Delphi Murders Suspect Richard Allen Claims Pagan Cult Behind Killings
Richard Allen, the suspect in the Delphi murders case, has made a startling assertion, alleging that a pagan cult was responsible for the deaths of teenagers Libby German and Abby Williams. According to court documents released last year, Allen, a local man, denied involvement in the 2017 killings and instead stated that the murders were carried out by a pagan cult manipulated by white nationalists.
In the documents reviewed by The Independent, Allen’s attorneys suggested the presence of potential Odinism signatures at the crime scene where the victims were discovered. The bodies of German and Williams were reportedly positioned near trees with branches and sticks arranged in patterns resembling pagan symbols.
Despite Allen having no known ties to any pagan cult, his defence team named four individuals linked to Odinism as potential suspects. These individuals, however, have not been identified by law enforcement as suspects or persons of interest in the case.
Special Judge Frances Gull recently prohibited Allen’s attorneys from mentioning the names associated with the Odinism cult theory during the trial proceedings commencing on October 14. Nonetheless, the defence plans to argue the connection between Odinism and other suspects in an attempt to present their case to a jury.
Odinism, a pagan Norse religion rooted in ancient Viking and Nordic traditions, has been entwined with white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideologies in the US. Although Asatru, a related pagan sect, is not inherently racist, Odinism has increasingly become associated with extremist beliefs, particularly in white prison populations.
The murders of Libby and Abby have never been publicly associated with Odinism until Allen’s claims. However, Allen’s attorneys stated that law enforcement officials explored the cult’s possible involvement early in the investigation in 2018.
On February 13, 2017, German and Williams vanished after embarking on a walk along the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi. Shortly before their deaths, German recorded a video of an unidentified man, known as “bridge guy,” on the abandoned railroad bridge where they were last seen.
The following day, the girls’ lifeless bodies were found near the trail, leading to a harrowing discovery. Details from court documents indicated that both victims had their necks slashed, with German’s body meticulously arranged with branches on her naked form, while Williams was found clothed in German’s attire.
Police investigated a potential link to Odinism, as suggested by Allen’s attorneys, but subsequently abandoned the theory after consulting an expert. Despite some officials believing in the Odinist cult theory, information regarding this was allegedly concealed from the defence.
As the trial unfolds, the revelations surrounding Allen’s claims and the possible Odinism connection continue to raise questions about the motives behind the tragic deaths of Libby German and Abby Williams.