Probable cause affidavit for Delphi suspect lays out evidence, key locations in case

DELPHI, Ind. - The investigation of the Delphi murders led to the arrest of 50-year-old Richard Allen but the probable cause affidavit released by a judge this week leaves many questions unanswered.

The court document lays out some of the evidence in the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams back in 2017.

But it also reveals Allen was interviewed in 2017.

When asked why Allen was not arrested until October despite seemingly being on police radar for years, Indiana State Police sent ABC57 the following statement:

“Out of respect for the prosecutorial process, which is being led by the Carroll County prosecutor, we are refraining from making any public statements and are going to allow the probable cause affidavit to stand on its own. As this continues to be an active and ongoing investigation, the Indiana State Police will continue to provide any and all resources available to assist in the prosecution of this case.”

The Carrol County prosecutor did not get back to ABC57's request for comment.

Also revealed in the probable cause affidavit are key locations Allen was allegedly at on the day of the murders.

Surveillance video corroborates witness statements and possibly captured Richard Allen’s 2016 Ford Focus just before 1:30 p.m. on the day the girls went missing.

That timestamp lines up with Allen’s personal timeline of events.

Witness names are redacted in the affidavit but several claim they saw a man on the trail the day the girls disappeared, and his description matches video taken from one of the victim's phones.

ABC57 returned to Allen’s home in Delphi and tried talking with neighbors, all of whom said no to an interview.

A local store owner, who declined an interview, said they are one of the last businesses to still have the girls’ photos in their door and orange light bulbs next to the building.

She said people started putting orange in their porch lights after the girls went missing.

Of all the new details, the smoking gun in the case is a round from a gun found between the girls' bodies at the crime scene.

A search of Allen's home in October found a gun and after lab testing, investigators determined the cartridge/round came from Allen's gun.

Share this article: