Jury trial in double murder is looming. Here's what's happened so far in the Delphi case (2024)

Table of Contents
FEB. 13, 2017: Abby Williams and Libby German were last seen alive. Their bodies were found the following day. FEB. 22, 2017: Audio clip released with unknown man saying what sounds like "down the hill." JULY 17, 2017: Composite sketch of Delphi homicide suspect released. APRIL 22, 2019: Indiana State Police release new sketch, video and audio. They later clarify that it's not the same man as in the previously released sketch. JULY 29, 2021: Carroll County authorities say they won't release any more information about persons of interest in the murders. DEC. 6, 2021: Police seek information about a fictitious online profile linked to the case. It's later revealed that the profile communicated with Libby. OCT. 26, 2022: Richard Allen arrested, charged Oct. 28, 2022, with the murders of the two teens. NOV. 29, 2022: Probable cause affidavit released for Richard Allen's arrest warrant, revealing that a unfired bullet ejected a pistol found near the bodies was tied to a gun in his home. JAN. 23, 2023: Court prohibits officials and family from disseminating information about the case to the public. Soon after, various media organizations, including IndyStar's parent company, challenge the order. June 15, 2023: Jury trial scheduled to begin Jan. 8, 2024. JUNE 29, 2023: 118 documents released in the case against Richard Allen. SEPT. 18, 2023: Attorneys for Allen release memorandum including a theory that Odonists killed Abby and Libby, along with a motion to suppress a search warrant on Allen's property. OCTOBER 2023: Pictures of sensitive crime scene evidence are leaked online. Police later learn a man tied to the evidence leak died by suicide. OCT. 19, 2023: Special Judge Frances Gull announces that Allen's defense attorneys have withdrawn from the case. OCT. 30, 2023: Allen, through his civil attorneys, asks Indiana Supreme Court to review Special Judge Frances Gull's decisions in the case and reinstate Andrew Baldwin and Brad Rozzi as his defense lawyers. OCT. 31, 2023: Jury trial, which had been scheduled to begin in January, rescheduled to start in October 2024. NOV. 6, 2023: Allen's civil attorneys filed a second case in the Indiana Supreme Court asking for the original defense team's reinstatement and Gull's removal. NOV. 22, 2023: State police arrest Mitchell Westerman in connection with evidence leaked in the murder case. MARCH 11, 2024: Trial rescheduled for May MAY 7, 2024: Trial rescheduled for October, 2024 JULY 16, 2024: Defense loses in attempt to remove judge from case JULY 30-AUG. 1, 2024: Hearings take place on various motions in the case. AUG. 29, 2024: Judge rules jurors will hear statements made by Allen in prison SEPT. 4, 2024: Judge rules Odinism theories cannot be used in defense OCT. 14, 2024: Trial scheduled to begin with jury selection in Allen County References

Jenny Porter Tilley,Kristine Phillips,Ron Wilkins,Deanna WatsonUSA TODAY NETWORK

Jury selection begins Monday in a murder case involving the brutal deaths of two Indiana teens.

After five years of uncertainty, rumors and shifting narratives, an arrest was finally made Oct. 26, 2022, in the slaying of Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German. Since then, the case has been characterized by legal chaos.

Finally, a trial is set to begin in mid-October, 2024. Here's a look at the timeline.

▶ Inside 'bizarre' Delphi murders case: Evidence leak, suicide, Odinists and legal chaos

FEB. 13, 2017: Abby Williams and Libby German were last seen alive. Their bodies were found the following day.

FEB. 22, 2017: Audio clip released with unknown man saying what sounds like "down the hill."

JULY 17, 2017: Composite sketch of Delphi homicide suspect released.

APRIL 22, 2019: Indiana State Police release new sketch, video and audio. They later clarify that it's not the same man as in the previously released sketch.

▶ Delphi murders: Investigators have had newly released suspect sketch for 2 years

JULY 29, 2021: Carroll County authorities say they won't release any more information about persons of interest in the murders.

