Delphi murder trial: Libby Herman’s blood likely mixed with her tears, says expert in Richard Allen’s murder trial

DELPHI, Indiana — A pattern on the body of Delphi, Indiana homicide victim Libby German showed her blood was mixed with moisture, an officer testified at Richard Allen’s trial. The officer said he believed the moisture was Libby’s tears, which caused family members watching his testimony in the courtroom to react to the sound.

Libby, 14, and her best friend, Abby Williams, 13, were walking along a hiking trail in rural Delphi when their throats were slit and left in the woods on February 13, 2017. Their bodies were found the next day.

Allen was arrested in 2022 and pleaded not guilty to murder.

Major Pat Cicero of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department spoke Monday. Cicero was not at the crime scene in 2017, but he said he studied crime scene photos and various reports.

Abby’s mother wept quietly in the courtroom as prosecutors showed close-up photos of the girls’ bodies, arms, legs and feet.

Cicero showed the jury a picture of a bloodstain on a tree. He explained that it was a transfer stain, meaning it was left when a bloody object touched it.

Cicero testified that the bloodstains and patterns on the wood led him to believe that the attack on Libby began in the wood, with gunshots that likely caused spatter on the wood.

According to Cicero, Libby died of her wounds in a large pool of blood as she leaned against a tree. He said he believes she was then dragged about 20 feet to where her body was found.

Cicero said Abby was likely shackled or unconscious when she was killed because there was no blood on her arms and hands and she was found with her arms raised vertically.

“Her final stance is almost like she was boxing,” he said.

Cicero said he had visited hundreds of crime scenes and described the position of Abby’s body as highly unusual. “I’ve never seen that,” he said.

He also said that Abby probably didn’t die right away. “It would take some time,” he said.

Allen admitted to being on the hiking trail the day the girls were killed, but denied any involvement in the murders.

Indiana State Police forensics expert Stacey Bozinowski said Monday that no DNA links Allen to the Delphi, Indiana, murder scene.

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The trial will continue on Tuesday, October 29.

ABC News’ Jenelle Klein contributed to this report.