After a trial marked by delays, a leak of evidence, and a change in legal representation, Richard Allen, a former drugstore worker, was found guilty on Monday of the murders of two teenage girls who vanished during an afternoon hike in 2017, The Associated Press reports.
Allen, 52, was convicted on two counts of murder and two additional counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping in the deaths of Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14.
The verdict, which was met with cheers outside the courthouse, comes after five years of investigation and intense scrutiny from the public and true-crime enthusiasts.
Prosecutors argued that Allen had repeatedly confessed to the killings, both in person, on the phone, and in writing. One recording played for the jury featured Allen telling his wife, “I did it. I killed Abby and Libby.”
They also presented evidence that Allen was the man seen following the teens in a grainy cell phone video recorded by one of the girls as they crossed an abandoned railroad trestle.
McLeland further pointed to an unspent bullet found near the girls’ bodies that was linked to Allen’s gun, as well as Allen’s own statements to police about his whereabouts on the day of the girls’ disappearance.
Allen’s defense team argued that his confessions were unreliable, stemming from a severe mental health crisis while in solitary confinement. They also pointed to the absence of DNA or fingerprint evidence directly linking Allen to the crime scene.
However, the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, finding Allen guilty on all counts. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20th and could face up to 130 years in prison.