Why prosecutors want this infamous sketch banned from Delphi murders’ suspect’s trial

Just days before the highly anticipated Delphi murder trial, prosecutors want to omit sketches from the early days of the investigation because they don’t believe those witnesses can identify their suspect.

Prosecutor Nick McLeland argued in his motion that the composite sketches, released in 2017 and 2019, were not relevant to the identification of Richard Allen, the man accused of killing Abby Williams and Libby German.

However, Allen’s defense is expected to use the sketches to poke holes in the witness account, but McLeland argued the etchings were not used to catch the alleged killer.

The sketches, based on memories of witnesses, were intended at the time to generate tips, but ultimately did not lead to Allen’s arrest.

McLeland also said the witnesses who helped create the sketches would not be able to positively identify Allen in court simply because they had not seen the suspect “for a sufficient period of time.”

Prosecutor Nick McLeland argued in the motion that the sketches, released in 2017 (pictured here) and 2019, were not relevant to the identification of Richard Allen, the man accused of killing Abby Williams and Libby German.

The 2017 sketch depicted a man with a beard, mustache, a hoodie and a violin cap, while the 2019 sketch showed a significantly younger man with curly hair.

The motion now awaits a ruling from Judge Fran Gull, who must consider several outstanding motions before the trial begins. Jury selection for Allen’s trial begins Thursday in Allen County, Indiana.

The 2019 sketch of the suspect looked significantly younger than the 2017 sketch

To ensure an unbiased jury pool, jurors are selected from Allen County, over 100 miles away from Delphi.

The defense presented a theory in September 2023 that the girls were victims of a ritual murder by an Odinist cult, and not Richard Allen, but the judge ruled last month that the jury could not hear it.

It’s been more than seven years since Libby, 14, and Abby, 13, began the walk along Delphi’s Historic Trail from which they would never return, and the small Indiana town forever became synonymous with the friends’ gruesome murders.

The search for the girls began after they failed to show up to meet family on the afternoon of February 13, 2017. Earlier that day, Libby had taken the last photo of Abby.

She posted the photo of her friend standing on the abandoned Monon High Bridge along the trail on Snapchat.

Flowers and other souvenirs were regularly placed at the abandoned Monon High Bridge in Delphi in memory of the two girls who died there

The next day the girls’ bodies were found with branches on them. Investigators have said little about the circumstances, other than suggesting there was “a lot of blood.”

But it has since emerged that the girls were both killed with a knife or box cutter, stripped naked and their bodies ‘staged’ and covered with branches in a way that gave rise to the cult theory. Abby was found wearing Libby’s clothes.

On February 15, 2017, two days after the murders, police released the most defining and chilling image of the case.

A grainy video clip from Libby’s phone captured a man walking across the bridge, known only as “Bridge Guy,” who is believed to be connected to the murders.

Allen was arrested in October 2022 based on evidence linking him to the crime scene and the victims.

Dressed in jeans, a blue jacket and a cap, he was seen walking across the bridge where Abby had posed for her photo moments earlier. He walked with his head bowed and instructed the girls, “Boys, down the hill.” One of the teens could be heard saying “gun” as he approached.

Jury selection for the murders of Libby German, 14, (left) and Abby Williams, 13, (right) who disappeared on February 13, 2017 in Delphi, Indiana begins tomorrow

Among the evidence brought against Allen is that a bullet found near the girls’ bodies had “cycled” through a gun he owned.

After jury selection concludes, Allen’s trial will begin Thursday. If found guilty of all his charges, he faces up to 130 years in prison.

Allen has pleaded not guilty to the charges.