Richard Allen, 52, has been sentenced to 130 years in prison for the 2017 murders of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, whose killings shocked the small community of Delphi and captured national attention for years.
Allen received two consecutive 65-year sentences for each victim following his conviction last month. The case, which remained unsolved for years, gained widespread attention after evidence recorded by one of the victims on her phone—including a Snapchat video and an audio clip—became central to the investigation.
Liberty’s grandfather, Mike Patty, expressed gratitude toward the jurors, prosecutors, and investigators who worked tirelessly to bring justice. “It’s been almost eight years coming,” Patty said during a press conference after the sentencing. “If I live to make it to 80, almost 10% of my life has been spent working on this.”
Carroll County Sheriff Tony Liggett acknowledged the emotional toll the case has had on the community. “A form of justice was served, but it does not bring Abby or Libby back,” he said. “These families will live every day without two of the most important people in their lives.”
Liberty and Abigail disappeared on February 13, 2017, while hiking near an abandoned railway bridge outside Delphi. Their bodies were discovered the next day. Evidence found on Liberty’s phone included a haunting recording of a man instructing the girls to go “down the hill” and a photo of a man walking on the trail, later identified as Allen.
Despite thousands of tips and leads, the case remained unsolved until 2022, when investigators revisited old evidence. A breakthrough came when ballistics testing linked Allen’s gun to an unspent round found near the crime scene.
Allen, a local pharmacist, was initially questioned as a witness shortly after the murders but became a prime suspect only after the review of prior evidence. He was arrested in October 2022.
Prosecutors revealed during the trial that Allen confessed to the murders multiple times while in prison. They presented a recording in which Allen appeared to admit the crime to his wife.
While Allen’s defense argued against the credibility of his confessions, the jury found the evidence overwhelming.
The murders have left an indelible mark on the small town of Delphi, which has worked to heal while honoring the memories of Liberty and Abigail. Flags flew at half-staff on the day of the sentencing as a somber acknowledgment of the lives lost.
“This case is a reminder of the resilience of our community,” said Sheriff Liggett. “We hope today brings some measure of closure to the families and to everyone affected.”
