All about the “Bullet” – the seventh day of the Delphi test, so far

Source: Dave Bangert / @DaveBangert

DELPHI, Indiana — An unused cartridge that helped police obtain a search warrant and eventually arrest Richard Allen is the subject of testimony in Carroll County on Friday.

Richard Allen is charged with the four murders of teenagers Abigail Williams and Liberty German in 2017. The original charging documents linked an unused 40-caliber cartridge found near the bodies to Allen’s gun.

During the morning session of the trial in Delphi, day seven, the State of Indiana called Melissa Oberg as a witness. She works for a clinical asset health management company as an operational data analyst, but previously worked for the Indiana State Police as a forensic firearms examiner. She is responsible for testing Allen’s gun and confirming, in her opinion, that the round from the crime scene was put through Allen’s gun.

Oberg led the morning session, detailing the process in which she will test the weapon, rifle construction and cartridge structure. Oberg explained to the jury that a cartridge is a separate piece of ammunition intended for use in a firearm. A cartridge contains a case, a capsule, gunpowder and a bullet, which is a projectile.

Oberg was tasked with testing the tool marks of the cartridge at the crime scene and the new cartridge that tested Allen’s gun.

“A tool mark is the marks made on an object by the contact and force emanating from the tool,” Oberg testified to the jury.

Oberg testified to two types of tool marks: depressed and striated.

According to Oberg, some tool marks can be made before, during and/or after the cartridge is made.

Actual cartridge vs test cartridge

Oberg testified that the cartridge at the crime scene was in good condition, a Winchester 40 cal. cartridge Oberg also noted that the cartridge was first tested for DNA and found no biological material. Law enforcement testimony over the past week has supported the fact that Richard Allen’s DNA was not found at the crime scene.

Oberg testified that there were three possible ejector tracks: one in one direction and two in the other.

Oberg testified about testing the new cartridge using the Allen pistol.

The five images shown by Oberg show that the gun’s markings “matched,” but she also testified that she fired a new cartridge, while the cartridge at the crime scene was changed.

Oberg told the court that there are “studies that support this.”

The court is back in session and this article will be updated with more information as it is released by media pool reporters.