says provide details only the killer would know.
Dr. Monica Wala, who treated Allen while he was at Westville Correctional Facility, told jurors she met almost daily with Allen and heard him confess to the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German several times. One of the confessions, she said, was very detailed, as she wrote in her clinical notes.
After Wala recounted her notes of the confession to the jury, defense attorneys got her to acknowledge she diagnosed Allen with "serious mental illness" and that he had an abrupt occurrence of psychotic behavior around the time he confessed.
The jury also heard of Wala's longtime fascination with the Delphi murders case and that she talked to Allen about what people had said about him online and in podcasts about the case.
Read more details on Wednesday's testimony below.
Last witness of Day 11, Delphi resident Brad Weber
Brad Weber lives across the creek from where Abby and Libby's bodies were found, at the end of a private drive that runs near the bridge.
Weber testified on the day the girls disappeared, he clocked out of work at 2:30 p.m. at the Subaru plant about 25 minutes away.
Weber said after he clocked out he went right home and that he was driving a van.
Upon cross-examination, things got heated between Weber and defense attorney Andrew Baldwin:
Baldwin: "You didn’t drive straight home from work on Feb. 13."
Weber: "That’s not correct."
Baldwin: "You told law enforcement on Feb. 17 or Feb. 18 you went and worked on your ATM machines."
Weber: "I said I dropped off a trailer."
Baldwin: "That was earlier in the day. You went and worked on your ATM machines."
Weber: "(Starts yelling) That’s not correct! No!"
Baldwin then handed Weber a subpoena and Weber stormed out.
The jury looked stunned after the interaction. They were all looking at each other.
For background of the exchange, earlier in the trial, the defense made a point of saying police also tested Brad Weber's gun to see if it could have been connected to the unspent shell cartridge found near the girls' bodies — the results were inconclusive.
The defense also made a point of saying that police never searched the outbuildings on Weber's property.
Former Delphi Police Chief Steve Mullin
Steve Mullin, who was the chief of the Delphi Police Department at the time of the murders, was back on the stand Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier in the week, jurors wanted to know if police had looked into how many people had registered 2016 black Ford Focuses.
The state has used video from the Hoosier Harvest Store to show a car driving that they say belongs to Richard Allen. In still shots of the video, you can't see the driver, or license plate, or even that the car is a 2016 Ford Focus SE, the kind of car Allen has.
When the jury asked if police had looked into how many Ford Focuses there were in Carroll County, Mullin didn't know. But he checked into it and brought the records back on Wednesday.
Mullin searched BMV records for 2016 and 2017 in Carroll and surrounding counties for black 2016 Ford Focuses. He found 18 such cars, with eight being SE models.
But in Carroll County, there was only one black 2016 Ford Focus SE and it was registered to Richard Allen.
On cross-examination, defense attorney Jennifer Auger asked Mullin if other people from other counties visit Carroll County and if the town tracks who drives here. Mullin answered no.
The defense pointed out that on the video still, you can't see a driver, license plate number or "SE."
Auger had her own list, which showed from 2011 to 2017, Ford made other Focus models, not just SEs. Her list showed 65 black Ford Focuses with similar body types as the SE that were registered in Carroll and surrounding counties in 2016 and 2017.
The jury asked about the rims on the car in the video. In the video, the rims look like the spokes of a wheel and you can see daylight poking through the spokes.
The jury wanted to know if there were other models of black Ford Focuses that had an option to have those kinds of rims during the years 2011 and 2016. Mullin did not know, but said he did know those kind of rims were available for the SE model.
State's 37th witness, Dr. Monica Wala, lead psychologist at Westville Correctional Facility in 2022 and 2023
2:41 p.m. - State's attorney Stacey Diener begins redirect.
Diener asked what Wala would do after meeting with a patient.
Wala said she would go to her office and enter notes into the electronic system, then shred the notes.
Diener asked if there was any reason to think the electronic notes do not accurately reflect the original paper notes.
Wala said no.
Diener asked if Wala's employers with Centurion knew she was a fan of true crime. (Centurion was the company that contracted Wala's services to DoC).
Wala said "they knew."
Diener asked if her supervisors had any concern about having Wala on the case.
Wala said they didn't express any.
Diener asked if Wala told her supervisors she followed Allen's case.
Wala said yes.
Wala said "I told Richard Allen he had supporters out there to help maintain hope."
