Richard Allen, a pharmacy technician convicted of the heinous murders of two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana, is currently petitioning a Carroll County court for the reversal of his conviction. This significant case has attracted attention from the media and the public alike, particularly through platforms like “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace.”
In a recent motion filed by his attorneys, four pivotal issues are highlighted that they argue could potentially prove Allen’s innocence.
First is the mysterious white van. Prosecutors contended that a white van startled Allen, preventing him from committing further crimes against the victims.
Second, the confession of Ron Logan plays a critical role. Logan, who owned the land where Abby Williams and Libby German met their tragic fate, initially misled the police regarding his alibi and even provided tours of the site to reporters, indicating where the girls were discovered. An FBI agent noted that Logan’s physical characteristics matched the infamous “Bridge Guy” from video footage captured on Libby’s phone, and his voice was described as “not inconsistent” with the figure heard in the recording. Allen’s defense team posits that Logan confessed to the murders while incarcerated for a probation violation.
The third point of contention revolves around Allen’s transfer to prison. His attorneys argue that Carroll County Circuit Judge Benjamin Diener, who sanctioned the search warrant for Allen’s residence, should have recused himself, as he assisted Sheriff Leazenby in drafting the safekeeping order. They maintain that Allen was denied the right to have another judge evaluate and issue the safekeeping order, as well as an “absolute right” to refuse transfer into state custody. The failure to serve this order to Allen or his lawyer, Brett Gibson, prevented them from contesting it, leading to claims of violations of his constitutional rights under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Lastly, the defense brings up a suspicious connection regarding headphones. During the trial, defense expert Stacy Eldridge testified that someone appeared to have connected headphones to Libby’s phone at 5:44 p.m. on February 13 and disconnected them at 10:32 p.m. that very day, contradicting the state’s established timeline.
The state’s phone expert, ISP 1st Sgt. Chris Cecil, countered this by suggesting that dirt or water damage could account for the logged activity. However, the defense claims they were not afforded the opportunity to challenge this assertion. Eldridge stated she found no scientific or technological research to suggest that such damage to an iPhone 6s would lead to inaccurate logging of headphone usage.
With the state never alleging that Allen returned to the crime scene, the defense contends that if the jury accepts Eldridge’s findings, the state’s narrative becomes untenable.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Additional Guest
- Susan Hendricks – Journalist, Author: “Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi’;” IG: @susan_hendricks X @SusanHendicks
- Greg Morse – Partner at the law firm of King Morse, PLLC. Current CJA counsel (Southern District of Florida), Former West Palm Beach Public Defender’s Office. Author: “The Untested” found on Amazon
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo Abby and Libby/Handout]
