These Are the Words Prosecutors Want Barred From the Delphi Murder Trial

Prosecutors in the Delphi Murder trial have asked the judge to bar the mention of specific words in the upcoming trial slated for May.

The state made the request to forbid discussion of Odinism, cults, ritualistic killing, and other related terms in a motion filed Monday, according to the Indianapolis Star.

Richard Allen, was charged with the 2017 murders of Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German in October 2022. His defense team argues that the state's motion would severely limit their ability to defend him.

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Allen's attorneys additionally argue that the prosecutors have withheld evidence, only to then share it in "convoluted, disorganized and often untimely discovery dumps," the Indianapolis Star reports. In response, Allen's defense requests that sanctions be brought against Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland.

For his part, McLeland has denied withholding evidence.

The Ritual Killing Theory

Back in September 2023, the defense laid out their theory that German and Williams died in a sacrificial killing staged by followers of Odinism. Per their motion, obtained by Oxygen.com, there were signs of occult activity at the crime scene, including sticks forming symbols and the letter "F" written in blood. The defense further argued it would've been difficult for Allen to murder the girls and stage the crime scene on his own.

And in the most recent motion, the defense writes that the prosecution intentionally delayed turning over evidence, specifically highlighting a letter from former Rushville Police Chief Todd Click in which he told McLeland that he had identified three potential suspects. Those three suspects purportedly had ties to Odinism, while "absolutely nothing links Richard Allen to Odinism or any religious cult," according to a defense filing obtained by NBC News.

"It is hard to imagine a more exculpatory type of letter than one in which an investigator is courageous enough to detail that he and two other investigators believe the prosecution may have accused the wrong man," Allen's attorneys wrote, per The Indianapolis Star.

The prosecution argues that the theory is baseless, writing in their motion, "Before any such evidence may be permitted the Defense must show some connection between the 3rd party and the crime. Further it must be a direct connection based on admissible evidence and not founded in hearsay, speculation, rumors, conjecture or theory.”

Furthermore, the prosecution points out that Allen allegedly confessed multiple times to killing German and Williams, who were found dead on February 14, 2017, in jailhouse phone calls with his wife and mother. 

The Delphi Murder Trial

Meanwhile, the trial is slated to begin with jury selection on May 13. Because of the highly-publicized nature of the case, the jurors will be selected in Fort Wayne, before relocating to Delphi.