Who killed Abby and Libby in Delphi?

Richard Allen, a Delphi resident and CVS pharmacy technician, was convicted of murdering Abigail Williams and Liberty German in November 2024. He was arrested in October 2022 after investigators linked him to an unspent bullet found at the crime scene.

What evidence was found in the Delphi murders?

Key evidence included video and audio recorded on Liberty German's phone showing the suspect and his voice saying 'down the hill,' an unspent bullet linked to Richard Allen's Sig Sauer pistol, and Allen's own admission that he was on the trail that day.

What was the Delphi murders verdict?

Richard Allen was found guilty on all counts in November 2024. He was convicted of two counts of murder for the killings of Abigail Williams and Liberty German.

The Delphi Murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German

Editor’s Note (April 2026): This article was originally published in May 2018 when the Delphi murders remained unsolved. In October 2022, Richard Allen was arrested and charged with the murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. He was convicted on all counts in November 2024. The original reporting below has been preserved as an archive of the investigation, with new sections added to document the arrest, trial, and conviction.

The Day Everything Changed: February 13, 2017

In the society we live in today, with cell phones, social media, and forensic science growing exponentially, it’s hard to fathom crimes going unsolved. What’s even more difficult to comprehend is when all of those things are combined in one mystery and answers are still unable to be produced. So when two young girls go hiking on a canceled school day and record their adventure on Snapchat, nobody expected the devastating turn of events, but people were hopeful the case would be solved quickly.

Abigail Williams and Liberty German were two best friends in the 8th grade at Delphi Community Middle School in Delphi, Indiana — a small Midwestern town consisting of fewer than 3,000 residents, known for its blue-collared workers, avid hunters and fishers, and the annual Delphi Bacon Festival.

They gravitated to each other from a young age because of similar interests and were practically inseparable ever since. Like the community around them, they thoroughly enjoyed spending their days experiencing nature by hiking, fishing, camping, and riding ATVs. Sports also played a big role in their lives. Abigail loved volleyball and had been on the school team for the last three years. Liberty had a passion for softball and loved playing the first-base position.

Though the teenagers were keen on spending their days outside, they also found enthusiasm in other curricular activities. Both girls dabbled in music — playing the alto saxophone in the school band. They also relished in creativity by showing an interest in arts, crafts, and painting. Abigail often knitted hats for babies at the local hospital and Liberty would bake cookies for the family and leave behind sticky notes that offered words of love and encouragement.

On Sunday, February 12, 2017, Abigail had a sleepover at Liberty’s home, who was in the primary care of her grandparents, Mike and Becky Patty, knowing that school had been dismissed for Monday, February 13, 2017, because of an unused snow day. The two girls took complete advantage of the opportunity and spent their weekend laughing, painting, playing outside, and staying up late.

The following afternoon they conjured up a plan to go hiking at the Monon High Bridge — a common hangout spot for teenagers. Liberty’s older sister, Kelsi German, dropped the two off on her way to work at 1:30 p.m. and the girls arranged to be picked up by Liberty’s father, Derrick German, after running several errands that would take two hours.

Everything was seemingly going as planned. As many teenagers do, Liberty wanted to share their afternoon with social media and began recording their adventure at 2:07 p.m. on SnapChat and uploaded a picture of Abigail smiling as she crossed the abandoned Monon High Bridge. Their happiness and joy from the two best friends were evident but nobody could have predicted what would soon transpire.

At approximately 3:11 p.m. Derrick texted Liberty saying he was about to arrive and urged her and Abigail to meet him at the destination. Three minutes later he pulled into the parking area but the girls weren’t in view. He proceeded to text Liberty once more but he didn’t receive a reply. Knowing this was uncharacteristic, he went on to call her, but once more she never answered.

Worrying began to seep in and he decided to walk the trail to search for the girls. Fifteen minutes later without any luck, he called his mother, Becky, and alerted her to the situation unfolding. Mike immediately took time off to join Derrick, where they spent an hour combing the area but the sun started to dwindle down and they decided to contact the local authorities to report Abigail and Liberty missing.

The word traveled quickly as family members used social media to spread awareness. By 6:00 p.m. hundreds of concerned residents showed up beside the State Police, Carrol County Sheriff and Fire Department, and Natural Resources. The hours rolled on and despite large search groups consisting of drones and K-9 units, they were unable to battle the terrain in the darkness and by midnight they called off the search and would resume in the morning.

