Delphi murder suspect pens letter from jail ‘begging’ for public defender and says his wife ‘has had to abandon’ their home ‘for her personal safety’
- Richard Allen, 50, begged for a public defender more than a week after he said he would hire his own for the double murder case he is charged with
- Allen was arrested last month in connection to the Delphi Historic Trail deaths of Libby German, 14, and Abigail William, 13
- The girls were on a hike near the Monon High Bridge when they were killed on February 13, 2017
- Allen described his financial struggles in the letter and said his wife is now jobless and was forced to leave their home ‘for her personal safety
The Delphi murder suspect accused of killing two teenagers in 2017 has begged for a public defender in a desperate letter sent from his jail cell.
Richard Allen, 50, asked to be provided with a defense attorney on Wednesday after not being aware of the costs of hiring a legal team on his own.
Allen was arrested last month for the deaths of Libby German, 14, and Abigail William, 13. The two girls were killed on February 13, 2017, when they went for a hike along the Delphi Historic Trail near the Monon High Bridge in Indiana.
Authorities have been unable to pin the culprit behind the murders. It remains unclear what led police to arrest Allen, and the state police will not be releasing evidence in the case under a court order.
‘I am begging to be provided with legal assistance in a public defender or whatever help is available,’ Allen wrote in the letter obtained by Fox 59. ‘At my initial hearing on October 28, 2022, I asked to find representation for myself. However, at the time, I had no clue how expensive it would be just to talk to someone.’
Allen also wrote that his wife is now jobless and had to abandon their home ‘for her personal safety.’
The alleged killer was initially booked in to the county jail but was moved to a state facility shortly afterwards out of fears for his own safety.
Richard Allen, 50, begged for a public defender more than a week after he said he would hire his own for the double murder case he is charged with
Abigail Williams, left, and Liberty German, right, were murdered in February 2017 after going for a walk along the Delphi Historic Trail near the Monon High Bridge. The culprit had remained a mystery for five years
Allen described his financial struggles in the letter and said his wife is now jobless and was forced to leave their home ‘for her personal safety. Pictured: Allen and his wife Kathy
Since Allen’s arrest, it was also revealed that his home was less than two miles from the Delphi train bridge where Williams and German were last seen alive.
Exactly how the girls died remains unknown to the public, and the state their bodies were discovered in also remains shrouded in mystery.
Over the summer, the details of a search warrant revealed that Libby and Abigail were found covered in blood, and that their killer appeared to have taken a souvenir of some sort from the murder site.
The girls bodies were also ‘staged’ in a particular way after their death – but it remains unclear exactly how they were left.
Investigators also believed photographs or videos were likely shot of the grotesque set-up to ‘memorialize’ the crime scene.
Delphi Police have always been tight-lipped on crucial components of the investigation including how the girls died, or what kind of condition their bodies were in when they were found.
Indiana State Police said in February they knew who killed the girls, but that they had insufficient evidence to make an arrest. It is unclear whether they were referring to Allen or not.
It was recently revealed that his home was less than two miles from the Delphi train bridge where Williams and German were last seen alive.
Libby German was filmed by her friend and fellow victim Abigail Williams in February, 2017, moments before they were murdered
Indiana cops released Snapchat footage documented by the girls in 2017 of a man following them closely on a bridge shortly before their deaths – who was dubbed ‘Bridge Guy’.
A composite sketch was released in 2017 showing a possible suspect in the case
The photo was of a heavily-built man in jeans and a blue jacket could be seen approaching the girls, and in a brief snippet of audio that was released the man could be heard saying ‘Down the hill’ to the girls.
The full clip is reportedly 43 seconds long, but its contents are believed to be too disturbing to share in full.
Their bodies were found close to the bridge the day after they vanished, with several suspects being linked to the case over the years – but no arrests were made until Allen.
It is unclear if Allen is the man in the footage or the voice which uttered the phrase ‘down the hill’ recorded by Libby’s cell phone shortly before the crime.
An unidentified man — now believed to be Allen — was filmed approaching Libby and Abby before their deaths
Carrie Timmons, the mother of Libby German, said she was ‘surprised’ when Allen was charged with the murder of her daughter and her friend Abigail.
Speaking to the US Sun, she said: ‘It’s been extremely emotional. Of course, I’m excited and happy there’s been an arrest but he hasn’t been proven guilty, it’s all alleged, so it’s not a time to celebrate.
‘It’s all been rather triggering because it’s bringing everything back, and in a sense, I’m reliving everything all over again.
‘But it feels like we’re now at the beginning of the last chapter, so I hope that’s the case, but there’s still a long road ahead of us’.
She said: ‘I want nothing more than to look this person in the eye. So as terrified as I am by the thought of it all, I’m trying to prepare myself for that moment.
‘But I don’t believe there’s going to be any closure, not until I’m no longer here and I’m back with Libby again. Closure is not really what I’m looking for anyway.
‘I want peace and I want peace for the girls. Those girls need justice so they can rest in peace, and I need that for them more than anything.
‘It’s all very surreal still. As long as I’ve waited for this moment nothing could have prepared me for it.
She added: ‘I want to go to court and I hope we can get a conviction, but there’s still a lot of questions.
‘We don’t know what evidence law enforcement has … it feels like there are now more questions than we’ve ever had before.
Timmons also believes that Allen should ‘suffer for the rest of his life’ after killing her daughter, before adding that ‘death is too good’ for him.
Richard M. Allen’s Jail Cell Letter
In the cause listed above, I, Richard M. Allen, hereby throw myself at the mercy of the court. I am begging to be provided with legal assistance in a Public Defender or whatever help is available.
At my initial hearing on Oct. 28, 2022, I asked to find representation for myself. However, at the time I had no clue how expensive it would be just to talk to someone.
I also did not realize what my wife and I’s immediate financial situation was going to be.
We have both been forced to immediately abandon employment, myself due to incarceration and my wife for her personal safety.
She has had to abandon our house for her own safety. What little reserve there is will fail to even maintain the original residence.
Again I throw myself at the mercy of the court. Please provide me whatever assistance you may.
Thank you for your time in this most urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Richard M. Allen
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