Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen loses attorneys ahead of trial
It marks the latest twist in the tragic 2017 murders of Libby German and Abby Williams
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Richard Allen’s defence attorneys have quit the high-profile Delphi murders case amid a scandal over the leak of graphic crime scene photos.
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, The Murder Sheet podcast revealed this week.
In a bombshell twist, it 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.
Now, Mr Allen’s attorneys Andrew Baldwin and Bradley Rozzi have withdrawn from the case – throwing the trial into disarray.
A brief court hearing was held in Allen County, Indiana, on Thursday, where Special Judge Fran Gull was set to preside over several matters including the leak of the images.
Within minutes of the hearing starting, the judge said that Mr Allen’s attorneys had both withdrawn from the case, leaving the accused killer without legal representation.
“We’ve had an unexpected turn of events, ladies and gentlemen,” said Judge Gull.
“Earlier this afternoon, the defence attorneys have withdrawn their representation of Mr Allen.”
Mr Baldwin made an oral motion to withdraw from the case, while Mr Rozzi will be submitting a written motion to withdraw.
The scheduled trial date of 8 January 2024 will now almost certainly be delayed, as the married father-of-two will need to be assigned a new set of public defenders to represent him.
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.
Delphi murders suspect makes bombshell claim that victims were ‘sacrificed’ by white nationalist cult
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
In sensational court documents, attorneys for the accused killer claim the brutal 2017 murders were actually carried out by members of a pagan Norse religion and white nationalist group called Odinists
What is Odinism? The Delphi murders suspect claims a pagan cult is behind the killings.
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 to expect in court today?
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
ICYMI: Delphi murder suspect wants key evidence thrown out
Defence files memo addressing leaked evidence ahead of hearing
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.”
How to watch Delphi murder case hearing
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.
Hearing in Delphi murder case begins
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.
Richard Allen’s attorneys withdraw from case
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.
No hearing today for Delphi murder suspect
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.
Judge resets court date
The judge has reset the next court date for 31 October
Richard Allen did not appear in court today.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.