13th Juror Podcast

Episode: The Defense of Richard Allen

Host: Brandi Churchwell
Date: January 22, 2026

Overview: The Defense’s Story

This episode delves into the defense's case in Indiana v. Richard Allen, accused in the chilling 2017 Delphi murders of Abby Williams and Libby German. Unlike the prosecution’s “one man, one crime” narrative, the defense argued the investigation was irreparably flawed, evidence and key witnesses were ignored or lost, and foundational timelines didn’t fit the facts. Despite mounting scrutiny and a media circus, the defense contended that Richard Allen’s guilt was anything but certain—anchoring their case in the notion of profound systemic failure and reasonable doubt.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Moves: The Innocence Declaration

• [02:15] Defense attorney Andrew Baldwin began and ended his opening statement with:

  “Richard Allen is truly innocent. Truly innocent.”
  He urged jurors to withhold conclusions until all evidence (and missing evidence) was considered.

2. Witness Testimony Contradicts State’s “Bridge Guy” Theory

• The prosecution relied on witness descriptions to identify Allen as the man seen in Libby’s phone footage.
• [06:30] Rayleigh Voorhees & Brianne Wilbur: Recalled seeing a man on the trail—much taller than Allen’s 5'4" frame, both estimating 5’10”–5’11”.
• [07:10] Betsy Blair: Described the man as “young, boyish” with “poofy hair,” ages 20s to early 30s—contradicting Allen’s older, military-cropped appearance.

  “To the defense, Betsy Blair didn’t place Richard Allen on the bridge. She eliminated him from it.” — Brandi Churchwell [07:45]

3. Questioning the Reliability of “Bridge Guy Sightings”

• [08:30] Sarah Carball’s account shifted over time, from seeing a man with mud to one allegedly “covered in blood.” Defense pointed out the delay in reporting and evolving descriptions, undermining reliability.

4. Ignored Witnesses and Overlooked Movement on the Trail

• [10:15] David McCain, Shelby Hicks, Cheyenne Mill: All testified about being on the trails during the critical timeframe; none saw Allen or anyone matching the “bridge guy.” Timeline evidence included photos, calls, and their habits, which indicated significant trail activity—but no Allen.
• [12:25] Defense highlighted police disregard for these statements:

  “When Cheyenne Mill first called police to tell them what she'd seen… they were dismissive, even rude.” — Brandi Churchwell

5. Investigative Fumbles & Missing Evidence

• [20:45] Detective Steve Mullen admitted:

  “Dozens of early interviews from February and March of 2017 were lost, gone, overwritten by the police department’s recording system.”

• No backups or transcripts survived, erasing eyewitness accounts from those with the freshest memories. Additional interviews were compromised by technical failures.

6. Removal of FBI from the Case

• [25:00] ISP Superintendent Doug Carter removed the FBI from the investigation in August 2021, returning all evidence/documents, a move the defense argued reduced investigative competence:

  “Who tells the FBI to walk away from the most high profile child murder case in the state?” — Brandi Churchwell [25:40]

7. Unpursued Leads & Unresolved Suspects

• Trail camera footage captured unidentified individuals near the crime scene; these were never identified or investigated.
• Brad Weber, a neighbor with a white van (a detail used to “verify” Allen’s confession), was inconsistently investigated, and his alibi and the exclusion of his gun were both unclear.
• Under questioning, Weber’s timeline and vehicle use remained contradictory ([34:30]).

8. Forensic Doubt: The Unspent Cartridge

• [40:20] Dr. Eric Warren (defense firearms expert) testified that the .40 caliber unspent cartridge could not reliably be matched to Allen’s gun due to improper comparison methods:

  “You can't compare an unfired cartridge from a crime scene to a fired test cartridge and treat it like it's a match. It's not apples to apples. It's apples to oranges.” — Dr. Warren

9. Problems with the Prosecution’s Lone Wolf Theory

• [49:00] Evidence suggested the crime scene required multiple offenders; Detective Mullen previously believed this for years until Allen was charged.
• No DNA or digital evidence tied Allen to the crime. Unknown male DNA was present.
• Witnesses described different weapons and suggested the girls’ bodies were “staged” in a way that defied the state’s lone killer narrative.

