13th Juror Podcast — "The Prosecution of Richard Allen"

Host: Brandi Churchwell (Audiochuck)
Episode Date: January 15, 2026
Episode Theme: The prosecution’s case in the trial of Richard Allen, accused of the murders of Liberty German and Abigail Williams in Delphi, Indiana.

Overview

This episode takes listeners through the prosecution’s narrative in the highly publicized Delphi murders case—two middle school best friends, Abby Williams and Libby German, found murdered after an afternoon hike in 2017. Host Brandi Churchwell breaks down the prosecution’s evidence and arguments, blending emotional testimony with forensic and digital findings. The episode details the investigation, the emotional impact on the community, and ultimately, how Richard Allen became the focus of the state’s case.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Central Evidence: "Guys, Down the Hill"

• [01:01] The “guys, down the hill” recording, captured secretly on Libby German’s phone, becomes the linchpin of both investigation and trial.
  • "A grainy image of a man walking along a dilapidated railroad bridge… At the end, just as the camera pans toward the ground, four words are spoken: 'Guys, down the hill.'" (Brandi Churchwell, 01:43)
  • This brief video and still images frame the state’s theory about the killer—the so-called "bridge guy" eventually identified as Richard Allen.

Victims' Backgrounds and the Day of the Crime

• [03:20] Brandi describes Libby and Abby’s close friendship, character traits, and the events leading up to their disappearance.

  • Describes the girls’ personalities: Libby as adventurous and bold; Abby as quietly strong and creative.
  • Details of February 13, 2017—their last morning, walk to Monon High Bridge, and the photos and videos Libby took.
  • "They traded clothes, shared inside jokes, and spent countless afternoons together wandering trails..." (Brandi Churchwell, 05:01)

• [09:28] Brandi recounts the disappearance, the frantic search, and the community’s growing fear as daylight fades.

Discovery and Crime Scene

• [14:02] Emotional testimony from family and the searchers sets the tone.

  • The girls’ bodies were found in a clearing, carefully arranged, with disturbing details noted by investigators.
  • "The lead crime scene investigator said it appeared arranged... Not randomly scattered... but laid in ways that immediately struck investigators as deliberate." (Brandi Churchwell, 15:21)

• [16:00] Forensic signs:

  • No evident struggle.
  • Distinct differences in how the girls were clothed (Libby nude; Abby in Libby’s clothes).
  • Items missing or found in the creek.
  • Both died from neck wounds—but not instantly.
  • Discovery of a blood pattern on a nearby tree resembling the letter "F."
  • Finding an unspent .40-caliber cartridge between the bodies.
  • Libby’s phone underneath Abby’s body, holding crucial video evidence.

Digital and Eyewitness Evidence

• [21:12] Police released stills and audio; tips and sightings flooded in.

  • Witnesses recalled seeing a lone male, often matching the description seen in the video and later said to resemble Allen.

  • Tight timeline reconstructed from digital data (Snapchat photos at 2:07pm; bridge encounter at 2:13pm; phone movement stops at 2:32pm).

  • "Witnesses and digital evidence formed a narrative investigators believed pointed to one unshakable conclusion. Bridge Guy was the man who murdered Abby and Libby." (Brandi Churchwell, 24:42)

The Break in the Case: Richard Allen

• [28:47] In 2022, a tip about Allen being on the trails resurfaces.

  • He had reported his presence on the trail in 2017 (and was originally cleared).
  • "One caught her eye. A man had reported being on the Monon High Bridge trail the very day Abby and Libby disappeared. That detail stopped her cold." (Brandi Churchwell, 28:57)

• Investigators confirm his presence near the crime scene via old witness notes and surveillance footage.

Interrogation and Search

• [31:12] Allen’s police interview:
  • Allen gives inconsistent details about his trail visit timeline and describes wearing clothes matching “bridge guy.”
  • "Here was Richard Allen sitting in an interview room, describing clothing that matched the witnesses accounts..." (Brandi Churchwell, 31:56)
  • Allen grows agitated, ends the interview.
  • Search warrants executed: they recover a matching blue Carhartt jacket, jeans, boots, and a Sig Sauer P226 handgun with a .40-caliber round matching the unspent cartridge at the scene.

