Officers who interviewed Richard Allen testify on Day 6 of Delphi murders trial

DELPHI, Ind. (WNDU) – The trial of the man accused of killing two teenage girls in Delphi more than seven years ago continues.

52 year old Richard Allen is accused of murders 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German. Abby and Libby disappeared on February 13, 2017, while hiking near the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi. Their bodies were found a day later in the woods near that trail.

Allen’s trial began last Friday. It is expected to last until mid-November.

On the sixth day of testimony, jurors learned how Richard Allen was linked to the case. The jury also heard from several police officers who interviewed Allen.

Accordingly our sister station WTHRThe first witness was Kathy Shank, a retired DCS employee who volunteered to help with administrative tasks such as organizing files and leads into a database.

In 2022, he came across a file folder that wasn’t present in the other files he managed. Inside was a report called “Richard Allen Whiteman.”

Shank said the tip sheet said “cleared” and that he wasn’t sure why Allen’s last name was entered incorrectly. Allen said the discrepancy came to his attention after he “self-reported” to authorities that he was on the bridge the day the girls disappeared.

The defense argued under cross-examination that there was no such person as “Richard Allen Whiteman” and asked Shank if details and accuracy were important to him. He said, “Yes,” and said he wasn’t the one who wrote “Richard Allen Whiteman.”

Indiana Department of Natural Resources Officer Dan Dulan took the stand after Shank and told the jury about an interview he conducted with Allen in a grocery store parking lot a few days after the murders.

Dulan said Allen reported that he was after him between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm on the day of the murders. Dulan said Allen told him at the beginning of his march that he saw three girls on the Liberty Bridge but no one else. He also said Allen told him he was looking at a stock on his phone while walking.

When Dulan spoke to him again in 2022, he noted that it was “unusual” for Allen to change his height and weight when applying for a new fishing license.

During cross-examination, Dulan told defense attorney Brad Rozzi that he interpreted Allen’s statement that he was on the trail to mean that he was constantly on the trail. Rozzi reportedly confirmed with Dulan that it was not unusual to find unused shell casings in the woods. Dulan also reportedly agreed that Sig Sauer is a popular gun manufacturer and that Smith & Wesson ammunition is popular.

Former Delphi Police Chief Steve Mullin he testified last saturdayHe was called back to the stand to talk about his interview with Allen on Oct. 13, 2022 — very shortly before Allen’s arrest.

Mullin said Allen agreed to show investigators his phone during the interview but later changed his mind. Mullin claimed Allen “got angry and left the room.”

Mullin said Allen’s response was odd when he showed Allen a picture and then asked him if he was a “bridge man.” He said Allen said, “If the photo was taken with the girls’ camera, there was no way it was him.”

Mullin said he applied for a search warrant after taking Allen home. Mullin is expected to be cross-examined this afternoon.

For a look at all of our previous coverage in this ongoing trial, Click here.

Stay informed about local news WNDU live and online. Be sure to download 16 News now APPLICATION and follow us YouTube Visit our page as we continue to bring you the latest on this developing story.