Indiana police announced the arrest of a suspect Monday in the 2017 murders of two teenage girls in Delphi, Indianaa case that has puzzled the online crime community and detectives for years.
Richard M. Allen, 50, of Delphi, was arrested on two counts of murder in the February 2017 deaths of 13-year-old Abigail “Abby” Williams and 14-year-old Liberty “Libby” German, reports said. Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter on Monday.
“Today is not a day to celebrate,” Carter said, noting that the arrest is “a major step towards a conclusion in this complex and long-running investigation.”
Williams and German disappeared while hiking in their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis.
They were dropped off at an abandoned railroad bridge on February 13, 2017 to walk around and hang out, according to the police. But when it was time to be picked up from the area, they never showed up.
Their bodies were found on February 14, 2017 in a wooded area near the historic Delphi Trail, 800 meters uphill from the bridge.
On Wednesday, Oct. 26, detectives from the Delphi Double Homicide Task Force arrested Allen and he was formally charged with two counts of murder on Friday, Indiana State Police said in a statement. Release. He is currently being held without bond at the White County Jail.
Carter said limited details will be released about the arrest to protect the integrity of the case and the investigation. Officials did not explain what evidence led them to arrest Allen.
He explained that the probable cause affidavit and charging documents have been temporarily sealed because “this investigation is far from complete.”
“Since the murders of Abby and Libby 2,086 days ago, the daily investigative team has worked tirelessly and is certainly worth mentioning today,” Carter said on Monday.
Officials said at the press conference that Allen had his first hearing and pleaded not guilty on a preliminary basis. A trial date is set for January 13, 2023 and a trial date is scheduled for March 20, 2023.
“As per the court order, we cannot speak to probable cause evidence or prosecution information,” Carroll County District Attorney Nicholas McLeland said. “Right now is not that day. Today is Abby and Libby focusing on them.
McLeland did not respond to questions about how long Allen was a suspect.
For years police have been working to find the girls’ killer and previously said the attacker may have close ties to Delphi, a town of around 3,000 people.
Police previously released two sketches of a suspect.
They also posted grainy photos of a person walking over an old railroad bridge the girls visited on their hike with audio of a man saying “Down the hill” taken from the cellphone of Liberty.
The photo appeared to show a white male wearing blue jeans, a blue coat/jacket and a hoodie, who police said was believed to be a suspect in the homicides.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.