Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen loses attorneys ahead of trial - live

Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen was set to return to court Thursday for a bombshell hearing over the leak of sensitive crime scene photos.

But his defence attorneys withdrew from the case, leaving him without representation. Mr Allen, who had not yet been brought into court when the announcement was made, was then hauled back off to jail where he will remain in custody of the Indiana Department of Correction.

Special Judge Fran Gull told the court that without counsel, the hearing cannot proceed. She said it was outside of their control and ordered new counsel for Mr Allen. A new court date was set for 31 October.

The hearing was meant to address a leak of graphic photos of the crime scene that allegedly originated from a man close to Mr Allen’s defence, according to The Murder Sheet podcast.

It marks the latest twist in the tragic case which began in 2017 when Libby German and Abby Williams were found brutally murdered on a walk along the Monon High Bridge in their hometown of Delphi, Indiana.

In October 2022 – over five years later – Mr Allen was arrested and charged with their murders.

Who is Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen?

Thursday 19 October 2023 21:30 , Andrea Cavallier

The 50-year-old married man was arrested and charged in connection with the 2017 Delphi murders of teenage best friends Libby German and Abby Williams.

Richard Matthew Allen, from Delphi, Indiana, was taken into custody 26 October and booked into Carroll County Jail on two counts of murder.

His arrest marked a bombshell development in the high-profile case that has rocked the small, close-knit community of Delphi and had gone unsolved for more than half a decade.

Before Mr Allen’s attorneys quit on 19 October, they previously claimed that their client was innocent and that the victims died at the hands of a pagan white nationalist cult.

Rachel Sharp reports...

Who is Richard Allen, the man charged over the 2017 Delphi murders?

WATCH: Delphi murder suspect’s attorneys quit

Thursday 19 October 2023 20:30 , Andrea Cavallier

Judge ordered new counsel to be appointed for Richard Allen

Thursday 19 October 2023 20:15 , Andrea Cavallier

The judge in the Delphi murder case said the motion filed by the defence attorneys to withdraw was unexpected.

She ordered new counsel to be appointed for Allen.

He should have new representation by the next court date on 31 October.

Who are the attorneys who ditched the Delphi murder suspect?

Thursday 19 October 2023 20:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Richard Allen’s defence attorneys Andrew Baldwin and Bradley Rozzi have represented him since November 2022.

The team withdrew their representation just before the hearing.

It happened just hours after defence attorney David Hennessy filed a memorandum on behalf of Baldwin, arguing he should be able to remain counsel to Allen following a reported evidence leak.

Back in early October, a photo had circulated on social media showing a tree with what was claimed to be markings etched with Libby’s blood. These photos have not been verified.

The Murder Sheet podcasters – journalist Áine Cain and attorney Kevin Greenlee – told The Independent that days later, on the morning of 5 October, a source sent them a “number of graphic crime scene pictures and other images that are part of the discovery in the case”.

Not knowing where the leak originated from, they said that they contacted both Mr Allen’s attorneys and law enforcement to report the leak.

After that, they learned that the photos had been shared with the source by an individual allegedly connected to Mr Allen’s attorneys Andrew Baldwin and Bradley Rozzi.

The man was a close friend of Mr Baldwin and previously worked as an employee at his law firm, the podcasters said.

However, he had never worked on the Delphi case and left the firm years ago.

The individual died by suicide last week after a police investigation into the leak was launched.

Judge resets court date

Thursday 19 October 2023 19:55 , Andrea Cavallier

The judge has reset the next court date for 31 October

Richard Allen did not appear in court today.

No hearing today for Delphi murder suspect

Thursday 19 October 2023 19:45 , Andrea Cavallier

As the hearing began on Thursday afternoon, it was announced that Richard Allen’s defence attorneys had withdrawn their representation earlier today.

He is now without a defence team and has been transported back to the Department of Correction.

Judge Gull told the court this means his trial will likely be pushed back.

Without counsel Allen’s hearing cannot proceed," Gull said.

She added it was outside of their control and apologized to the court.

