DELPHI, Ind. — Richard Allen, the man convicted last month in the February 2017 deaths of two teenage girls—Abby Williams and Libby German—will spend the next 130 years in prison.
| SEE ALSO: Allen guilty on all counts in Delphi double murder case
Allen, 52, was convicted on Nov. 11 for two counts of murder and two counts of felony murder. He was sentenced in Carroll County Friday.
Allen was arrested in Delphi in October 2022 and has remained in jail ever since.
Allen could not be sentenced on both the murder convictions and the felony murder convictions. As such, Special Judge Fran Gull sentenced Allen on the two murder charges.
Under Indiana law, the sentence for a murder conviction is between 45 and 65 years. Judges are advised to start in the middle at 55 years and decide whether to raise or lower the sentence based on aggravating or mitigating factors.
Allen received the maximum sentence for both girls: 65 years for the murder of Abby Williams, and 65 years for the murder of Libby German. Judge Gull sentenced Allen to serve both sentences consecutively, totaling 130 years.
Allen's attorneys are likely to appeal his conviction and sentencing. They have 30 days to file an appeal on today's sentence.
In a sentencing memorandum filed Wednesday, Allen's attorney's said they encouraged him to not participate in the pre-sentence investigation, claiming there’s "no value in Allen talking with 'State actors' who violate his constitutional rights."
"Allen maintains his innocence and is hopeful that the appellate process will provide him with an opportunity to present a full defense at a second trial," the filing reads.
Allen's legal team added he has no prior criminal history and served a decade in the National Guard. They also noted Allen has a history of mental illness, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.
The defense did not present much evidence during the hearing Friday, but Judge Gull heard emotional testimony from the families of Abby Williams and Liberty German on the impact of the girls' murders.
The gag order in the case, preventing the families and police from speaking to the media was lifted by Judge Gull after the sentencing hearing.
