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    • Richard Allen's trial for the 2017 Delphi murders begins October 14 in Indiana
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    Richard Allen's trial for the 2017 Delphi murders begins October 14 in Indiana

    Kathleen William Posted on

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    Starting this week, the man accused of the 2017 murders of Delphi teenagers Abby Williams and Libby German will go on trial.

    If you've been reading IndyStar or our sister newspaper USA TODAY Network Indiana for a while, you're probably familiar with the case against Richard Allen, the man arrested in 2022 on suspicion of the murders that rocked this small Indiana town.

    You probably know that the girls disappeared the day before Valentine's Day and it took more than five years for authorities to capture them. You're probably familiar with the twists and turns since Allen's arrest, such as the defense's claim that a connection to Odinism stems from the defendant's alleged confessions in prison.

    You may want to know what evidence authorities have compiled to explain why they believe 13-year-old Abby and 14-year-old Libby were run off the trail and killed by a Delphi roommate.

    And now, barring a last-minute delay, a 12-member jury will hear the case against Allen and his defense over the next six weeks in one of the most sensational murder trials in Indiana history. Journalists from IndyStar and the Lafayette Journal & Courier will keep you informed every step of the way.

    Our presence in the courtroom will be critical to Hoosiers' understanding of the proceedings. Here's why.

    While Allen has the constitutional right to a public trial, Special Judge Frances Gull has issued orders limiting public access only to those actually in the courtrooms – in Fort Wayne for jury selection and in Delphi for the proceedings. No video or audio recording is allowed.

    Gull has the unenviable task of presiding over a charged environment that ensures the integrity of the trial and the safety of the defendants and the friends and family of the victims seeking a solution to this horrific crime.

    However, to achieve this, the judge has restricted all electronic communications inside and outside the courtroom and banned cell phones, smart watches, laptops, audio recorders, television cameras and digital cameras. Media seating has also been severely limited, and at Gull's direction, members of the Indiana and national press corps have developed a “pool” approach to ensure that all professional news outlets have access to what is happening in court every day communicate to your audience.

    Ensuring public access to the proceedings through trustworthy reporting from the courtroom was not a given in this case, but we believe it is essential and have made significant efforts to maintain it.

    Without digital tools to support our courtroom reporting, reporters will rely on handwritten notes that are transcribed outside of court and then form the basis of our daily reporting. A team of staff will work together to bring you the latest news as quickly and comprehensively as possible.

    Here's what you can expect from IndyStar and the Journal & Courier after jury selection is complete and the trial is expected to begin Friday.

    Each weekday, Journal & Courier reporter Ron Wilkins will cover the court's morning session, with a daily update posted on jconline.com and indystar.com through early afternoon. IndyStar reporters Sarah Nelson and Jordan Smith will cover the afternoon and Saturday sessions, with new reports appearing each weekday evening and Saturday afternoon.

    The Weight of Justice: The jury in the Delphi murder case is under unimaginable pressure and must make a life-changing decision

    A summary of each full day of proceedings will appear in the next available print edition in Indianapolis and Lafayette.

    A team of editors and reporters in both newsrooms support our reporters in Delphi and ensure you are always informed of the latest from the process.

    Covering this process is a major undertaking, especially considering that it is scheduled to last through the Nov. 5 election and some of our most important political reporting of the last four years. But we are committed to telling the stories of central Indiana and keeping you informed on all fronts.

    As always, thank you for reading IndyStar.

    Eric Larsen is editor-in-chief of IndyStar. Reach him at [email protected] or 317-444-7342.

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    Kathleen William
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