Richard Allen’s prison psychologist says he confessed to the Delphi murders

Court vs Richard Allen continues through Oct. 30 in Delphi, Indiana.

Allen, 52, is accused of murdering two teenagers who went missing on February 13, 2017 and were found dead the next day. He was arrested in 2022 and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of kidnapping resulting in death Abigail “Abby” Williams and Liberty “Libby” Herman.

Journalists from Indianapolis Star and Lafayette Journal & Courier will cover the case as it moves through the court system. Here’s what happens in court during Allen’s trial Wednesday.

This story will be updated throughout the day.

Investigator Steve Mullin testified that there was only one car registered to Carroll County that appeared to match what was seen on surveillance footage taken near the trailhead where Abby and Libby were killed: Richard Allen’s suspect vehicle.

A search of Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles records for Ford Focus vehicles registered in Carroll and surrounding counties in 2016-2017 turned up 31 records, Mullin said. He then said that without duplicates, the search narrows down to 18.

Mullin said the list of cars in the area was further narrowed down to eight when looking for the number of Ford Focus “SE” models, which is the type of car police say Allen was driving.

When asked how many Ford Focus SEs were specifically registered in Carroll County during that time, Mullin said “one.”

Jennifer Auger, one of Allen’s attorneys, argued that the Hoosier Harvestore’s surveillance video did not show the vehicle’s registration or model number. She also noted that the trails are often visited by out-of-town visitors.

The state concluded the day by questioning Carroll County resident Brad Weber, who testified he was walking back to his home near the trailhead after finishing work at 2:01 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2017, the day the girls were killed.

Weber estimated that the journey home takes 20-25 minutes. He was shown a photo of the van, which he confirmed was his.

When asked by the defense during cross-examination if he was staying somewhere he had previously told police, Weber angrily shouted “no.”

No further questions were asked before he was dismissed from the witness stand.

Dr. Monica Vala, Allen’s prison psychologist when he was in Westville Penitentiarytestified that Allen maintained his innocence during his first few months at the Northwest Indiana State Prison. Allen arrived in Westville in November 2022, about a month after his arrest.

For the first few months, Allen insisted on his innocence, according to reports Vala wrote about her encounters with Allen. Vala wrote in her reports on Nov. 21, 2022, and Dec. 6, 2022, that Allen felt he had already been treated as guilty and that he did not want to go to jail for something he did not do.

In a November 25, 2022 report, Vala described Allen as “selfless” when it comes to his wife, Kathy.

Vala also said Allen was a “fragile” person when he arrived at the facility. Allen had a history of major depressive disorder and anxiety and was showing signs dependent personality syndromea mental health condition that involves an excessive need to care for others.

Allen’s condition worsened, and around the spring of 2023, he began having suicidal thoughts, Vala testified.

On April 4, 2023, Vala wrote that Allen believed that death would bring relief.

On July 26, 2023, Vala revealed that Allen’s eyes were gouged out, although she said she did not know why.

Under cross-examination by Bradley’s lawyer, Rozzi Vala admitted that prisoners should be kept in solitary confinement for a maximum of 30 days. Allen had been in solitary confinement for 13 months, a situation Vala acknowledged could affect his mental health.

Dr. Monica Vala, who was Allen’s prison psychologist when he was in the Westville Penitentiarysaid she believed Allen was faking many of the strange behaviors he exhibited while at the facility.

On April 10, 2023, she saw Allen sitting in his cell with his back against the wall, naked and with his hands up, talking to himself, Vala testified. Papers, probably pages from court documents, were strewn all over his cell.

The strange behavior that coincided with Allen’s confessions continued to escalate. On April 12, 2023, Vala wrote in her report that Allen was clapping and banging on something in his cell. The next day, she wrote that he was defecating and consuming his own feces.

At that point, Vala said jailers ordered constant surveillance on Allen. Vala also said the strange behavior and confessions began shortly after Allen received the discovery materials, and it’s possible his behavior was a response to what he read in those documents. Allen has also barely slept since early April, Vala said.

Allen seemed better around mid-April after being put on medication, Vala said.

On April 17, Vala found Allen in his cell with his hand up and his eyes closed. When asked if he was suffering from psychosis, Vala said, “Maybe,” but added that she needed more information to say for sure. Vala, however, said she believes Allen was faking his strange behavior to get a visit from his wife and transfer him to another facility.

On April 28, Vala again found Allen naked in his cell. When she asked if he wanted to talk, he said he needed to take a shower first. When she asked why he hadn’t showered, he said, “Because I’m selfish.”