10. Shocked Courtroom Moments: Libby German’s Phone Data

• [53:30] Digital forensics expert Stacey Eldredge revealed:
  • Libby’s phone disconnected at 5:45 p.m. and remained offline, then reconnected at 4:33 a.m. the next day.
  • Wired headphones were plugged in after the time Allen was already home.

  “Eldridge told the jury there was no explanation for that reading other than human activity. Wind couldn't do it. Animals couldn't do it. Software errors couldn't do it. Someone touched that phone and interacted with it at a time Richard Allen was already home.” — Brandi Churchwell [55:00]
  This undermined the state’s precise timeline.

11. No Tip, No ID, No Connection

• Of over 14,000 tips, none named Richard Allen until he re-entered the investigation himself by providing an alibi in 2017.

12. Explaining the Confession: Mental Collapse in Solitary

• [01:01:00] Defense experts—Dr. Deanna Dwenger, Dr. Polly Westcott, Dr. Stuart Grassian—explained how prolonged solitary confinement “breaks” a mind, resulting in psychosis, hallucinations, and unreliable statements.

  “His brain chemistry had been altered by sensory deprivation and… slipped into psychosis.” — Dr. Polly Westcott

• Surveillance videos showed Allen’s dramatic deterioration over 13 months in isolation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Andrew Baldwin [02:20]:

  “When a person is truly innocent, the evidence—and lack of evidence—will reveal it.”

• Brandi Churchwell [19:55]:

  “If investigators couldn’t keep track of evidence, how could they possibly claim beyond a reasonable doubt that Richard Allen was the killer?”

• Dr. Warren [41:12]:

  “The proper conclusion was not a match. Not even inconclusive, but an insufficient agreement, a scientific way of saying you cannot confidently attribute this cartridge to this gun.”

• Dr. Stuart Grassian [01:13:00]:

  “Prolonged solitary confinement can break a person. It can produce hallucinations, delusions, false memories, and uncontrollable terror.”

• Brandi Churchwell [01:29:10]:

  “They didn’t pretend to have every answer… but they did argue that the state’s version of events simply couldn’t be true.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening and Defense’s Framing: 00:04 – 04:45
• Eyewitness and Trail Testimonies: 06:00 – 13:00
• Ignored/Overlooked Evidence & Witnesses: 13:00 – 21:00
• Investigation Flaws & FBI Removal: 21:00 – 28:00
• Alternative Suspects & Vehicle Discrepancies: 28:00 – 39:00
• The .40 Caliber Cartridge Debate: 40:10 – 49:00
• Problems with Single-Attacker Narrative: 49:00 – 53:00
• Digital Forensics Bombshell: 53:00 – 59:00
• Defendant’s Confession & Mental State: 01:00:30 – 01:17:00
• Summary of Reasonable Doubt: 01:25:00 – 01:30:00
• Verdict and Sentencing: 01:32:00 – 01:37:00
• Reflection on Victims & Systemic Challenges: 01:38:00 – end

Episode Flow and Tone

Brandi Churchwell’s narration is measured, empathetic, and rigorous—balancing the heartbreak of the case with a lucid, critical analysis of the criminal justice process. She continually returns focus to the stakes: not just truth and justice for Abby and Libby, but the integrity of the system itself. The defense’s argument is framed not as a denial of tragedy, but as a challenge to the dangerous pitfalls of tunnel vision, lost evidence, and institutional overreach.

Conclusion: Unanswered Questions and Continuing Controversy

Despite the defense’s exhaustive presentation, the episode closes with Allen’s conviction, a divided community, and an emotional reminder of the case’s true victims. The episode lays groundwork for the next: evidence never heard by the jury—including alternate suspects, unresolved leads, and explosive connections—that promises to cast the case in an even more complex light.

For Listeners:

If you haven’t followed the Delphi murders or the trial, this episode provides a meticulous, immersive breakdown of the defense’s case—raising haunting questions about the reliability of both the investigation and the verdict. The story is far from over.