A scheduled hearing for accused Indiana child killer Richard Allen was abruptly canceled Wednesday when the judge announced Allen’s attorneys had withdrawn from the case.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the hearing was scheduled address leaked graphic crime scene photos and the defense’s claims Delphi murder victims, Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14, were murdered in a ritual sacrifice by white nationalists.
At close to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Judge Frances Gull took the bench at the Carroll County Circuit Court and announced report Allen’s lawyers were withdrawing from the case. Gull said she approved one attorney’s withdrawal motion and would accept the other’s forthcoming request, WFLI reports.
Gull said Allen is entitled to a public defender and said his previous lawyers would cooperate in finding a “successor counsel.” Allen was then transported back to jail, where he remains without bail on murder charges.
“I apologize,” Gull told the gallery. “I know many of you have been waiting for several hours.”
Allen’s next court hearing has been scheduled for October 31. Gull said she expects Allen to have new legal representation by then.
The Delphi Double Homicide Task Force took Allen into custody on October 28 last year at his home in Delphi, for the murders of Abigail and Liberty.
The victims were found murdered near the Monon High Bridge on February 14, 2017, after taking an outing to the bridge the day prior. The outing was only meant for a few hours, and when the girls failed to return, family members contacted police.
Following his arrest, investigators searched Allen’s residence and found:
- A .40 caliber pistol
- Boots
- Knives
- Additional firearms
The Indiana State Police Laboratory examined a bullet found at the crime scene and ultimately determined that it came from a gun registered to Allen, and “forensically determined” that the bullet cycled through his gun.
Allen claimed he never let anyone else use his gun, but he had no explanation when told a bullet from his firearm was found at the crime scene.
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[Feature Photo: Richard Allen/ISP; Abby (R) and Libby (l)/Handout]