At some point, Allen flushed the Bible down the toilet, Vala said.

Under cross-examination by Bradley’s attorney, Rozzi Vala admitted that she had followed Allen’s case with interest during her private treatment, which she had told her supervisors. But Vala, a true crime fan, also said she was following other cases, and she was able to separate her personal interest from her treatment of Allen.

She also admitted that she used her access to the prison’s database to satisfy her curiosity about the case and admitted that Indiana Department of Corrections officials had investigated her. Vala no longer works in Westville, but she still works for the same government contractor that provides health care to Indiana prisons.

Rozzi also noted the conditions of Allen’s incarceration in Westville. He was kept alone in a small cell where the lights were never turned off and he was constantly watched by a video camera.

New IDOC inmates are usually first taken to the Intake and Diagnostic Center in Plainfield, where they are screened for several weeks to determine which facility is the best fit for them. But Allen’s evaluation, Vala acknowledged, was accelerated, and he was quickly placed at Westville.

Allen’s defense attorneys ask again Special Judge Francis Gall to allow them to present evidence related to Odinism and alleged Odinists, stating that recent testimony had opened the door to the acceptance of such evidence.

The defense argued that Abby and Libby were killed by units ― members of a pagan Scandinavian religion captured by white nationalists ― during a ritual sacrifice in the woods. Seagull for now blocked the defense from presenting their theory to the jury, saying they had not presented admissible evidence linking the alleged Odinists to the crimes.

In a motion filed Wednesday, defense attorneys listed several testimonies and evidence admitted during the trial that they said support their theory that the girls were killed by multiple people. Therefore, they argue, they should be allowed to present that theory to the jury.

They cited testimony from Dr. Roland Korthe medical examiner who conducted the autopsies that numerous serrated and non-serrated instruments could have been used to kill the girls. Evidence showing the sticks and branches on the teenagers also opens the door for the defense to raise questions about the “unusual way” they were placed on the bodies, attorneys argued. In previous statements, they claimed that the wands were positioned to resemble runes and symbols associated with Odinism.

The defense is also focusing on recent evidence Indiana State Police Lt. Jerry Holmanwho said he believed the sticks were meant to hide the girls’ bodies. Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McClelland also asked Holeman if the sticks were placed on the bodies as part of the “extermination.” Holeman said yes.

Defense attorneys argued that this opened the door for them to introduce evidence that rebutted Holeman’s testimony.

“The destruction is usually an attempt by the killer or killers to ensure the dignity of the victim,” they wrote, noting that the way the girls’ bodies were found was the exact opposite of giving them dignity.

Holeman also gave jurors an explanation for his belief that there was only one killer: multiple killers usually discuss or reveal the crime to other people. Defense attorneys say the testimony allows them to present evidence against the alleged Odinists, who made statements incriminating themselves and others.

Dr. Monika Valawho was Allen’s psychologist when he was at Westville Penitentiarytestified Wednesday that Allen admitted in multiple meetings with her that he killed Abby and Libby.

During one of their sessions, Allen said, “I killed Abby and Libby. I will kill everyone. I will destroy everyone,” Vala testified. Allen, Vala said, also talked about the start of World War III.

Vala, who saw Allen every day while he was on suicide watch, said the confessions began in the spring of 2023. He once told her that he “made sure they were dead because I didn’t want them to suffer,” and that Vala testified that he acted alone. Allen told Vali his intentions were “sexual in nature” and claimed he was a drug addict and alcoholic, she told jurors.

During some of his confessions, Vala said Allen gave specific details of the crime, telling her he cut the teenagers’ throats and placed branches over their bodies. During a session on May 3, 2023, Allen told Vali what he did on February 13, 2017. He said he went to his parent’s house that morning, came home to get a jacket, then walked to Monon High on Bridge Trail, where he saw Abby and Libby, followed them and ordered them down the hill, Vala told jurors.

During cross-examination, Stacey Diener Vala testified that Allen’s emotions were sometimes erratic. According to Val, he often got in touch and sometimes expressed a desire to apologize to the girls’ families. One confession, Vala told jurors, was made “almost verbatim.”

The confessions coincided with a series of strange behavior, including drinking from the toilet and eating his faeces. When asked why he was eating his feces, Allen said, “Because I’m crazy,” Vala testified.

Allen also appeared less suicidal at times, saying he “couldn’t kill himself because he was too much of a coward,” Vala told jurors.