Richard Allen, who was convicted of murdering two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana, has been sentenced to 130 years in prison. The sentencing occurred on December 20, 2024, with Allen receiving the maximum penalty from Judge Frances Gull at the Allen Superior Court in Fort Wayne.
During the sentencing, Judge Gull expressed the severity of Allen’s crimes, stating, “I’ve spent 27 years as a judge, and you rank right up there with the most heinous crimes in the state of Indiana.” Allen was credited for 786 days already served in prison.
Last month, he was found guilty of killing 14-year-old Liberty “Libby” German and 13-year-old Abigail “Abby” Williams. The tragic events unfolded on February 13, 2017, when the girls were dropped off for a day of hiking near the Monon High Bridge. They were discovered dead the next day, with visible signs of violence.
A crucial piece of evidence was a video taken on one of the girls’ phones, which showed a man following them on the bridge, along with audio capturing him saying “down the hill.” The case remained unsolved for five years, and the suspect was known as “Bridge Guy” until Allen’s arrest in 2022, when forensic evidence linked him to the crime scene.
Testimony at trial indicated that Allen’s voice matched that of “Bridge Guy.” Additionally, several phone calls made from prison included what prosecutors described as a confession to his wife, where he allegedly admitted, “I did it. I killed Abby and Libby.”
In a surprising turn, Allen’s defense suggested that another group, referred to as “Odinists,” were responsible for the murders as part of a ritualistic act. However, the judge did not allow this line of defense during the trial.
Following the sentencing, reports indicate that Allen’s defense team plans to appeal the guilty verdict.