Wala said the stressors on Allen would have been most intense December of 2022 through February of 2023, when he first arrived.
Diener asked if people "underreport" in areas that are unfavorable.
Wala said yes they do.
Rozzi asked if Wala knew if Allen underreported his sexual history or alcohol abuse.
Wala said she did not know.
Rozzi debated with Wala if she looked into the Delphi case for "personal reasons."
Wala said "there's always that interest."
Rozzi asked if there was a way to test if someone was faking symptoms.
Wala said yes, but they didn't have those tests available at the Indiana Department of Corrections.
1:35 p.m. - After the lunch break, cross examination of Wala resumed.
Rozzi sited an intake document from Nov. 18, 2022, that said Allen had major depressive disorder.
Rozzi then asked about the orientation process for the prison.
Wala said Allen did not receive orientation.
Rozzi then got Wala to acknowledge the difficult conditions Allen experienced in prison.
Rozzi said Allen was put in a 3' x 3' cage for his sessions with Wala. Rozzi said those were not ideal therapeutic conditions.
Wala said it was all it had.
Rozzi asked if Allen was shackled throughout his sessions.
Wala said no, then Rozzi showed her her deposition where she said he had been shackled throughout sessions.
Wala said she didn't remember it that way and didn't know why she said that. She said that once Allen was in the cage his shackles were removed.
Rozzi said that in deposition, Wala said that Allen indicated he was put in a dog cage for transportation to a court hearing.
The jury was then shown a page from Nov. 24, 2022 in Wala's notes.
Wala said that Allen expressed concern about his suicide watch companions.
Rozzi asked if Allen reported he wasn't suicidal but was struggling with the kimono and what others thought of him.
Wala said yes.
Notes from Nov. 7, 2022 suicide monitoring on Allen were also entered.
Rozzi said that Allen reported no history of physical or sexual abuse.
Wala said that was what Allen reported.
Allen had a history of hospitalization for mental illness.
Rozzi asked if Allen was "already stressed" about prison conditions. Wala said yes.
Suicide monitor notes from Nov. 9, 2022 were entered. In the notes, Allen said he was concerned about other what other inmates thought about him and were saying about him. Allen quoted other inmates as calling him "baby killer" and telling him they wanted to kill him. Allen told Wala he thought it was part of a psychological game meant to "break him down."
In a report Wala wrote on Nov. 21, 2022, Allen said he was being treated as if he had already been found guilty. Allen told Wala he did not commit the crime and would never admit to something he didn't do. Allen said he was glad the evidence didn't point to him.
In notes Wala wrote on Nov. 25, 2022, she said Allen presented as selfless and concerned about his wife.
In notes Wala wrote on Dec. 6, 2022, Allen said he was an innocent man and felt he had already been convicted.
In notes Wala wrote on Dec. 29, 2022, Allen said he couldn't get a toothbrush or charge his tablet. Allen told Wala he was treated worse than the convicted inmates. Allen complained he couldn't visit with his wife.
In notes Wala wrote on Jan. 17, 2023, Allen complained about the conditions in his cell. Allen said he did not get a letter from his wife, complained about severe heartburn, rodents and ants.
The state objected that the defense could not introduce statements from Allen during cross examination. The judge sided with the state and the objection was sustained.
In notes Wala wrote on April 4, 2023, Wala identified Allen as a clinical risk factor. Wala wrote Allen had fatalistic fantasies, suicidal ideation, feelings of worthlessness, intense anguish, anxiety and hopelessness.
In notes Wala wrote on April 12, 2023, Wala said Allen had a "grave disability." This led to Allen's involuntary medication.
In notes Wala wrote on April 20, 2023, Wala said Allen's cognitive issues and worsened.
In notes Wala wrote on May 11, 2023, Wala said Allen's mental status was depressive and paranoid.
In notes Wala wrote on May 18, 2023, Wala wrote that Allen received a 2nd involuntary injection of medication that would last until about mid-June.
In notes Wala wrote on May 26, 2023, Wala said Allen had two black eyes and appeared to be self-harming.
In notes Wala wrote on June 5, 2023, Wala said Allen had received his third involuntary injection for banging his head.
In notes Wala wrote on June 26, 2023, Wala marked that Allen had bulging eyes with no explanation.
In notes Wala wrote on Aug. 16, 2023, Wala noted a change in Allen's physical appearance. Wala said Allen's eyes were no longer bulging out has they had been for months.