Richard Allen’s attorneys withdraw from case

Thursday 19 October 2023 19:40 , Andrea Cavallier

Attorneys have confirmed with the court that they are withdrawing from the case.

Richard Allen was not in the courtroom and has been transported back to Carroll County.

The judge is discussing a new trial date.

Hearing in Delphi murder case begins

Thursday 19 October 2023 19:35 , Andrea Cavallier

A hearing on the Delphi murder case has started.

Attorneys for both sides arrived at 2:15pm and the judge started the proceedings at 2:30.

There is a 30-minute delay, so it is expected to be available to watch at 3pm ET.

How to watch Delphi murder case hearing

Thursday 19 October 2023 18:30 , Andrea Cavallier

Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen will appear in court on Thursday for a hearing and for the first time in this case, cameras will be allowed in the courtroom.

The hearing will not be livestreamed, but shown on a 30-minute delay.

It is set to start at 2pm and coverage will start around 2:30pm.

Allen is charged with two counts of murder in the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German in Delphi.

Defence files memo addressing leaked evidence ahead of hearing

Thursday 19 October 2023 17:45 , Andrea Cavallier

Richard Allen filed several motions just hours before today’s hearing, claiming the leaked evidence was created by people not related to the defence team, Fox59 reported.

“There were three disseminators, one of which committed suicide after the law enforcement investigation began,” the filing read. “Attorney Baldwin did nothing wrong. He was snookered and abused.”

It stated that Allen’s attorney Andrew Baldwin trusted a friend to respect his office but he was betrayed. They have since taken steps to keep all Delphi-related items locked in a room or locked fireproof file cabinet.

On Thursday morning, the team filed an affidavit under seal, a limited appearance on behalf of Mr Baldwin and a memo regarding possible disqualifications or sanctions.

The defense claimed the disqualification of either of his court-appointed attorneys would greatly prejudice his “right to counsel and a timely trial.”

ICYMI: Delphi murder suspect wants key evidence thrown out

Thursday 19 October 2023 17:00 , Rachel Sharp

What to expect in court today?

Thursday 19 October 2023 16:40 , Rachel Sharp

The court hearing will begin at 2pm ET on Thursday.

It will be the first time that cameras have been allowed in court in the Delphi murders case, following a ruling from Allen County Judge Frances Gull.

The judge said that the hearing is to discuss the upcoming hearing on 31 October and “other matters which have recently arisen”.

Several matters will be on the agenda today including:

• Leak of crime scene evidence

• Defence motion seeking to have the search warrant thrown out

• Defence motion seeking to have ballistics evidence thrown out

• Defence request to deny state accessing Richard Allen’s medical and mental health records

• Defence request to have Richard Allen moved out of the state maximum security facility Westville Correctional to a local jail

What is Odinism? The Delphi murders suspect claims a pagan cult is behind the killings.

Thursday 19 October 2023 16:20 , Rachel Sharp

The notorious Delphi murders case has taken another shocking twist as accused killer Richard Allen made a bombshell claim about the killings of teenagers Libby German and Abby Williams.

In court documents released on Monday, the 50-year-old local man maintained his innocence of the 2017 killings and instead claimed that the murders were carried out by a pagan cult hijacked by white nationalists.

“Members of a pagan Norse religion, called Odinism, hijacked by white nationalists, ritualistically sacrificed Abigail Williams and Liberty German,” his attorneys write in the documents seen by The Independent.

Mr Allen’s attorneys said that “possible Odinism signatures” were left behind by the killers at the crime scene with the victims’ bodies staged by trees with branches and sticks laid across their bodies in the shape of pagan symbols.

While Mr Allen has no known connection to any pagan cult, his defence attorneys also took the extraordinary step of naming four individuals they say are involved in Odinism as potential suspects.

None of these individuals have ever been named by law enforcement as suspects or persons of interest in the case.

What is Odinism?

Delphi murders suspect makes bombshell claim that victims were ‘sacrificed’ by white nationalist cult

Thursday 19 October 2023 16:00 , Rachel Sharp

Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen has made the bombshell claim that teenage best friends Libby German and Abby Williams were killed as part of a “ritualistic sacrifice” at the hands of a white nationalist cult.