Once the sunrise emerged the search resumed, and the FBI, dive teams, friends and family, and volunteers scoured the dense woods and thickets. Shortly before noontime, everyone’s worst nightmares came to fruition, when a volunteer searcher stumbled upon the bodies of two young girls near Deer Creek; a half-mile away from the Monon High Bridge.

The Investigation Begins

On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 15, 2017, Indiana State Police and the Carrol County Sheriff’s Department held a press conference. They officially confirmed the two bodies recovered were Abigail Williams and Liberty German, and that a homicide investigation was underway. In addition to the announcement, a photograph was released of an unidentified male walking across the Monon High Bridge at approximately the same time as the two girls.

On Sunday, February 19, 2017, Indiana State Police officially declared the unidentified male in the released photograph was the prime suspect in the case. The picture had been captured by Liberty German as she was recording Abigail during the hike. Three days later on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, another vital piece of evidence was made known when the police unveiled a snippet of audio of a male saying “Down the hill” that was recorded from Liberty’s phone.

The police said they are looking for a middle-aged caucasian male between 5’6-5’10 in height, roughly 180-200 pounds, and possibly reddish-brown hair. He’s wearing a blue windbreaker or coat, denim blue jeans, brown shoes or boots, and a brown undergarment that may be clothing or a fanny pack. Indiana State Police went on to say more evidence was obtained from the crime scene but did not elaborate in order to not hinder the potential of a future trial. They also proclaimed Liberty as a hero for having the presence of mind to record the suspect amidst a terrifying encounter.

Over the course of several days, a Delphi Murder Tip Line service was soon orchestrated. Likewise, a nationwide campaign was launched to provide over 6,000 electronic billboards with information pertaining to Abigail and Liberty’s case across 46 states with the hope to garnish new tips and leads in the case.

On the second weekend of the murders, Carrie Timmons created a beautiful movement called “Light up Delphi,” where she urged the town to install orange porch lights as a tribute to Abigail and Liberty.

On July 17, 2017, a composite sketch of the grainy photograph captured by Liberty German was released by law enforcement. Their goal was to generate more awareness to the public, and hundreds of new tips and leads emerged from the effort.

On December 13, 2017 — the 10-month anniversary of Abigail and Liberty’s disappearance and murder — family members and Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter appeared on Dr. Phil’s television show to keep the case remained in the spotlight. After the broadcast, the case hit a major spike in awareness and over 270 new leads were called in.

The community of Delphi rallied together. A $1million sports complex is being constructed in their memory and will be consisting of three baseball fields, batting cages, an amphitheater, and a plaque to commemorate their lives. Even to this day, orange light bulbs can be seen lighting up homes and streets and it continues to be a reminder that just because the girls are gone, they aren’t forgotten.

Years of Waiting: 2019-2022

In April 2019, investigators released a second composite sketch of the suspect along with additional audio and video from Liberty German’s phone. Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter delivered an impassioned press conference directed at the killer, stating that investigators believed the suspect was local to the Delphi area or had connections to it. The new sketch depicted a younger-looking man than the original 2017 composite, and investigators clarified that this new sketch should take priority.

Despite the renewed public attention, tens of thousands of tips, and years of intensive investigation by the FBI, Indiana State Police, and Carroll County law enforcement, the case remained open without an arrest for more than five years. For the families of Abigail Williams and Liberty German, it was an agonizing wait — but they never stopped advocating, never stopped speaking publicly, and never stopped demanding accountability for their girls.

The investigative persistence of law enforcement during this period cannot be overstated. Detectives continued to follow leads, re-examine evidence, and apply evolving forensic methods to the case. That persistence would ultimately pay off. The families’ courage in keeping the case in the public eye — similar to the tireless advocacy seen in cases like the disappearance of Asha Degree and the murder of Lacey Gaines — played a critical role in sustaining pressure on investigators to bring the case to resolution.

The Arrest of Richard Allen: October 2022

On October 26, 2022 — more than five years after the murders — Carroll County prosecutors announced that Richard M. Allen, a 50-year-old Delphi resident, had been arrested and charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Abigail Williams and Liberty German.

Allen had been living in Delphi the entire time. He worked at the local CVS pharmacy, a store the victims’ families likely encountered in their daily lives in the small town. The revelation that the suspect was a member of the community — someone who had walked among grieving neighbors for years — sent shockwaves through Delphi and the broader true crime community.