According to Allen's intake documents from Nov. 8, 2022, Allen was listed as 5'5" tall and weighing 173 pounds.
Rozzi asked if Wala's conclusion that Allen reacted poorly to receiving discovery materials was speculation.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi said that Wala entered handwritten notes into a computer and then destroyed the handwritten notes.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi said that is a violation of professional conduct.
Wala said she was not sure.
Rozzi showed Wala the best practices for professional conduct from the National Psychology Society.
Rozzi said Wala does not have her original notes of what she saw.
Wala said correct.
Rozzi asked if Wala agreed that Allen had serious mental illness.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi asked if there was a policy that someone with serious mental illness should not be left in solitary confinement for more than 30 days.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi asked if it s reasonable to believe that 13 months of solitary confinement impacted Allen's mental health.
Wala said sure.
Rozzi asked if Allen had a psychotic episode, with the abrupt appearance of psychotic behavior in March, April, May and June of 2023.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi said that Wala told Diener that Allen was faking his behavior.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi asked if Wala had told him, in deposition, that she was reconsidering that opinion in hindsight.
Wala said yes.
11:52 a.m. - Defense attorney Brad Rozzi began the cross examination of Wala.
Rozzi said Wala was no longer working for the Department of Corrections.
Wala said that after her testimony during a July 31, pre-trial hearing, she was not allowed to go back to Department of Corrections.
Rozzi said "you were following this Delphi murder case well before you started treating Mr. Allen... on podcasts and social media."
Wala said yes.
Rozzi said she used Department of Corrections computers to look up information related to the case for her own personal curiosity. Rozzi said that was why she was dismissed by the Department of Corrections.
Wala said yes, "they had to do an investigation."
Rozzi said Wala listened to specific Delphi podcasts, chatrooms, Facebook pages and contributed her own recommendations about where to get Delphi information. That included earlier in 2024.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi said that after someone pointed this out, she shut down her social media accounts.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi asked if she ever disclosed her personal interest in the case to her employer.
Wala said she thought she did. Rozzi showed her previous deposition where she said she never reported it to her employer.
Rozzi asked if she could do it over, would Wala have stopped following Delphi information when she started treating Allen.
Wala said probably.
Rozzi asked if she told Allen thing she was following with his case while she was treating him.
Wala said yes.
Wala agreed that it was hard for the Department of Corrections to do formal psychological testing on inmates because of limited resources.
Rozzi asked if major depressive disorder was part of Allen's psychological history.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi asked if anxiety disorder was part of his history.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi asked if Allen showed "defendant personality syndrome."
Wala said yes.
The state objected, saying Rozzi was asking leading questions.
Rozzi asked Walla if Allen was a fragile man when he came to the Department of Corrections, from a mental health standpoint.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi asked if Allen was subjected to very rough conditions in his cell for 13 straight months.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi asked if she every watched video of Allen in his cell. Wala said she did, but then said she did not when Rozzi said she had denied watching video during deposition.
Rozzi said Allen's mental health was rated a "D" on a scale that had "A" as the best and "E" as the worst.
Wala said yes.
Rozzi said that Allen's mental health code reflected that Allen had a serious mental health history.
Wala said yes.
11:13 a.m. - Dr. Wala's testimony resumed.
Wala said that when Allen arrived he was 180 pounds and was exercising. Wala said Allen was careful not to miss 4 meals in a row, which would have been reported.
A binder of Wala's notes was introduced as evidence. Here were the entries:
- Nov. 10, 2022 - Times when Allen refused to see Wala, thought he was a burden. Wala told him not to talk about his case with anyone other than his attorney.
- April 7, 2023 - "I told him confessed" and "said it was not in his best interest" to discuss guilt because it could be passed to other inmates and the media.
- April 10, 2023 - Odd behaviors. Allen naked. Did not respond to his name, doing things to his genitals. Religious preoccupation, urinating outside toilet, legal papers all over floor of his cell.
Wala said it appears Allen received discovery legal papers right around the time he started confessions. The warden switched out inmates to guards on suicide watch after legal discovery arrived. Wala saw a change in Allen's behavior after he got legal papers.
- April 12, 2023 - Allen clapping, banging on door, naked, touching genitals, rolling on ground. Recreation was taken away due to previous refusal to leave rec area and not willing to wear kimono. Behaviors due to Allen 'trying to get something.'
