Dark Secrets and Chilling Echoes: The Delphi Murders That Shook a Community to Its Core
“You know what, Susan? I think I’m ready to walk on the bridge. To go back.”
These were the haunting words of Becky Patty, grandmother of Liberty “Libby” German, speaking to journalist Susan Hendricks. It had taken years of heartache and unanswered questions before an arrest was finally made in one of Indiana’s most chilling murder cases—the brutal slayings of 14-year-old Libby and her best friend, 13-year-old Abigail “Abby” Williams.
The case, now etched in true crime history, began on February 14, 2017, when the bodies of the two girls were discovered near Freedom Bridge in Delphi, Indiana. Their tragic deaths sparked a massive investigation that spanned years, implicating multiple individuals before authorities finally arrested Richard Allen in October 2022. The shocking part? Allen wasn’t a drifter or an outsider—he was a longtime Delphi resident, a pharmacy worker who had once helped Libby’s aunt print funeral photos.
But even after his arrest, questions swirled. A bullet found near the crime scene was linked to Allen’s gun, yet he staunchly denied any involvement. He admitted to being on the trail that fateful day, but insisted he was innocent. And as the trial approached, even more disturbing details began to emerge, leaving a community both desperate for justice and deeply unsettled.
The Footage That Haunts Delphi
For years, the biggest piece of evidence remained a grainy, brief video taken by Libby herself. In it, a man approached the girls and uttered three words that would later send chills down the spines of investigators and true crime followers alike:
“Guys, down the hill.”
Those four seconds were all the world had—a shadowy figure, a voice, and the devastating knowledge of what happened next. Law enforcement held back key details, keeping the public in the dark, which only fueled speculation and paranoia. Who was this man? And why did he kill two innocent girls in broad daylight?
Even more perplexing was the evolution of the suspect sketches. The first one, released early on, was later dismissed. Two years later, in 2019, a completely different sketch was unveiled—one that, shockingly, had actually been drawn first. The public was left confused. Had investigators been misled? Were they setting a trap for the real killer?
Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter remained cryptic, often saying, “One day we will know.” But for years, the residents of Delphi had to live with uncertainty—and the terrifying idea that the murderer could be walking among them.
The Arrest That Came Too Late
When Richard Allen was finally arrested in 2022, it seemed like justice was within reach. But then, another twist. In September 2023, Allen’s defense team made a startling claim: Abby and Libby had not been victims of a lone killer, but of a ritualistic sacrifice carried out by a white nationalist group—one that Allen had no ties to.
The theory sent shockwaves through the case, and even now, it remains unclear whether Allen acted alone. Prosecutors hinted that there could be “other actors” involved, but no additional arrests have been made.
Meanwhile, the community’s trust in law enforcement had already eroded. The secrecy surrounding the investigation led to rampant speculation, online witch hunts, and a town where even neighbors began to distrust each other. Who among them was capable of such horror?
A Trial, A Conviction—But No Closure
As the trial unfolded, it was revealed that Allen had allegedly confessed—to his wife, to his mother. But his defense argued that his conditions in prison had driven him to a state of desperation. Was his confession genuine, or was it the result of psychological torment?
Despite the defense’s efforts, on November 11, 2024, Richard Allen was convicted of the murders of Libby German and Abigail Williams. On December 20, he was sentenced to 130 years in prison.
For the families of Abby and Libby, the conviction brought a measure of justice—but not peace. As Becky Patty once said, “I thought I would feel relief. I thought I would feel happy. But instead, I just feel empty.”
Because no sentence, no courtroom victory, can bring those two girls back.
And for Delphi, the echoes of that fateful day still linger.