Court documents revealed that Allen had actually placed himself at the Monon High Bridge trail on the afternoon of February 13, 2017. He had spoken to a conservation officer shortly after the murders and acknowledged being on the trail that day, but the tip had not been connected to the broader investigation for years. It was not until a re-examination of the case files that investigators matched Allen to the evidence.

An unspent .40-caliber round found between the bodies of the two girls was forensically linked to a Sig Sauer pistol owned by Richard Allen. This ballistic evidence, combined with Allen’s self-reported presence on the trail and witness accounts of a man matching his description on the bridge that afternoon, formed the foundation of the prosecution’s case.

The arrest brought a measure of relief to the families and to Delphi, though the road to trial would prove long and contentious.

The Trial: October-November 2024

The trial of Richard Allen began on October 18, 2024, in Allen County Superior Court in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after a change of venue from Carroll County. The proceedings drew national attention and intense media coverage.

The prosecution presented a methodical case built on multiple threads of evidence. Central to the state’s argument was the unspent bullet linking Allen’s firearm to the crime scene, his documented presence on the trail, and video from Liberty German’s phone showing a man investigators identified as Allen on the Monon High Bridge. Witness testimony from individuals who encountered a man matching Allen’s description near the bridge that afternoon corroborated the timeline.

The defense mounted challenges to the ballistic evidence and argued that Allen’s confessions — multiple statements he made to his wife and to investigators while in custody — were the product of deteriorating mental health during his incarceration. Defense attorneys also raised alternative theories about the perpetrator, though the court limited some of these arguments.

The trial lasted approximately four weeks. On November 11, 2024, the jury returned its verdict: Richard Allen was found guilty on two counts of murder for the killings of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. He was subsequently sentenced to 130 years in prison.

Justice for Abby and Libby

For the families who had spent nearly eight years seeking answers, the conviction represented a moment they had fought for through unimaginable grief. The courage that Liberty German demonstrated on the Monon High Bridge — activating her phone’s recording and capturing images and audio of the man who approached them — was instrumental in the investigation from the very beginning. Without her presence of mind, the case may never have been solved.

The Delphi murders case stands as a powerful reminder of both the limitations and the eventual power of persistent investigation. In an era of genetic genealogy breakthroughs and rapid forensic advances, this case was ultimately cracked through traditional detective work: re-examining tips, re-analyzing physical evidence, and refusing to let the case go cold.

The orange porch lights that still illuminate homes across Delphi have taken on a new meaning. Where they once symbolized an unresolved plea for justice, they now stand as a tribute to two young girls whose lives mattered, whose community never forgot them, and whose killer was ultimately held accountable.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Delphi Murders

Who killed Abigail Williams and Liberty German in Delphi, Indiana?

Richard M. Allen, a 50-year-old Delphi, Indiana resident, was arrested on October 26, 2022, and charged with the murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. He was found guilty on two counts of murder in November 2024 and sentenced to 130 years in prison.

What evidence led to Richard Allen’s arrest in the Delphi murders case?

The key evidence included an unspent .40-caliber round found at the crime scene that was forensically linked to a Sig Sauer pistol owned by Allen, his self-reported presence on the Monon High Bridge trail on the day of the murders, and witness accounts placing a man matching his description at the bridge that afternoon.

What was the audio and video evidence from Liberty German’s phone?

Liberty German recorded video and audio on her phone during the encounter with the suspect on the Monon High Bridge. The footage captured a man walking on the bridge and the audio phrase “Down the hill.” This evidence was released publicly during the investigation and was presented at trial as depicting Richard Allen.

How long did the Delphi murders investigation take before an arrest was made?

The investigation lasted more than five and a half years. Abigail Williams and Liberty German were murdered on February 13, 2017, and Richard Allen was not arrested until October 26, 2022. The case generated tens of thousands of tips and involved the FBI, Indiana State Police, and Carroll County law enforcement.

Where is Richard Allen now after being convicted of the Delphi murders?

Richard Allen was sentenced to 130 years in prison following his conviction on two counts of murder in November 2024. His defense team has indicated plans to appeal the verdict.

Why is Liberty German considered a hero in the Delphi murders case?

Liberty German, only 14 years old at the time, had the presence of mind to activate her phone’s camera and recording capability when she and Abigail Williams encountered the suspect on the Monon High Bridge. The images and audio she captured were central to the public investigation for years and were used as evidence in the trial that convicted Richard Allen.