DELPHI, Ind. – A clinical psychologist who examined Richard Allen while he was in custody described her interactions with Allen during his time at Westville Correctional Facility, including his account of the day of the murders.
Allen is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German near the Monon High Bridge. State police announced his arrest in October 2022. His trial started earlier this month.
On Day 10, jurors watched two videotaped interviews with Allen from October 2022. One involved current Carroll County Sheriff Tony Liggett and Carroll County Prosecutor’s Office investigator Steve Mullin. The second involved ISP investigator Jerry Holeman and ended with Allen’s arrest.
The jury also heard from a warden and several corrections officers about “confessions” Allen made regarding the Delphi murders. At one point, Allen said he killed the girls with a box cutter and disposed of it in a CVS dumpster. Guards testified that Allen displayed odd behavior while in custody.
Day 11 testimony
On Day 11, Dr. Monica Wala took the stand. She was employed as the lead psychologist for the Indiana Department of Correction and was technically a contractor. She primarily worked at Westville and provided services to Allen while he was in custody.
Wala took on Allen because of the high-profile nature of his case. She first saw him in November 2022. He was frequently on suicide watch, which meant corrections personnel had to keep him on close observation.
Wala didn’t initially discuss the Delphi murders with Allen and discouraged him from talking about the case with others.
In an April 5, 2023, patient complaint, Allen said, “I killed Abby and Libby. I’m sorry.” He said he made sure they were dead so they didn’t suffer and believed they were deceased by the time he left.
He was back on suicide watch at the time.
He became tearful and said he committed the murders by himself. According to Wala’s account, Allen said his intentions were “sexual” in nature and he alluded to having a sex addiction. He believed the girls were older—perhaps 18 or 19—although he also thought they could’ve been as young as 11.
He also said he was an alcoholic and had been both a victim and perpetrator of child molestation.
He wanted to apologize to the girls’ families.
Allen told Wala he was glad he didn’t kill himself and expressed appreciation for being housed and clothed at the facility. He told her he slept with his Bible and had committed himself to God.
His thought process was “all over the place” at times and his emotions were “up and down.”
During a May 2 report, Wala noted that Allen said he killed the girls, asked if it was “okay” for him to kill himself and added he didn’t want to die because he was “too much of a coward.”
He had trouble staying on topic but Wala noted that he didn’t appear psychotic. She believed he had “situational psychosis,” meaning he would have episodes of psychosis at times and then go into remission.
Allen recounts Feb. 13, 2017
On May 3, Allen wanted to call his wife and recounted the events of Feb. 13, 2017.
He said he saw his mother in the morning in Mexico, Indiana. He was offered an invitation to go out for lunch but declined. He told Wala he drank three beers and then went to the trails.
He saw Abby and Libby walking on the trail and followed them. He said he did “something” with his gun and that’s when the bullet fell out. He ordered the girls “down the hill” with the intent to rape them.
By his account, he saw something—either a man or a van, it was unclear in court—that startled him. He ordered the girls across the creek, cut their necks and then covered their bodies with tree branches. He walked to his car, which he’d parked at a nearby building.
Wala noted that Allen seemed “relieved” after the admission
Allen continued to live his life as normal after the killings, he said.
Allen’s conversation with wife
On May 5, Allen was at a high risk for suicide, leading guards to watch him closely.
On May 9, he said, “I just want to sign my confession.” Wala suggested he talk to his attorneys. Allen talked about planning his “last meal” and killing himself. He exhibited no evidence of psychotic symptoms, Wala noted.
On May 10, Allen had trouble with his prison-issued tablet. He was able to call his wife.
During that conversation, he mentioned the electric chair and asked if his family still loved him.
“I didn’t do everything I said I did, but I killed Abby and Libby,” he said during the conversation.
His wife hung up on him.
On May 11, Allen said he wanted “closure” by apologizing to the girls’ families, adding that he needed to “forgive himself.”
An Aug. 3 report noted that Allen said he “wanted to go to heaven” but was afraid of dying. He was “confused” and “not rational anymore.”