▶ 'Rumors suck and they hurt people': Sister of Delphi murder victim addresses internet speculation

DEC. 6, 2021: Police seek information about a fictitious online profile linked to the case. It's later revealed that the profile communicated with Libby.

▶ Delphi murders: Police seek information about fictitious 'Anthony Shots' profile

OCT. 26, 2022: Richard Allen arrested, charged Oct. 28, 2022, with the murders of the two teens.

▶ Delphi murders: Suspect case remains under seal. Experts weigh in on 'unusual' move

NOV. 29, 2022: Probable cause affidavit released for Richard Allen's arrest warrant, revealing that a unfired bullet ejected a pistol found near the bodies was tied to a gun in his home.

Jury trial in double murder is looming. Here's what's happened so far in the Delphi case (3)

Jury trial in double murder is looming. Here's what's happened so far in the Delphi case (4)

Richard Allen: Delphi, Indiana, man charged in double homicide

Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland gives an update on the Delphi murders.

▶ Delphi murders: Defense attorneys question 'magic bullet' linking Richard Allen to murders

JAN. 23, 2023: Court prohibits officials and family from disseminating information about the case to the public. Soon after, various media organizations, including IndyStar's parent company, challenge the order.

June 15, 2023: Jury trial scheduled to begin Jan. 8, 2024.

JUNE 29, 2023: 118 documents released in the case against Richard Allen.

SEPT. 18, 2023: Attorneys for Allen release memorandum including a theory that Odonists killed Abby and Libby, along with a motion to suppress a search warrant on Allen's property.

OCTOBER 2023: Pictures of sensitive crime scene evidence are leaked online. Police later learn a man tied to the evidence leak died by suicide.

OCT. 19, 2023: Special Judge Frances Gull announces that Allen's defense attorneys have withdrawn from the case.

OCT. 30, 2023: Allen, through his civil attorneys, asks Indiana Supreme Court to review Special Judge Frances Gull's decisions in the case and reinstate Andrew Baldwin and Brad Rozzi as his defense lawyers.

OCT. 31, 2023: Jury trial, which had been scheduled to begin in January, rescheduled to start in October 2024.

NOV. 6, 2023: Allen's civil attorneys filed a second case in the Indiana Supreme Court asking for the original defense team's reinstatement and Gull's removal.

▶ Supreme Court: Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen can have original attorneys back

NOV. 22, 2023: State police arrest Mitchell Westerman in connection with evidence leaked in the murder case.

MARCH 11, 2024: Trial rescheduled for May

MAY 7, 2024: Trial rescheduled for October, 2024

JULY 16, 2024: Defense loses in attempt to remove judge from case

Allen's attorney argued that Gull violated rules by failing to make decisions on defense motions within the 30-day timeline required. The Indiana Supreme Court said the rule referenced did not apply.

▶ Richard Allen: Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen loses in latest attempt to remove judge from case

JULY 30-AUG. 1, 2024: Hearings take place on various motions in the case.

▶ July 30, 2024: Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen's attorneys accuse police of hiding evidence

▶ July 31, 2024: Prosecutor says Delphi murder suspect made 61 incriminating statements while incarcerated

▶ Aug. 1, 2024: Delphi killings are 'textbook' examples of ritualistic murder, defense expert testifies

AUG. 29, 2024: Judge rules jurors will hear statements made by Allen in prison

Gull ruled that jurors in October's trial will be allowed to hear evidence about Allen's admissions to the prison therapist, guards, inmates and his family members.

▶ Richard Allen trial: Jurors will hear Delphi murder suspect's statements allegedly admitting to the killings

SEPT. 4, 2024: Judge rules Odinism theories cannot be used in defense

Gull ruled that Allen's defense team did not produce admissible evidence that linked Odinism or specific suspected Odinists to the killings.

▶ Odinism in Delphi trial: Judge nixes Odinism defense in Richard Allen Delphi murders case

OCT. 14, 2024: Trial scheduled to begin with jury selection in Allen County

Jury trial in double murder is looming. Here's what's happened so far in the Delphi case (2024)

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