Delphi murder trial: Libby’s blood likely mixed with tears, expert says

(DELPHI, Ind.) — A pattern on murder victim Libby German’s body in Delphi, Indiana, indicated her blood was mixed with moisture, a police officer testified at Richard Allen’s trial. The officer said he believed the moisture was Libby’s tears; which caused family members to audibly react as they watched his testimony in the courtroom.

Libby, 14, and her best friend Abby Williams, 13, were walking along a road. walking trail in rural Delphi On February 13, 2017, their throats were cut and they were left in the forest. Their bodies were found the next day.

Allen arrested in 2022 and pleaded not guilty to murder.

Maj. Pat Cicero of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department took the stand Monday. Cicero was not at the scene in 2017 but said he reviewed crime scene photos and various reports.

Abby’s mother sobbed quietly in the courtroom as prosecutors showed close-up photos of the girls’ faces, bodies, hands, feet and legs.

Cicero showed the jury a picture of a bloodstain on a tree. He said it was a transfer stain, meaning blood was left behind when an object was touched.

Cicero testified that the blood stains and patterns on the tree led him to believe that the attack on Libby started from the tree and was likely a gunshot that caused her to jump into the tree.

Cicero said Libby died in a large pool of blood from the injuries she received while leaning against the tree. He said he believed he was dragged about 20 meters to where her body was later found.

Cicero said Abby was likely restrained or unconscious when she was killed because there was no blood on her hands or arms and her hands were found raised vertically.

“His final position is almost like he’s boxing,” he said.

Cicero said he has been to hundreds of crime scenes and the location of Abby’s body was very unusual. “I’ve never seen it,” he said.

He also said Abby probably didn’t die right away. “This could take a while,” he said.

Allen admitted to being on the hiking trail the day the girls were killed, but denies any involvement in the murders.

ABC News’ Janel Klein contributed to this report.

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