Prosecutor dismisses ritual sacrifice theory in Indiana teens’ deaths as social media fodder.
Prosecutor Dismisses “Fanciful” Theory in Case of Slain Teenage Girls
DELPHI, Ind.—The prosecutor overseeing the case against a northern Indiana man charged in the 2017 killings of two teenage girls has dismissed as “fanciful” a recent court filing by the man’s attorneys contending the girls actually died as part of a ritual sacrifice.
Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland called the theory a “fanciful defense for social media to devour” in a document filed Monday, a week after Richard Allen’s attorneys said in a filing that Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14, were killed by members of a pagan Norse religion and white nationalist group known as Odinists.
Allen’s attorneys wrote that “absolutely nothing, links Richard Allen to Odinism or any religious cult.“
Their filing seeks a hearing at which they would argue for suppressing evidence collected at Allen’s Delphi home. It says that law enforcement lied or omitted information to obtain a warrant to search his house, the Journal & Courier reported.
In his response opposing Allen’s attorneys’ separate request to have their client’s hearings and trial broadcast, the prosecutor wrote that only 13 pages of the defense’s 136-page filing seeking the evidence hearing makes any relevant allegations.
“The remaining 90% of the Memorandum outlines its fanciful defense for social media to devour,” McLeland wrote.
McLeland also filed a reply to the attorneys’ request for a hearing to suppress evidence, writing that Carroll County Sheriff Tony Liggett “did not intentionally or recklessly omit evidence or lie about evidence in the probable cause affidavit to support the search warrant.”
McLeland added that when investigators obtained the search warrant in October 2022 they believed there was a chance Allen “would destroy crucial evidence in the investigation” if he knew he was suspected in the killings.
A redacted probable cause affidavit released in November 2022 states that during their search of Allen’s home investigators seized a .40-caliber pistol belonging to him which Allen bought in 2001. The affidavit states that an unspent bullet found near the slain girls’ bodies “had been cycled through” Allen’s pistol.
Allen was arrested in October 2022 and charged with two counts of murder in the teens’ killings. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his trial is scheduled for January.
According to court documents released in June, Allen confessed multiple times to the murders in a phone call to his wife while in prison.
Those documents had been under seal since December 2022, when a judge issued a gag order barring attorneys, law enforcement officials, court personnel, the coroner and family members from commenting on the case.
Liberty and Abigail—known as Libby and Abby—were killed after a relative dropped them off at a hiking trail near the Monon High Bridge on Feb. 13, 2017, just outside their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Indianapolis.
Their bodies were found the next day in a rugged, heavily wooded area near the trail.
The killings have haunted Delphi, a city of about 3,000 where Allen lived and worked at a drug store.
What evidence are the defense attorneys seeking to suppress, and what grounds are they using to argue that it was obtained unlawfully?
Cent motion by the defense is nothing more than an attempt to influence public opinion and to gain media attention,” McLeland wrote.
The prosecution’s response comes as the trial date for Richard Allen, who is charged with murder, child molestation, and confinement in connection with the deaths of Williams and German, approaches. The girls went missing while hiking on a trail in Delphi and their bodies were found the next day. The homicides received widespread attention and the case remained unsolved for several years until Allen was arrested in 2020.
According to court documents, Allen’s attorneys are seeking to suppress evidence obtained from his home on the grounds that it was obtained unlawfully. They allege that law enforcement misled the judge who issued the search warrant by omitting information and presenting false or incomplete information.
However, Prosecutor McLeland has dismissed these claims as “fanciful” and lacking any basis in reality. He stated that the defense’s theory of a ritual sacrifice by members of a pagan religion and white nationalist group known as Odinists is simply a ploy for social media attention.
The prosecutor’s response also addressed Allen’s attorneys’ request to broadcast the hearings and trial. McLeland argued against granting this request, stating that it would be inappropriate and potentially compromise the integrity of the proceedings. He emphasized the need for a fair and impartial trial, and expressed concern that broadcasting the proceedings could lead to bias and prejudice against the defendant.
The upcoming trial is expected to be a highly publicized event, given the attention the case has received since the girls’ deaths in 2017. The prosecutor’s dismissal of the defense’s theories and allegations sets the stage for what is likely to be a contentious legal battle. As the trial date approaches, the focus will shift to the presentation of evidence and the arguments put forth by both the prosecution and the defense.
In the meantime, the community continues to mourn the loss of Abigail Williams and Liberty German, and seeks justice for their tragic deaths. The outcome of the trial will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the grieving families and the community at large.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it is essential to remember the importance of due process and the pursuit of truth. While the defense’s theories may capture attention and generate speculation, it is ultimately the responsibility of the court to weigh the evidence and determine the defendant’s guilt or innocence. The prosecutor’s dismissal of the defense’s claims underscores the need for a thorough examination of the facts and a fair trial, ensuring justice for the victims and their families.
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