In sensational court documents, filed on Monday, attorneys for the 50-year-old accused killer claim that the brutal 2017 murders were carried out by members of a pagan Norse religion and white nationalist group called Odinists.

“Members of a pagan Norse religion, called Odinism, hijacked by white nationalists,ritualistically sacrificed Abigail Williams and Liberty German,” state the documents, seen by The Independent.

The nature of the crime scene pointed to the work of a cult from the get-go, according to the bombshell 135-page document.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the story:

Delphi murders suspect claims victims were ‘sacrificed’ by Odinism cult

Could crime scene evidence leak derail the case?

Thursday 19 October 2023 15:40 , Rachel Sharp

A leak of crime scene photos from the Delphi murders case could threaten to derail the trial of accused killer Richard Allen.

Graphic photos of the scene where teenage best friends Libby German and Abby Williams were found brutally murdered in February 2017 have been circulating among members of a social media community, according to The Murder Sheet podcast.

In a bombshell twist, it has emerged that the leak allegedly originated from a man close to the defence team representing Mr Allen – the 51-year-old local man now charged with the murders.

If the court finds that Mr Allen’s legal team is behind the leak, the attorneys could be dismissed and a new legal team would need to be appointed to represent him.

This would inevitably lead to his trial being delayed from its start date of 8 January 2024 – and once again delay any possible semblance of justice or closure for the families of Libby and Abby.

How did the crime scene photo leak unfold

Thursday 19 October 2023 15:22 , Rachel Sharp

Back in early October, a photo had circulated on social media showing a tree with what was claimed to be markings etched with Libby’s blood. These photos have not been verified.

The Murder Sheet podcasters – journalist Áine Cain and attorney Kevin Greenlee – told The Independent that days later, on the morning of 5 October, a source sent them a “number of graphic crime scene pictures and other images that are part of the discovery in the case”.

“We were very disturbed by what we saw,” said Ms Cain.

“The discovery is under a protective order by the court so that it can’t be leaked or disseminated in any way. So it’s not only disturbing to see these images but it’s disturbing in terms of what it means for the case.”

Not knowing where the leak originated from, they said that they contacted both Mr Allen’s attorneys and law enforcement to report the leak.

After that, they learned that the photos had been shared with the source by an individual allegedly connected to Mr Allen’s attorneys Andrew Baldwin and Bradley Rozzi.

The man was a close friend of Mr Baldwin and previously worked as an employee at his law firm, the podcasters said.

However, he had never worked on the Delphi case and left the firm years ago.

The individual died by suicide last week after a police investigation into the leak was launched.

A .40 calibre round, ‘creepy’ man and Snapchat video: How police pinned the Delphi murders on Richard Allen

Thursday 19 October 2023 14:52 , Rachel Sharp

A single .40 calibre bullet discovered near the bodies of Libby German and Abby Williams turned out to be the smoking gun that initially led police to charge 50-year-old CVS worker Richard Allen with their murders in October.

The criminal affidavit, which was partly-redacted and released in November, revealed for the first time that the local man was finally tied to the murders through ballistics on a bullet found at the bloody crime scene.

Here, The Independent explains key details revealed in the criminal affidavit outlining the case against Mr Allen:

Delphi murders: How police pinned the 2017 slayings on Richard Allen

What happened to Libby and Abby?

Thursday 19 October 2023 13:40 , Rachel Sharp

Libby German and Abby Williams went missing on 13 February 2017 after they set off on a hike along the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Indiana.

During the walk, Libby had posted photos on Snapchat of her and Abby along the trail.

The happy image of the two best friends is believed to be the last photo of them before they died.

Their bodies were discovered the next day in a wooded area around half a mile off the trail.

In a move that propelled the investigation forward, Libby also captured a grainy video on her phone of a man dressed in blue jeans, a blue jacket and a cap walking along the abandoned railroad bridge.

