THE DELPHI MURDERS: TRIAL BEGINS WITH LIBBY, 14, ABBY, 13, BODIES FOUND & SLIT THROATS

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

The trial of Richard Allen is underway at the Carroll County Courthouse, where seating is limited to 72 seats.

Cameras are prohibited in the courtroom, but the judge has designated 12 seats for media coverage. On the first day, after jurors arrived, journalists' cameras outside the courthouse were confiscated. Judge Fran Gull has warned the media not to follow or photograph jurors, who will be sequestered for the month-long trial.

Citizens hoping to attend the trial have been camping out, and for the first two days of testimony, anyone arriving after 2:30 a.m. could not secure a seat.

Despite years of coverage on the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams, police have never disclosed how the girls were killed. During his opening statement, Prosecutor Nick McLeland informed the jury, "You're going to see the crime scene. It was a gruesome scene.

Libby was completely naked. Her throat was cut, blood all over. Abby's throat was also cut."

The prosecution focused its case on three key points: the "Bridge Guy," the unspent bullet found at the crime scene, and the brutal murders of Libby and Abby near the Monon High Bridge.

Prosecutor McLeland outlined a timeline, stating that Libby posted a photo of Abby on Snapchat while they crossed the Monon High Bridge. After noticing a man behind them, Libby started recording on her phone at 2:13 p.m. on February 13, 2017. McLeland said the man pulled a gun and ordered the girls "down the hill." The girls complied, and the phone video then stopped recording.

McLeland added that Richard Allen admitted to being on the trail that day. Investigators later found a gun at his house, and testing showed that an unspent round found between the girls at the crime scene had been cycled through that gun.

McLeland also stated that Allen voluntarily confessed to the crime to both his wife and mother while in jail.

JOINING NANCY GRACE TODAY:

• Matthew Murphy - Former Orange County Homicide Prosecutor, ABC Legal Analyst, Criminal Defense Attorney, Matt Murphy Law, APC, and Author, The Book of Murder; X; @mattmurphylaw
• Dr. Bethany Marshall – Psychoanalyst, Author – “Deal Breaker,” featured in hit show: “Paris in Love” on Peacock;, Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive
• Sheryl McCollum – Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder & Host of New Podcast: “Zone 7;” X: @149Zone
• Joe Scott Morgan – Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, “Blood Beneath My Feet,” and Host: “Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan;” X: @JoScottForensic
• Susan Hendricks – Journalist, Author: “Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi’;” IG: @susan_hendricks X @SusanHendicks

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