An ejected .40-caliber shell found inches from either Libby German or Abby Williams’ body ties Richard Allen to the 2017 killing of the teens, according to the probable cause affidavit released Tuesday.
When a shell or shell casing is ejected from a semiautomatic pistol, the ejection process leaves marks on a shell that can be tied directly back to a specific firearm. The tool marks on the shell match a pistol owned by Allen, according to the affidavit, which had some redactions.
In an interview with police, Allen said he never let anyone borrow or use his pistol, according to the affidavit. Allen had no explanation how a shell ejected from his sidearm was found at the scene of the crime, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit does not indicate how Libby and Abby were killed Feb. 13, 2017, but it does confirm they were killed on the north banks of the Deer Creek.
The affidavit does not specifically identify the girls by name. Instead, they are identified as Victim 1 and Victim 2.
A video taken by Libby that has been widely published showed a man in a dark jacket and jeans walking behind them on the Monon High Bridge on the trails east of Delphi. As the man in the video approached the girls, one of the teens says “gun,” according to the affidavit.
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Allen, whom prosecutors charged Oct. 28 with two counts of murder in the commission of a felony, told police in 2017 that he’d been on the trails east of Delphi between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. the day the girls were killed. He parked his 2016 Ford Focus in the parking lot of the old Farm Bureau building, but police indicated in the affidavit that they believe he meant the old Child Protection Services building, according to the affidavit.
Teen witnesses told police they passed a man on the trail the day the girls were killed and remembered seeing a car parked in the old CPS building.
One of the three witnesses described a car parked at the old CPS building as a PT Cruiser, and another described it as a SUV, and the third described it as a “smart” car, according to the affidavit.
“Investigators believe those descriptions are similar in nature to a 2016 Ford Focus,” the affidavit states.
One of those witnesses describe passing a man along the trail who wore a blue-colored jacket and blue jeans and “was muddy and bloody.” She further stated that it appeared he had gotten into a fight,” the affidavit states.
Only one of the witnesses described “muddy and bloody” clothing. One witness said the man was wearing blue jeans and a blue jacket.
The three witnesses passed a man on the trail, and one of the girls in the group said “hi” to the man. He glared at them, one of the witnesses said, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states, “Investigators believe that after the victims were murdered, Richard Allen returned to his vehicle by walking down (Carroll) County Road 300 North.”
The judge ordered an edited version of the probable cause affidavit released Tuesday.
The probable cause affidavit indicates it is an eight-page document. However, only seven pages were published Tuesday. An employee at the Carroll County Clerk’s Office told the Journal & Courier that they only received seven pages of the affidavit.
The documents indicate that Allen is charged with felony murder, alleging he committed the killings while kidnapping the girls. However, prosecutors have not yet charged Allen with kidnapping.
It appears that the names of witnesses were redacted.
The affidavit’s release comes nearly a month after law enforcement agencies held a press conference in Delphi, Indiana, where the girls’ bodies were found Feb. 14, 2017. No probable cause affidavit was released during the Oct. 31 press conference.
The Journal & Courier called Mike Patty, Libby German’s grandfather, for comment on the release of the affidavit. He has not yet returned the call. Anna Williams, Abby’s mother, declined to comment.
Read the probable cause affidavit in Delphi murders case
This story will be updated.
Noe Padilla contributed to this report.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.