ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. – Fourteen people were chosen to sit on the jury in the Delphi murders trial by the end of jury selection on Monday in Allen County.
Richard Allen faces four counts of murder in connection with the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German near the Monon High Bridge. Indiana State Police announced his arrest in October 2022.
Around 300 summons were sent to prospective Allen County jurors. Eventually, 12 jurors and four alternates will be selected.
The three-day process of culling the jury pool began in Allen County on Monday with 100 prospective jurors scheduled to appear in the courtroom. Richard Allen was present during the proceedings, arriving in a purple shirt, khaki pants and a pair of shackles.
Fourteen jurors were selected by end of day on Monday — including eight women and six men.
Two of the selected jurors said they have police officers in their families.
Several jurors have been dismissed, including a prospective juror who claimed to have psychic abilities. Another juror was dismissed after telling the court he didn’t “like the color green.”
The jury will be sequestered for up to a month as it decides Allen’s fate.
During Monday’s proceedings, Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland told prospective jurors a portion of what he will present in the upcoming trial against Allen. McLeland claimed that Allen is the “Bridge Guy” who killed the girls and whose image was widely seen in a grainy still taken from Libby German’s phone. McLeland said Allen used a gun to “kidnap” the girls and “have his way” with them.
But “he was interrupted,” McLeland said.
In his haste to murder the girls and throw their clothes in the river, the prosecution said Allen “left something behind — a bullet.”
This unspent round found next to the bodies allegedly matches a gun owned by Allen, found in his home during a search. This was a crucial factor in Allen’s eventual arrest.
The state also said Allen has confessed dozens of times to killing the girls.
“You’re going to see photos and videos that show Richard Allen is the bridge guy,” McLeland told the jury pool.
Defense attorney Bradley Rozzi told the prospective jurors that Allen made those confessions under duress and claimed that some of the so-called confessions Allen made weren’t even factually accurate.
Rozzi also suggested infighting between federal and local law enforcement left some evidence unanalyzed.
“Richard Allen is innocent and evidence will show that,” Rozzi told the prospective jurors.
The prosecution seemed to indicate it may not have conclusive DNA or phone data or weapon evidence. The defense appeared to lay the groundwork to keep Allen off the witness stand.
Jury selection will continue on Tuesday as two alternate juror seats remain empty.
Judge Fran Gull stated that even if jury selection is finished early, the trial will still not start proper until Friday.
