NBC’s Dateline has released a two-hour special episode titled A Walk Through the Woods on 21 February 2025 at 9 pm, which explores the tragic murder cases of teenagers Abigail Williams and Liberty German in Delphi, Indiana in 2017. The episode, directed by Andrea Canning, examines the case that garnered national attention when the girls’ bodies were discovered near the Monon High Bridge Trail.
A pivotal development in the investigation was the discovery of video footage on Liberty’s phone, capturing the image and voice of the suspected killer. This crucial evidence eventually led to the arrest and conviction of Richard Allen in December 2024. He received a 130-year prison sentence for the murders. The episode features interviews with family members and law enforcement.
Who is Richard Allen?
September 1972 born, Richard Matthew Allen was a resident of Delphi, Indiana. Richard is known for his involvement in the 2017 teen murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. He graduated from North Miami High School in 1991 and later on attended Ivy Tech Community College, where he majored in accounting. Richard served briefly in both the National Guard and the U.S. Army. He moved to Delphi from Mexico, Indiana in December 2006.
Richard was in charge of a Walmart store in Logansport from 2003 to 2013. Then, he was an employee of CVS Pharmacy in Peru and Delphi, where he was granted his pharmacy technician license in February 2018. Allen was working at the Delphi CVS when the murders happened, and he was often in public places. He is married and has one daughter.
Throughout his time being a notable figure in the local neighborhood, Allen was completely out of the picture in this criminal profile up to his apprehension in October 2022. He was convicted of killing the Indiana girls in November 2024 and subsequently received a 130-year jail term.
Story Behind Delphi Murder Case
In February 2017, the small town of Delphi, Indiana, was shaken by the tragic murders of 13-year-old Abigail Williams and 14-year-old Liberty German. The two friends disappeared on February 13 while hiking the Monon High Bridge Trail; their bodies were discovered the following day near Deer Creek. The case remained unsolved for over five years, generating widespread attention and speculation.
On February 13, 2017, Abigail and Liberty were reported missing after failing to meet a family member at a designated location. Their bodies were found on February 14, approximately half a mile from the Monon High Bridge. Investigators revealed that the girls’ throats had been slashed, and an unspent .40-caliber bullet was discovered between their bodies. This bullet would later become a crucial piece of evidence.
The authorities made an important move after they succeeded in arresting Richard Allen in October 2022, Allen has attracted police attention right from the start of the investigation. Video footage of the crime was taken from Liberty German’s which later turned out to be the most important piece of evidence. The girl’s phone captured a man instructing the girls to go down the hill. According to the police, that person was Richard, the results of the forensic analysis showed that the unspent bullet had been fired by the gun that was possessed by Richard.
Richard Allen’s trial commenced in October 2024. Prosecutors presented evidence, including the video from Liberty’s phone and ballistic reports connecting Allen’s gun to the crime scene. Furthermore, testimonies revealed that Allen had made incriminating statements to law enforcement and fellow inmates. Despite the defense’s attempts to introduce alternative theories, such as the involvement of Odinist rituals, the court found these claims unsubstantiated. After deliberations, the jury convicted Allen on multiple counts of murder.
Allen was sentenced to 130 years in prison in December 2024. Throughout his time in prison, it has been reported that he openly admitted to the killings. During his incarceration, He even confessed that he wanted to ask for forgiveness from the victims’ families. He has reportedly accepted his guilt stating that he did it so his family could get more time to be free. These confessions were made during interactions with prison psychologists and staff.
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Source: NBC
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