As the trial begins for Richard Allen, the man accused of murdering two Indiana teenagers, a controversial conspiracy theory has emerged suggesting the Delphi murders were part of a ritual sacrifice. The theory gained strength later leaked crime scene photosdiscussed in court, fueled speculation that the murders could have been linked to a Norse pagan cult.
Richard Allen, 52, is charged with two counts of murder and kidnapping in connection with the deaths of Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams, 13, whose bodies were found near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, Indiana. in February 2017. If convicted, Allen could face a sentence of up to 130 years in prison.
The two girls disappeared while walking through the Historical trails of Delphi and its bodies. They were discovered the next day. The case remained unsolved until October 2022, when Richard Allen was identified as the main suspect and subsequently charged with the murders.
However, Allen’s defense team has put forward an alternative theory, arguing that the murders were carried out by members of a Norse pagan religion and a white nationalist group known as “Odinism.” According to the defense, the girls were “ritually” murdered by a group of Odinist men, and the crime scene was staged in a way too complex for Allen to have accomplished alone.
As the sun reportedThe defense suggested the possibility that the girls had been murdered elsewhere and their bodies later placed at the crime scene. In February 2023, journalist Áine Cain and her husband, lawyer Kevin Greenlee, received an anonymous tip containing disturbing crime scene photographs. The couple immediately alerted the authorities, as the images were protected by court order.
While few details about the crime scene have been made public, authorities previously revealed that the girls’ throats were slit and their bodies were found covered with branches. The defense further claimed that these branches formed symbols associated with Odinism, such as runes, and that Libby’s blood was used to paint Germanic letters on a nearby tree. They also argued that fake horns made from sticks were placed on Abby’s head, adding to the ritualistic theory.
The defense memo, which spanned 136 pages, suggested that some of the branches had been previously cut with an electric saw, implying that they were prepared before the murders. This, according to the defense, also pointed to the participation of a group and not a single author, IndyStar reported.
However, in September 2024, Special Judge Frances Gull dismissed the defense’s attempt to present the theory of Odinism to the jury, stating that the evidence provided did not conclusively link Odinist practices or specific individuals to the murders. “The Court will not allow the evidence presented by the defense in support of its arguments regarding third-party perpetrators in the trial of this case since the probative value of said evidence is far outweighed by the confusion of the issues and its potential to deceive the public. jury. ”Judge Gull wrote in her ruling.
As the trial continues, the public remains captivated by the mystery of the Delphi murders, and questions remain about whether the defense’s claims will have any bearing on the outcome of the case.