On February 13, 2017, teenagers Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German went for an afternoon hike along the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, Indiana. They never returned, sparking a multi-year investigation that became one of the most heavily scrutinized modern true crime cases before local resident Richard Allen was convicted.
The case gripped public attention because Libby German captured vital digital evidence on her smartphone, including a grainy video of an unknown man and audio recording of him saying, "Down the hill". For more than five years, the investigation stalled, creating a vacuum filled by internet sleuths, conflicting police sketches, and intense community anxiety. This breakdown examines the timeline, the crucial evidence recovered from the phone, and the eventual trial that brought a measure of accountability.
The Final Hours and Disappearance
Abby Williams (13) and Libby German (14) had a day off from school on Monday, February 13, 2017. Libby's older sister dropped them off around 1:30 p.m. near the County Road 300 North trailhead to walk the historic Monon High Bridge, an abandoned railroad span crossing Deer Creek.
The teens planned to meet family members for a ride home at 3:15 p.m. When they didn't show up at the designated pickup spot, their families grew concerned and launched an immediate search before contacting local law enforcement around 5:30 p.m.
- February 13, 19:30: Initial ground searches begin across rugged terrain near the trail.
- February 14, 12:15: Searchers discover the bodies of both girls in a wooded area approximately half a mile east of the bridge, near the north bank of Deer Creek.
According to court disclosures released later during legal proceedings, investigators found that the teenagers had been brutally murdered. Forensic evidence indicated their throats had been slashed. An unspent .40-caliber cartridge was discovered lying in the dirt directly between the two bodies.
The Digital Clues Left Behind
The investigation shifted fundamentally when authorities examined Libby German's smartphone. Investigators found that Libby had recorded a short video clip showing a man walking across the narrow steel beams of the Monon High Bridge.
Law enforcement released a portion of this video to the public days after the murders, alongside a brief audio recording capturing a man's voice commanding, "Guys, down the hill". The person captured in the footage quickly became known to the public and investigators as the "Bridge Guy".
For years, this short snippet of audio and video served as the primary public focal point. Police circulated two distinct composite sketches of suspects—one in 2017 and an updated version in 2019 based on revised witness accounts. Officials urged residents to look closely at the gait, posture, and voice of the individual on the bridge, believing the killer was local to the area or had deep ties to Delphi.
The Breakthrough and Arrest of Richard Allen
For over half a decade, the case remained officially unsolved, bogged down by thousands of tips, multiple alternative theories, and intense media speculation. The breakthrough arrived through a routine records review when a volunteer helping the Carroll County agency rediscovered an old tip sheet.
The tip indicated that Richard Allen, a local resident who worked at a nearby pharmacy, had told investigators early on that he was walking on the Monon High Bridge trail during the exact timeframe the girls went missing.
- October 2022: Police execute a search warrant at Allen's home and recover a .40-caliber firearm.
- Ballistics Match: Forensic examiners test the unspent bullet found at the crime scene against Allen's gun, concluding it had been cycled through his specific firearm.
- October 28, 2022: Authorities formally arrest Richard Allen and charge him with two counts of murder.
Following his arrest, court documents revealed that Allen had placed himself on the trail wearing a blue or black jacket and jeans, matching descriptions of the suspect seen by witnesses and captured on video.
The Trial and Verdict
The high-profile trial commenced in October 2024 inside the Carroll County Courthouse. Over several weeks, prosecutors presented extensive forensic testimony, witness accounts placing a man matching Allen's description near the tracks, and chilling recordings of prison confessions. During jailhouse phone calls and conversations with relatives, Allen admitted to the killings, stating, "I did it. I killed Abby and Libby".
The defense argued that Allen's admissions were the result of declining mental health during pre-trial confinement and suggested alternative theories regarding the crime scene dynamics. However, the jury rejected these arguments after deliberating the physical evidence and ballistics data.
In November 2024, the jury found Richard Allen guilty on all counts of murder and felony murder. In December 2024, a judge formally sentenced him to 130 years in prison—65 years for each victim. Detailed coverage of the trial and verdict is archived by Associated Press.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role did Libby German's phone play in solving the case?
Libby's phone preserved both video footage of the suspect walking across the bridge and audio of his voice. This digital record gave investigators a tangible physical description and vocal sample that remained central to the investigation for years and helped confirm the suspect's identity once a ballistics match was made.
Why did it take over five years to arrest Richard Allen?
Allen was initially interviewed early in the investigation in 2017 after stating he was on the trails that day. However, due to administrative oversight, his tip sheet was misplaced or misfiled among thousands of other leads. It wasn't until a case file review years later that investigators re-examined his statement and matched his firearm to the scene.
What was Richard Allen's sentence?
Following his conviction on two counts of murder and two counts of felony murder, Allen received the maximum sentence of 130 years in prison, split into consecutive 65-year terms for the deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German.
Did anyone else assist Richard Allen in the crimes?
Throughout the investigation and trial, prosecutors maintained that Richard Allen acted alone in kidnapping and murdering the two teenagers. No other individuals were charged as accomplices in the double homicide.