- April 13, 2023 - Informed behavior escalating. Allen eating his own feces. Involuntary medication. Did not qualify for involuntary injection. "Possible he is experiencing emotional breakdown" due to legal papers. "Little to no sleep" since April 4, 2023.
State's attorney Stacey Diener asked if Allen was still faking behavior.
Wala said it was possible but it didn't matter because Allen was deteriorating so much. Wala said they had to do something about it.
- April 17, 2023 - "Acting bizarrely." Wearing safety kimono. Appeared to be praying and agreed to come out of cell. Wala said Allen kept his eyes closed most of the session. He repeated nightmares and dreams. He said more people died because of his selfishness. Wala said Allen wanted to tell truth and "go back and make things right." Allen said he had done vulgar things and that's not who he is. Started making what seemed like rational statements that then trailed off. Allen received involuntary medication on April 14, 2023. It was in the middle of a month-long process to diagnose psychosis. Allen exhibited paranoia and delusional thinking.
- April 21, 2023 - Documented Allen's bizarre behavior to not be genuine
- April 25, 2023 - He reported mental decline could be from not taking his Prozac. Allen said he wanted to visit with his wife and transfer out of Westville. Wala said Allen's visit with his wife probably would not have happened without her intervention.
- April 28, 2023 - Allen was lying on bed naked. Said he wanted to shower before session with Wala. Improved insight and awareness. Allen said he was being selfish and not taking care of himself. "I did not see him as psychotic." Behavioral defiant behaviors with no real motive.
9:29 a.m. - The state called Dr. Monica Wala, a contracted psychologist who served as the lead psychologist at Westville Correctional Facility in 2022 and 2023, as its 37th witness. Wala had Richard Allen as a patient while he was in the facility.
She told jurors she "assumed" she would be Allen's psychologist "based on the high profile nature of the case." Wala said she put her notes into an electronic records system. She said she met with Allen an an "A-pod cubicle," where he was unshackled once inside. Wala said most times she put her notes from her session with Allen into the computer on the same day as the sessions.
Jurors received a copy of Wala's notes about her sessions with Allen. Wala began seeing Allen daily in November 2022. Her notes showed Allen was on suicide watch with close observation, monitored every 14 minutes. He was placed on suicide watch when he first got to the facility and stayed for one month before he was removed December 2022. He was placed back on suicide watch April 4, 2023, according to Wala's notes.
According to Wala's notes, Allen was not on "constant suicide watch," which was reserved for inmates who pose an imminent harm. He was placed back on suicide watch in April 2023 after "things had taken a turn," according to Wala's notes.
Wala said she remembered telling Allen not to discuss his case with other people.
When asked by prosecuting attorney Stacey Diener if she found Allen to be an intelligent person, Wala said yes. Diener asked Wala if Allen understand the danger of discussing his case with others. Wala said it depends on the time frame.
Wala said Allen discussed his case with her in a session April 5, 2023. Wala testified that during that session, Allen said, "I killed Abby and Libby. I'm sorry." Allen then became tearful, said he committed the murders alone, and said his intentions were sexual in nature. Allen said, Wala testified, that he thought the girls were 18 or 19 but could be as young as 11.
Wala said Allen talked about being a selfish coward all his life and wishing he could go back and change his actions. Wala said Allen admitted to having a sexual addition and being an alcoholic. She said Allen told her he "took God into his heart" in March 2023 and said he hoped he could give his bible to the family of Abby or Libby.
"He wished he could go back and change his actions and apologize to the families," Wala said. Wala said Allen hoped his family would forgive him and that he told her he was happier than he'd ever been in such a terrible place, grateful for the outside view from the top of his cell window.
Allen said he slept with his bible, Wala testified, and he expressed concern over Wala's own faith.
Wala wrote in her notes of Allen: "At times he was calm and at times he showed almost a bizarre smile." According to her notes, Allen said he found God on March 21, 2023 and he showed signs of "potential feigning." When asked about no running water, Allen said it didn't mater, as he was drinking water out of the toilet.
When asked by the prosecutor if Allen's behavior was manipulative, Wala said possibly. Wala said Allen couldn't recall if it was his first confession but did know he had made incriminating statements to companions on suicide watch.
Wala said she did not note anything unusual about Allen's physical appearance but noted his "intense" eye contact, staring and gazing, which she said at times was normal for him.
