DELPHI, Ind. (WISH) — For the first time, the public can hear Richard Allen confess to killing Abby Williams and Libby German.
Allen, 52, in December was sentenced to 130 years in prison after he was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts for felony murder for the deaths of 13-year-old Abigail and 14-year-old Liberty. The girls’ bodies were found near the Monon High Bridge near Delphi on Feb. 14, 2017, a day after they went missing.
In the prison phone calls obtained by the YouTube poster Tom Webster, Allen works to convince his family he killed Abby and Libby over the course of several phone calls spanning months.
“I just wanted to apologize to you,” Allen said.
His wife, Kathy Allen, replied, “What’s going on sweetheart?”
“I did it,” Richard said.
“You did what?” Kathy said.
“No, I did it,” Richard said.
“What?” Kathy said.
“I killed Abby. I killed Abby and Libby,” Richard said.
“No, you didn’t,” Kathy said.
“Yes, I did,” Richard replied.
That exchange was from a phone call on April 3, 2023. At first Allen’s wife didn’t believe him.
“You’re not feeling well. There’s something wrong. They’ve messed up your meds or something,” Kathy said.
“No, I mean, I evidently did it,” Richard said.
“No, you didn’t. Why would you say that?” Kathy said.
“Because maybe I did,” Richard said.
“No, you didn’t dear,” Kathy said.
“I think I did,” Richard said.
“No, you didn’t. They are screwing with you there,” Kathy said.
In one call, Richard made statements about his mental health.
“I think maybe I’m losing my mind, but I’m not sure,” he said.
Allen continued confessing. In May, he was more forceful.
Kathy asked him, “Are you sure you want to talk to me over the phone?”
“I think I have to. I need you to know that I did this,” Richard said.
By June 2023, he was seeking reassurance that his family believed him.
“You know that I done it, right?” Allen said.
“Yes. I don’t want to talk about that,” Kathy replied.
At trial, his defense team unsuccessfully tried to argue that his confessions were because of a psychotic break while at the Westville Correctional Facility. He’d been moved to a state prison at the request of the the Carroll County sheriff.
The co-hosts of the “Murder Sheet Podcast” talked with News 8 on Wednesday about what Richard said in the recordings.
Aine Cain said, “He has a goal, which is to tell his family that he did it and he keeps pressing that and tries to redirect to that, so it really didn’t have many of the qualities of what one would expect to see from a psychotic episode.”
Kevin Greenlee said, “The primary impact that this has on the case is the public is finally getting to hear the voice of Richard Allen. They’re finally getting a chance to evaluate all of this evidence for themselves.”
Allen is appealing his conviction. His appeal attorneys are working on filing a brief that will outline all of the specific parts of the trial they feel violated his rights, which could entitle Allen to a new trial.
