Richard Allen arrested in 2017 killings of teenagers Liberty German and Abigail Williams in Indiana

Indiana State Police have taken a person into custody in reference to the 2017 killings of two teenage women, authorities stated Monday. State Police Superintendent Doug Carter introduced that Richard Matthew Allen, 50, was arrested final week on two homicide counts within the killings of Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, in a case that has garnered nationwide media consideration.

Williams and German disappeared on Feb. 13, 2017, whereas mountain climbing alongside of the historic path routes in Delphi, Indiana, about 70 miles north of Indianapolis. Their our bodies have been found the next day in a wooded space, roughly a mile from the spot the place they have been final seen, and each deaths have been dominated as homicides.

Information of the arrest comes after investigators, hoping to determine a suspect, reviewed hundreds of leads with out success over the course of practically six years.

“I’m proud to report back to you … that an arrest has been made,” stated Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter on the information convention Monday morning. “Due to actually lots of of media shops which have been steadfast in reporting and preserving the reminiscences of Abby and Libby entrance and heart.”

As a result of the probe stays in progress, Carter famous that further particulars concerning the arrest and investigation won’t be launched but.

“Whereas I do know you might be all anticipating remaining particulars at this time regarding this arrest, at this time shouldn’t be that day,” he stated. “This investigation is much from full, and we won’t jeopardize its integrity by releasing or discussing paperwork or data earlier than the suitable time.”

Allen was arrested final Wednesday by detectives with Delphi’s double murder activity pressure, a gaggle fashioned within the aftermath of Williams’ and German’s deaths that bridged native, state and federal regulation enforcement companies. A choose discovered possible trigger to carry him with out bond on double homicide fees on Friday, stated Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland, including that Allen, described as a “native man,” entered a plea of not responsible throughout a preliminary listening to. 

McLeland emphasised that the investigation was nonetheless “energetic and ongoing” as of Monday morning, and authorities are persevering with to ask the general public for any suggestions associated to the 2017 killings, whether or not they relate particularly to Allen or not.

The unsolved murders gained widespread media consideration as ongoing police probes yielded few solutions. Shortly after the women disappeared, investigators launched a picture of a doable suspect, a person wearing denim denims, a blue jacket, and hoodie, who gave the impression to be strolling of their course on Monon Excessive Bridge Path across the time of their disappearance. 

Police stated the {photograph}, along with an audio recording that appeared to seize the muffled voice of the doable suspect, have been each taken from German’s smartphone. Greater than two years later, in April 2019, a video clip additionally attributed to {the teenager}’s cellphone was launched as properly together with an up to date police sketch.

Regardless of the continued investigation, authorities have been unable to determine the person and no arrest warrants have been issued. Nonetheless, a number of sources instructed CBS Indianapolis affiliate WTTV on Friday {that a} man was taken into custody in reference to the double murder. The Indiana State Police introduced their upcoming information convention on the identical day.