Delphi Murders accused Richard Allen refused to charge victim's grandparents at his CVS workplace
DELPHI, INDIANA : After more than five years, Richard Allen, 50, the primary suspect in the 2017 Delphi Murders that involved the killing of Liberty "Libby" German, 14, and Abigail "Abby" Williams, 13, has been arrested.
Following several days of rumors about the arrest, Indiana State Police has officially announced the arrest of the Delphi resident on Monday, October 31. According to Wish-TV, Allen, till now has not been assisting with the investigation. ISP Superintendent Doug Carter stated that Allen has been charged with two counts of murder. According to Carter, the court paperwork containing the charges are currently under seal. Police declined to elaborate on how they linked Allen to the killings. The unidentified man who was seen approaching German and Williams as they crossed the Monon High Bridge in the nearby woods in February 2017 has long been assumed to be the murderer. The middle school the two teenagers attended was only a half-mile from Allen's house, which is just a few kilometers from the bridge.
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Allen was a CVS employee in Delphi. German's grandparents claimed they had previously communicated with Allen at work and that he had processed images free of charge for them. He does not appear to have any criminal history.
Carroll County prosecutor Nicholas McLeland characterized Allen's arrest as ‘a step in the right direction.’ During a press conference on Monday, he described it as "disappointing" that the suspect was a local and said he can now present the evidence against Allen in court.
When asked if there might have been further murderers, McLeland responded, "We have not closed the door on this case."
A probable cause document has been placed under temporary seal. According to McLeland, this was done at his request as the matter was receiving ‘additional attention.’ McLeland stated that he wished to preserve the objectivity of the inquiry.
On the day of her death, Libby posted a Snapchat "snap" showing herself strolling down the railroad tracks. The social media updates became a sensation, making the case one of the most prominent unsolved homicides in American history.
Following the announcement of Allen's arrest, a frightening image of his own daughter posing in the area where the teenage victims were last seen alive surfaced. The 28-year-old Brittany Zapanta is seen posing on the Monon High Bridge. Just over a year after the two girls vanished in February 2017, Allen's wife Kathy, 50, shared the picture on Facebook in 2018. When the picture was clicked is still unknown. Additionally, it is unclear who took the picture on the Monon High Bridge Trail.