Richard Allen, the suspect in the Delphi murder case, reportedly confessed to the brutal 2017 killings of teenagers Abigail Williams and Liberty German during prison phone calls with his wife. However, the defense argued that Allen may be experiencing mental health issues while incarcerated.
According to ABC News, Allen, 52, said in a recorded phone call played in court, “I did it. I killed Abby and Libby.” When his wife, Kathy, expressed disbelief, Allen insisted, “Yes, I did.”
Throughout the calls, Allen maintained his guilt while his wife continued to deny his involvement. In one call, Allen expressed doubts about his mental state, saying, “I think maybe I’ve lost my mind.” His wife reassured him, saying, “No, you haven’t. You’re unwell.”
During another call, Allen asked his wife if she would stand by him if he faced execution for the crimes. He admitted, “If I get the electric chair or the death penalty, will you be there for me? I killed Abby and Libby.”
Despite Allen’s confessions to his wife, prison guards, and a psychologist, there are concerns that he may be experiencing “situational psychosis” from his confinement. One psychologist testified that Allen was fluctuating between lucidity and psychotic episodes.
Allen’s behavior in prison has been disturbing, with reports of him engaging in self-harming actions such as smashing his head against walls and consuming non-food items like paper. Prison guards also testified that Allen exhibited erratic behavior, including refusing to eat and covering his cell in feces.
Throughout the calls, Allen expressed confusion and distress about his mental state, stating, “I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know if I’ve lost my mind” and “I feel like I’m already in hell. I don’t understand what’s going on.”
