Delphi murder suspect's alleged jail confessions revealed in court
Prison staffers are revealing the alleged confessions made by Delphi, Indiana, murder suspect Richard Allen while behind bars.
Allen is accused of killing Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams 13, on a hiking trail in rural Delphi on Feb. 13, 2017. He's pleaded not guilty to murder.
Monica Wala, who was the lead psychologist at the Indiana Department of Corrections, testified Wednesday that Allen spoke to her about the case frequently while he was on suicide watch in jail, even though she advised him not to. Wala said Allen’s confessions began around the time he started receiving discovery in the case.
On April 5, 2023, Wala said Allen told her, "I killed Abby and Libby. I am sorry."
Allen said he made sure the girls were dead so they didn’t suffer, and he wanted to apologize to their families, Wala told the jury.
Wala testified that Allen became tearful when he said he committed the murders by himself.
She said Allen described his intentions as "sexual" and said he had a sex addiction.
In a May 2, 2023 report, Wala said Allen again admitted to the murders and asked if it was "OK" to die by suicide, but then went on to say that he didn’t want to die because he "was too much of a coward."
Wala wrote in her report that she believed he was suffering from "situational psychosis." She said Allen would have episodes of psychosis and then it would go into remission.
Wala said Allen told her that, on the day of the murders, he drank several beers, went to the trail, saw Libby and Abby and followed them to the bridge.
Allen said he did something to his gun, and thought that was when the cartridge came out, she said.
Allen said he ordered Abby and Libby "down the hill" and intended to rape them, but he saw something -- either a person or a van -- and was startled, Wala said.
Allen said he then ordered the girls across the creek, slit their throats and covered their bodies with branches, Wala said.
According to Wala, Allen said after the crime, he avoided the trail when he walked to his car so he wouldn't be seen.
In an Aug. 3, 2023, report, Wala noted that Allen said he "wanted to go to heaven" and that he appeared "confused" and "not rational anymore."
Defense attorney Brad Rozzi confronted Wala with the fact that she'd been following the Delphi case through podcasts and other media, and had participated in true crime forums.
Wala testified that she would sometimes share information with Allen about what she saw online.
Wala shut down her social media accounts after someone pointed out she was following the case so closely.
Wala testified she no longer works with the Indiana Department of Corrections. Rozzi told the court that the IDOC is investigating allegations that Wala used its database to search for information the public didn’t have access to.
John Galipeau, the former warden of the Westville Correctional Facility, where Allen was held for 13 months after his October 2022 arrest, who took the stand Tuesday, also testified about Allen's confessions.
Galipeau told jurors Allen wrote a note requesting an interview with him on March 5, 2023. He said Allen's note said, "I am ready to officially for confess killing Abby and Libby. I hope I get the opportunity to tell the families I’m sorry."
Galipeau said Allen admitted to throwing out a box cutter in the dumpster behind the CVS where he worked in Delphi.
An expert has testified a box cutter may have been used to slash the girls' throats.
Asked about Allen’s mental state at Westville, Galipeau said Allen was quiet for the first month and then began acting "erratic" after he got mail from his attorneys.
Galipeau said Allen washed his face in the toilet, went to the bathroom in his cell, tore up mail and ate paper.
Allen’s attorneys have argued he was treated poorly at Westville and was called a "baby killer," which led to a decline in his mental health.
Galipeau testified that Allen was allowed to shower three times a week, was provided three sets of clothing, had access to tablets and was allowed recreation time five days a week in an indoor room. Allen was on suicide watch and received a medical check daily, Galipeau said.
Another corrections officer, Brandon Fisher, testified that Allen confessed on April 29, 2023. According to Fisher, Allen said his plan was to rape Abby and Libby, but he panicked and ended up killing them.
Allen allegedly told Fisher he killed the girls with a box cutter and threw it into a dumpster behind CVS.
Westville corrections officer Michael Clemons also took the stand, telling jurors he was assigned to record everything Allen said and did while on suicide watch.
According to Clemons, Allen said, "I'm so glad no one gave up on me after I killed Abby and Libby," and, "I, Richard Matthew Allen, killed Abby and Libby by myself. No one helped me."
Clemons said Allen would shout to other inmates, "I’m not crazy, I’m only acting like I’m crazy."
During cross-examination, Clemons testified that he never felt Allen’s behavior was genuine.
Rozzi asked Clemons, "Can prison get to a man?" and the corrections officer admitted, "Yes it can."
Corrections officer Michael Roberts testified that Allen was coherent and talkative, but a little scared when he arrived at Westville. After a few months, Roberts said Allen's behavior changed and he started confessing.
Roberts had a detailed log of the four confessions he said he heard.
On April 7, 2023, Roberts wrote that Allen said, "Dear Lord, forgive me for molesting Abby, Libby, Kevin, and Chris. I want to confess. I know a lot more." The identities of Kevin and Chris were not explained in the testimony.
On April 23, 2023, Roberts wrote that Allen said, "I killed Abby & Libby. My wife wasn't involved. I want to confess."
On April 26, 2023, he wrote that Allen said, "Can I talk? Can you listen I killed Abby & Libby? How do I prove I'm insane?"
On June 18, 2023, Roberts noted that Allen said, "Why are you doing this? Do you know God? Do you know why I'm here? I killed Abby and Libby."
During cross-examination, Roberts admitted that Allen had smeared feces all over his cell and put feces on his face for two hours.
Roberts also said Allen refused food for long periods of time, and recalled one incident where Allen hit his head on the wall for so long that his face turned black and blue.
After 13 months at Westville, Allen was transferred to Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. Jason Bedwell, a corrections officer there, testified that on Feb. 4, 2024, Allen cried and talked to himself, saying, "I am sorry for what I did. Sorry for killing them.
