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    • Richard Allen’s prison psychologist says he confessed to the Delphi murders
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    Richard Allen’s prison psychologist says he confessed to the Delphi murders

    Online Niel Posted on

    The process against Richard Allen continues on October 30 in Delphi, Indiana.

    Allen, 52, is accused of killing two teenagers who went missing on February 13, 2017 and were found dead the next day. He was arrested in 2022 and faces two counts of murder and two counts of murder during the kidnapping in his death Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” German.

    Journalists from The Indianapolis Star and the Lafayette Journal & Courier will cover the case as it moves through the court system. Here’s what’s happening in court during Allen’s trial Wednesday.

    This story will be updated throughout the day.

    Investigator Steve Mullin testified that there was only one car registered in Carroll County that appeared to match the one seen on surveillance footage captured near the trails where Abby and Libby were killed: suspect Richard Allen’s vehicle.

    Mullin said a search of Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle records for Ford Focus cars registered in Carroll and surrounding counties in 2016-2017 returned 31 records. Then it said, no duplicates, the search narrows down to 18.

    Mullin said the list of cars in the region was further narrowed down to eight when he looked up the number of Ford Focus “SE” models, which is the type of car police said Allen was driving.

    When asked how many Ford Focus SEs were specifically registered in Carroll County during that time, Mullin said “one.”

    Jennifer Auger, one of Allen’s attorneys, argued that the car captured on Hoosier Harvestore surveillance footage does not show the license plate or model. She also pointed out that the trails are frequented by out-of-town visitors.

    The state concluded the day by questioning Brad Weber, a Carroll County resident, who testified that he was returning to his home, located near the trail, after missing work at 2:01 p.m. on February 13, 2017 – the day of which girls have lost their jobs. they were killed.

    Weber estimated his commute takes 20-25 minutes to get home. He was shown a picture of a van, which he confirmed was his.

    When the defense asked on cross-examination if he stopped somewhere, as he had previously told police, Weber angrily shouted “no.”

    He was not asked any further questions before being released from the witness stand.

    Dr. Monica Wala, Allen’s prison psychologist when he was at Westville Correctional Centertestified Allen insisted he was innocent during his first months at Northwest Indiana State Prison. Allen arrived in Westville in November 2022, about a month after he was arrested.

    In the early months, Allen insisted he was innocent, according to reports written by Wala about her sessions with Allen. Wala wrote in her reports dated Nov. 21, 2022, and Dec. 6, 2022, that Allen felt he had already been treated as if he were guilty and did not want to be in jail for something he did not do.

    In a November 25, 2022 report, Wala described Allen as “disinterested” when it comes to his wife, Kathy.

    Wala also said Allen was a “frail” man when he arrived at the facility. Allen has a history of major depressive disorder and anxiety and has shown signs of dependent personality syndromea mental health condition involving an excessive need to be cared for by others.

    Allen’s condition worsened and suicidal thoughts began around the spring of 2023, Wala testified.

    On April 4, 2023, Wala wrote that Allen believed death would bring relief.

    On July 26, 2023, Wala reported that Allen’s eyes were bulging, although she said she did not know why.

    Under cross-examination by defense attorney Bradley Rozzi, Wala acknowledged that inmates must be held in solitary confinement for a maximum of 30 days. Allen was in solitary confinement for 13 months – a situation Wala admitted could affect his mental health.

    Dr. Monica Wala, who was Allen’s prison psychologist when he was at Westville Correctional Centersaid he believed Allen was faking many of the bizarre behaviors he exhibited while at the facility.

    On April 10, 2023, she saw Allen sitting in the cell with his back against the wall, naked and raising his arms while talking to himself, Wala testified. Papers, probably pages from court documents, were scattered all over his cell.

    The bizarre behavior, which coincided with Allen’s confessions, continued to escalate. On April 12, 2023, Wala wrote in his report that Allen was clapping his hands and tapping something in his cell. The next day, she wrote that he had defecated and was consuming his own feces.

    Tuesday in the Delphi murder trial: Delphi jurors saw footage of Richard Allen’s duel: one who claimed innocence, one who confessed

    At this point, Wala said, prison officials have ordered Allen to be under constant surveillance. Wala also said the bizarre behavior and confessions began shortly after Allen received discovery material, and his behavior may have been in response to what he read in those documents. Allen also has had little or no sleep since early April, Wala said.

    Allen seemed better around mid-April after being treated with medication, Wala said.

    On April 17, Wala found Allen in his cell with his hand up and his eyes closed. When asked if he was suffering from psychosis, Wala said, “possibly,” but added that he needed more information to say for sure. Wala, however, said he believes Allen faked much of his bizarre behavior in order to receive a visit from his wife and be transferred to another facility.

    On April 28, Wala again found Allen empty in his cell. When she asked if he wanted to talk, he said he needed to shower first. When she asked why he hadn’t showered, he said, “Because I’m selfish.”

    At one point, Allen flushed a Bible down the toilet, Wala said.

    During cross-examination by defense attorney Bradley Rozzi, Wala admitted to following Allen’s case with interest in her personal time even as she was treating him, a fact she mentioned to her supervisors. But Wala, a true crime fan, also said he had pursued other cases and was able to separate his personal interest from his treatment of Allen.

    She also admitted that she used her access to the prison database to satisfy her curiosity about the case and acknowledged that Indiana Department of Corrections officials had conducted an investigation of her. Wala no longer works at Westville, but remains employed by the same government contractor that provides health care in Indiana prisons.

    Rozzi also noted the conditions of Allen’s incarceration at Westville. He was kept alone in a small cell, where the lights were never turned off and a video camera constantly monitored him.

    New IDOC inmates are usually first taken to the Intake Diagnostic Center in Plainfield, where they are evaluated for several weeks to determine which facility is the best fit for them. But Allen’s evaluation, Wala acknowledged, was accelerated, and he was quickly placed at Westville.

    Prosecutor: Delphi murder suspect made 61 incriminating statements while incarcerated

    Allen’s defense attorneys are asking again Special Judge Frances Gull to allow them to present evidence related to Odinism and alleged Odinists, saying recent testimony opened the door for such evidence to be admitted.

    The defense argued that Abby and Libby were killed by the Odinists ― members of a northern pagan religion hijacked by white nationalists ― during a sacrificial ritual in the woods. Gull had so far blocked the defense to present their theory to jurors, saying they produced no admissible evidence linking the alleged Odinists to the murders.

    In a motion filed Wednesday, defense attorneys listed more testimony and evidence admitted during the trial that they say supports their theory that multiple people killed the girls. Therefore, they argue, they should be allowed to present that theory to jurors.

    They cited testimony from Dr. Roland Kohra forensic pathologist who performed the autopsies, that multiple serrated and blunt instruments may have been used to kill the girls. Evidence showing sticks and branches on the teenagers also opens the door for the defense to ask questions about the “unusual way” they were arranged on the bodies, lawyers argued. They claimed in previous filings that the sticks were arranged to resemble runes and symbols related to Odinism.

    The defense is also focusing on recent testimony from Indiana State Police Lt. Jerry Holemanwho said he believed the sticks were meant to hide the girls’ bodies. Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland also asked Holeman if the canes were placed on the bodies as part of a “takedown.” Holeman said, “yes.”

    That, defense attorneys argued, opened the door for them to present evidence that rebutted Holeman’s testimony.

    “The annulment is usually an attempt by the killer or killers to give dignity to the victim,” they wrote, saying the way the girls’ bodies were found was the exact opposite of giving them dignity.

    Holeman also gave jurors an explanation for his belief that there is only one killer: multiple killers usually discuss or reveal the crime to other people. Defense attorneys argue that this testimony allows them to present evidence of alleged Odinists who have made statements that incriminate themselves and others.

    Expert testimony: The Delphi killings are “textbook” examples of ritual murder

    Dr. Monica Walawho was Allen’s psychologist while he was at Westville Correctional Centertestified Wednesday that Allen confessed during his numerous sessions with her that he killed Abby and Libby.

    In one of their sessions, Allen said, “I killed Abby and Libby. I’m going to kill everyone. I will wipe everyone out,” Wala confessed. Allen, Wala said, also talked about starting World War III.

    Wala, who saw Allen daily while on suicide watch, said the confessions began in the spring of 2023. At one point, he told her he “made sure they were dead because he didn’t want to suffer ” and that he acted alone, Wala testified. Allen told Wala his intentions were “sexual in nature” and claimed to be a sex addict and alcoholic, she told jurors.

    During some of his confessions, Wala said Allen gave specific details about the murder, telling her he cut the teenagers’ throats and placed branches over their bodies. During a hearing on May 3, 2023, Allen told Wala what he did on February 13, 2017. He said he went to his parents’ house that morning, returned home to get a jacket and then went to Monon High School . The route of the bridge, where he saw Abby and Libby, followed them and ordered them down the hill, Wala told jurors.

    Under questioning by Stacey Diener, Wala testified that Allen’s emotions were sometimes erratic. He often went off on tangents and sometimes expressed a desire to apologize to the girls’ families, Wala said. One confession, Wala told jurors, was stated “in a matter-of-fact manner.”

    Coinciding with the confessions were a number of bizarre behaviors, including drinking from the toilet and eating feces. When asked why he was eating his feces, Allen said, “Because I’m crazy,” Wala testified.

    Allen also appeared less suicidal at times, saying he “couldn’t kill himself because he was too cowardly,” Wala told jurors.

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