Richard Allen Sentenced to 130 Years in Prison for Deaths in Indiana

Richard Allen, an American man convicted last month of killing two teenagers in the state of Indiana, has been sentenced to 130 years behind bars for their deaths.

The bodies of teenagers Liberty German, who was 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, were found near their hometown of Delphi in 2017. The case, which went cold for years, became a focal point for true-crime enthusiasts.

It gained national attention when one of the victims recorded possible evidence on his phone, including audio and a Snapchat video of a possible suspect.

Allen, 52, received 65 years for each victim, according to media reports.

Libby’s grandfather, Mike Patty, thanked jurors Friday and said he would be forever grateful for their work, as well as prosecutors and investigators.

He also expressed gratitude for the community he said had embraced the families of the young victims “from day one and continues to lift us up”.

“It’s been almost eight years,” he said at a news conference after the sentencing.

“If I live to be 80, almost 10% of my life will be spent working on this.”

The two girls were found with throat wounds in February 2017, near an abandoned railway bridge and close to where they had been dropped off for a hike.

Libby’s phone had recorded audio of a man telling the two girls to go “down the hill” and had taken a photo of a man walking near the trail.

Their deaths affected the local community, Carroll County Sheriff Tony Liggett said, adding that he hoped the conviction and sentencing would reassure residents about safety.

“Some form of justice was served, but it won’t bring Abby or Libby back,” he said.

“These families will live every day without two of the most important people in their lives.”

He also apologized to the families “that it took us eight years to get to this point”.

Allen, a local pharmacist, was questioned as a possible witness shortly after the crime. He was questioned again five years later when police linked his gun to an unused bullet found at the scene.

But despite receiving thousands of leads, police only focused on Allen in 2022 after reviewing previous suspects. He was arrested the same year.

During his trial, prosecutors said he had confessed to the murders several times while in prison and played a recording for the jury in which he apparently told his wife he had committed the crimes.

Defense attorneys argued that Allen was mentally unwell when he told people he was guilty.