As for Allen's mental status, Wala said his emotions were up and down and he would sometimes go off on a tangent and return. Other times he wouldn't return.
Wala said Allen explained his confession and murder information in a "concise" manner and in chronological manner. It appeared that at the time, Wala said, "his anxiety and depression was improved."
During Wala's testimony Wednesday, jurors were watching Allen, who stared upwards or down at the table much of the time. At times, he looked at Wala.
The prosecuting attorney then turned to Wala's May 2, 2023 meeting with Allen. Wala said during that meeting, Allen said "I killed Abby and Libby. I will kill everyone..." "He mentioned starting World War III," Wala said, and asked "Is it ok to kill myself?"
"He stated he did not want to die," Wala said of Allen. He also said during that meeting, "I killed myself and my family and best friend" and "I'm not going to kill myself. I'm too much of a coward."
Wala said Allen told her he ate his feces because he was sane and didn't have water. When he was told that didn't make sense, Allen said, "I know," Wala testified.
Wala said Allen had difficulty staying on topic in the meeting and said he wasn't clear on expectations for his behavior other than taking his medication.
"Does not present as psychotic," Wala said of Allen during that meeting. According to Wala, Allen said both he would and would not killed himself. His tablet was broken at the time, and the warden suggested getting him a TV.
When asked if Allen was cooperative in the session, Wala said, "for the most part." Wala's diagnosis from the May 3 meeting was a brief psychotic disorder, with disorganized speech and behavior but not delusions or catatonic behavior.
When asked about her May 3 meeting with Allen, Wala said he gave a narrative of the crime to her during that meeting. This is what Wala testified was in that narrative he gave:
- Allen said he saw his parents on the morning of the crime. He bought a 6-pack instead of lunch, drank three beers, bundled up, went to the trail and saw the girls.
- He then followed them to the bridge, did something to his gun and thought that was when the cartridge came out, told the girls "down the hill."
- He said he planned on a sexual assault but saw a van, "got scared" and decided not to, crossed the creek and "cut necks" before covering the bodies with branches.
- Then, staying off the trail to not be seen, Allen said he returned to the car and had lived his life normally since.
Wala testified he told her he wanted his wife to know he loved her, kept repeating he didn't want to miss Easter, and had no psychotic symptoms.
Wala said that on May 5, 2023, there was an evaluation of suicide risk and treatment plan review for Allen, with the No. 1 goal ensuring safety and the No. 2 goal targeting Allen's depression and anxiety. They revised the suicide watch from constant to close due to signs of improvement.
Then Wala spoke of her notes from a May 9, 2023 meeting with Allen, during which she testified he said, "I just want to sign my confession." Wala said she told Allen he needed to discuss that his attorneys. Allen talked about self harm and his last meal, Wala said, then talked about wanting to get a job inside the Department of Corrections before later saying, "I'd be better off dead." Her cognitive assessment was "mild impaired judgement."
From her May 10, 2023, notes, Wala said Allen called his wife. Wala left the room, but when she returned Allen said he wanted to call his wife again so she could hear. During that call, Allen asked if family loved him and would always love him, and said he might have to live the rest of his life in prison. He also mentioned the electric chair. He stated he killed Abby and Libby, Wala testified. Allen's wife said for him to stop saying that.
Wala said of Allen, "he said I didn't do everything I said I did but I did kill Abby and Libby."
Discussing notes from May 11, Wala said Allen mentioned he wanted closure by apologizing to the victims' families and wanted to see his wife. He said he needed closure for himself, Wala testified.
Discussing notes from Aug. 3, Wala said when she asked Allen how he was doing, "He said he wanted to go to heaven." Allen said he wanted to see his wife and talk to his family, and talked about being afraid of dying and note feeling well. He said he was concerned about his heart, Wala said.
Wala said during that meeting Allen said he didn't know what's rational anymore and didn't know if he was going to heaven.
11 a.m. - Around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, Richard Allen came into the courtroom wearing a lavender shirt, gray pants and glasses on the top of his head. Judge Frances Gull entered the courtroom shortly after 9 a.m. and conducted a roughly 17-minute sidebar with attorneys at the request of the state. Jurors were brought into the courtroom around 9:30 a.m.
8 a.m. - The 11th day of the trial is expected to begin at 9 a.m. Check back for updates.