Officials who interviewed Richard Allen testify on the sixth day of Delphi’s murder trial

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

52-year-old Richard Allen is charged with the murders of 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German. Abby and Libby disappeared while hiking on February 13, 2017 near the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi. Their bodies were discovered a day later in the forest near this 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 officers who interviewed Allen.

According to our sister station WTHR, the first witness was Kathy Shank, a retired DCS employee who volunteered to help with administrative tasks such as organizing files and tips in a database.

In 2022, she came across a file folder that wasn’t among the others she was managing. Inside was a report with the name “Richard Allen Whiteman.”

Shank noticed that the clue sheet said “cleared” and wasn’t sure why Allen’s last name was entered incorrectly. She said the discrepancy came to her attention after Allen “self-reported” to authorities that he was on the bridge the same day the girls went missing.

The defense argued under cross-examination that there was no “Richard Allen Whiteman” and asked Shank if she cared about detail and accuracy. She said “Yes” and that it wasn’t her who wrote “Richard Allen Whiteman.”

Indiana Department of Natural Resources officer Dan Dulan took the stand after Shank to tell the jury about his interview with Allen in a grocery store parking lot just days after the murders.

Dulan said Allen reported being on the trail between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. on the day of the murders. Dulan said Allen told him he saw three girls at the Liberty Bridge early in his hike, but no one else. He also said Allen told him that he looked at the stock ticker on his phone as he walked.

When Dulan spoke to him again in 2022, he found it “unusual” that Allen changed his height and weight while applying for a new fishing license.

During cross-examination, Dulan told defense attorney Brad Rozzi that he interpreted Allen’s statement that he was currently on the trail to mean that he had been on the trail the entire time. Rozzi reportedly confirmed to Dulan that it was not unusual to find an unused bullet casing in the woods. Dulan also reportedly agreed that Sig Sauer was a popular gun manufacturer and that Smith & Wesson ammunition was popular.

Former Delphi Police Chief Steve Mullin, who testified last Saturday, was called back to the stand on October 13, 2022 to discuss his interview with Allen – not long before Allen’s arrest.

Mullin said Allen originally agreed to show investigators his phone during the interview but then changed his mind. Mullin claimed that Allen “got annoyed and left the room.”

When Mullin asked Allen if he was the “bridge guy” after showing him a picture, Mullin said Allen’s answer was strange. He said Allen said, “If the picture was taken on the girls’ camera, there’s no way it could be that.”

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

To take a look back at all of our reporting to date in this ongoing process, Click here.

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