Investigators released a grainy image from the video and a chilling audio of the man telling the two girls: “Go down the hill.”

Investigators have long suspected that this man is the girls’ killer and have praised the girls for documenting the video as evidence.

Delphi murders: What we know about suspect Richard Allen

Thursday 19 October 2023 13:20 , Rachel Sharp

More than five years on from when teenage best friends Libby German and Abby Williams were last seen alive, a 50-year-old local married man was arrested and charged in connection with the 2017 Delphi murders.

Richard Matthew Allen, from Delphi, Indiana, was taken into custody 26 October and booked into Carroll County Jail on two counts of murder. He was then moved to a state facility, reportedly for his own safety.

Mr Allen’s arrest marked a bombshell development in the high-profile case that has rocked the small, close-knit community of Delphi and had gone unsolved for more than half a decade.

The 50-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Here’s what we know about the suspect in the infamous case:

Who is Richard Allen, the man charged over the 2017 Delphi murders?

WATCH: Cameras will be in courtroom for Delphi murder case hearing

Thursday 19 October 2023 13:02 , Rachel Sharp

The murders of Libby German and Abby Williams

Thursday 19 October 2023 12:40 , Megan Sheets

The spine-chilling murder case began on 13 February 2017 when Libby German and Abby Williams set off on a walk along the Monon High Bridge in their hometown of Delphi.

During the walk, Libby posted a photo of her best friend on Snapchat as they walked on the bridge.

Minutes later, Libby captured a video of a man – known as “bridge guy” – dressed in blue jeans, a blue jacket and a cap walking along the abandoned railroad bridge.

In the footage – found on Libby’s phone following their murders – the man tells the two girls: “Guys, down the hill.”

Later that day, the teenagers were reported missing when they failed to return to a spot where a family member was picking them up.

The next day – Valentine’s Day 2017 – their bodies were discovered in a wooded area less than half a mile off the trail along the side of Deer Creek.

In October 2022 – over five years later – Richard Allen was arrested and charged with their murders.

He is set to face trial in January 2024.

Cameras allowed in court for the first time

Thursday 19 October 2023 12:30 , Megan Sheets

Broadcast cameras will be allowed to capture today’s status hearing, marking the first time throughout the case against Richard Allen that we’ve gotten a live view inside the court.

Judge Fran Gull’s decision to allow cameras in her Allen County courtroom likely received a positive response from Mr Allen and his defence team, which had filed in support of the request.

Prosecutors, however, are sure to be less pleased. They had expressed “serious concerns” about broadcasting the proceedings given the massive national attention on the case - which they say has led to critical information leaks online.

Crime scene photo leak threatens to derail Richard Allen case

Thursday 19 October 2023 12:20 , Rachel Sharp

Earlier this week, The Independent reported that a leak of crime scene photos from the Delphi murders case could threaten to derail accused killer Richard Allen’s trial.

Graphic photos of the scene where teenage best friends Libby German and Abby Williams were killed have been circulating among members of a social media community following Mr Allen’s arrest, according to The Murder Sheet podcast.

It has emerged that the leak allegedly originated from a man close to the defence team representing Mr Allen.

Investigators in Indiana are now probing how this sensitive evidence came to be released ahead of a newly-planned court hearing scheduled to take place on Thursday.

Read more about the leak from Rachel Sharp:

Delphi murders crime scene photo leak threatens to derail case

Richard Allen to appear in court today

Thursday 19 October 2023 12:14 , Megan Sheets

Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen is set to appear in court today for a status hearing.

The hearing, which was scheduled just last week, is set to begin at 2pm local time at the Allen County Courthouse in Indiana.

As for the purpose of the hearing, Judge Fran Gull vaguely said it was “to discuss the upcoming hearing on October 31, 2023, and other matters which have recently arisen”.

Rumours have swirled that those “other matters” will include an alleged leak of photos from the crime scene where Abby Williams and Libby German were murdered in February 2017.

An investigation into the leak was launched last week, just before the status hearing was set.

Follow along for live coverage by The Independent.