Forensic Firearm Evidence

• [33:40] Forensic examiner’s findings:
  • The cartridge from the scene is microscopically matched to Allen’s handgun (the slide and extractor left identifiable marks).
  • "Her opinion was that the cartridge found between the girls bodies had been cycled through Richard Allen's Sig Sauer." (Brandi Churchwell, 34:14)

Jailhouse Statements and Mental Health

• [35:20] After arrest, Allen’s mental health unravels in jail and at Westfield Correctional Facility.
  • Behavior alternates between distress/psychosis and coherence.
  • Multiple corrections officers, the warden, prison psychologist (Dr. Tara Walla), and even Allen’s own family testify, referencing Allen’s repeated confessions to killing Abby and Libby.
    • "He said: I did it. I killed those girls. I killed Abby and Libby." (Brandi Churchwell, 39:05)
  • Dr. Walla testifies Allen was not psychotic or delusional during these statements:
    • "She testified that although Allen was severely distressed, she did not believe he was suffering from a major mental illness..." (Brandi Churchwell, 40:23)
  • Allen also confesses in monitored phone calls to his family:
    • "Jurors listened as Allen told his family: I did it. I'm the reason those girls are dead. I did something horrible." (Brandi Churchwell, 41:32)

The Prosecution’s Closing Summary

• State argues that Allen, motivated by sexual intent, followed, murdered, and arranged the bodies of Libby and Abby when panicked by a passing van (confirmed by property owner Brad Weber).
  • "All of the evidence they said pointed toward only one conclusion. Richard Allen was guilty. And with that, the prosecution rested." (Brandi Churchwell, 44:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brandi Churchwell, [01:43]:
  “A shadow falls on his face, making him even harder to identify. The clip lasts just a few seconds, and right at the end… an unidentified voice gives a calm but commanding, ‘Guys, down the hill.’ That short recording became the centerpiece of a double murder case that would shake the small town of Delphi, Indiana.”

• Witness, [18:44] (Paraphrased by Host):
  "He wore dark clothing, a hood pulled up and something covering the lower half of his face. Raley waved and said hello, but he didn't answer, only gave her a look she described as a glare."

• Prison Psychologist Dr. Tara Walla, [40:23]:
  "Although Allen was severely distressed, she did not believe he was suffering from a major mental illness… Instead, she told the jury that Allen appeared depressed, paranoid and sleep deprived, but oriented all the same."

• Brandi Churchwell, [41:32]:
  “Jurors listened as Allen told his family, ‘I did it. I'm the reason those girls are dead. I did something horrible.’ He repeated all the same sentiments he shared with Dr. Walla—that his guilt was killing him and he was ready and deserving of punishment."

Important Timestamps

• 01:01: Introduction of the case, the recording, and context for “Bridge Guy.”
• 03:20–10:24: Detailed account of Abby and Libby’s friendship, timelines of their final day, and the disappearance.
• 14:02–18:00: Family testimony, crime scene discovery, and evidence overview.
• 21:12–24:42: Witness encounters, digital evidence, and timeline.
• 28:47–33:40: Revival of the tip about Allen, interviews, search, and physical evidence (jacket, gun, cartridge).
• 35:20–41:32: Allen’s behavior in custody, repeated (monitored) confessions, and testimony by correctional and mental health staff.
• 44:48: Prosecution’s final narrative and argument summary.

Episode Tone and Language

The episode maintains a serious, invested, and often emotional tone that echoes the gravity of the case. Brandi narrates with care for both the evidence and the humanity of those involved, channeling the tense atmosphere of both the investigation and the trial.

Next Episode Preview

The host teases the forthcoming defense case—hinting at challenges to the credibility of the witness IDs, alternative theories about Allen's confessions, and a twist from FBI forensic testimony that could subvert the prosecution’s case.

This summary aims to provide a comprehensive, clear, and engaging overview of "The Prosecution of Richard Allen," capturing its central themes and emotional impact for those who have not yet listened.