The Delphi murder trial: Richard Allen’s mental health examined in the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams

DELPHI, Ind. — Richard Allen’s defense team started the week by calling Dr. Polly Westcott to the stand. She went into detail about Allen’s mental health history and decline while in prison.

Allen is accused of killing Libby German and Abby Williams while they were out for a walk in Delphi, Indiana, in February 2017.

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Westcott was hired by Allen’s defense in May 2023 and paid $450 an hour. She said she reviewed Allen’s mental health history, performed a neurological exam and determined the extent and context of his decline when he confessed to killing the girls.

Westcott testified that it started with his mental health history. She said it’s very unusual to have more than 20 hours of video footage of a patient. She also had access to the notes that were taken when he was on suicide watch.

In August 2023, Westcott met with Allen for the first time and conducted a two-hour evaluation, along with a five-hour test that was conducted over two days.

Westcott also met with Allen’s wife, Kathy, a few weeks ago and reviewed her medication.

She told the court she determined Allen arrived at Westville Correctional Center with depression and anxiety. Westcott also diagnosed him with dependent personality disorder and was particularly dependent on Kathy.

Westcott says that when Allen was separated from Kathy, his depression became more pronounced and escalated into psychosis.

“It collapsed,” she said.

Westcott went on to testify that Allen showed “significant decline” while in prison, which progressed to hallucinations, psychosis and suicidal ideation. “Isolation can change brain chemistry,” she said.

Westcott explained that someone with Allen’s mental health history is much more likely to go into psychosis, especially given the conditions he was in. She testified that other prisoners would yell at Allen while he was in solitary confinement, calling him a “baby killer” and telling him to kill himself.

She said Allen had no window, slept irregularly and lost weight quickly. “Your brain can’t tell what’s real,” she said “It’s like being in a fun house. You don’t know what is reality and what is not.”

Westcott also said that Allen made up stories while in his psychotic state. She was asked by the State how she was able to make that determination. Westcott told the court at one point Allen said: “Satan killed the girls.”

During cross-examination, the State pressed Westcott about Allen’s confession. Prosecutor Stacy Diener asked, “Is everything a person says when they are in a psychotic state distorted because of their psychosis?”

Westcott replied, “Most of what a person in a psychotic state says or perceives is not consistent with the world others perceive around them.”

Diener continued with, “but could they say things that are right?”

Westcott replied, “yes.”

The other witness Monday morning was Max Baker, who watched “hundreds of hours” of jail cell video from Richard Allen’s incarceration. Baker edited those videos together to show the jury things like Allen showering, taking X-rays and meeting with nurses and psychologists.

He said the edited video was typical of Allen’s activities in prison and could have shown more.

“I picked the videos that I thought were the most important,” he said.

The suspect’s sister, daughter take the stand

Allen’s sister and daughter took the stand later Monday afternoon.

The state says that at times while Allen was in prison and confessed to killing German and Willaims, he claimed to have molested his sister and daughter.

Jaimie Jones, Allen’s sister, was in the stands for just three minutes.

Defense attorney Jennifer Auger asked Jones, “Did Richard Allen ever molest you?”

Jones replied, “No.”

Auger continued, “Did Richard Allen ever touch you in a sexual manner?”

Jones said again, “No.”

Auger then asked, “Would you lie for him?”

Jones simply said, “No.”

There was no questioning by the state.

Next up is Brittney Zapata, Allen’s daughter. There was also a quick barrage of questions from the defense.

Auger asked, “Did your father ever molest you?”

Zapanta said, “No.”

Auger then asked, “Do you love your father?”

Zapatanta simply said, “Yes.”

Auger finished by asking, “Would you lie for him?”

Zapanta finished by saying, “No.”

The state interrogated Zapanta. Prosecutor Jim Luttrell asked her: “Did your father’s appearance change after you went to college?”

Zapata replied, “No.”

Zapata went to Ball State for college in 2018.

Lutrell then showed him several photos of Allen from 2014-2018. She told the court they were from him but could not confirm the dates.

They were entered into evidence over the objections of Allen’s defense.

While Allen’s sister and daughter were in the stands, Allen was seen smiling at them. Zapanta cried a little on the stand.

The defense then called Shelby Hicks, who was out with her boyfriend on the day of the murders. She testified that she saw an “elderly gentleman with a camera” on the trail. Hicks says police never took data from her phone.

Carroll County Investigator and former Delphi Police Chief Steve Mullin then returned to the stand for at least a fourth time.

He agreed to defense questioning that he said in a deposition that he didn’t have logs from some investigations, interviews, but he says he now has them.

Defense attorney Andrew Baldwin also asked Mullin if he had ever heard of a 40-year-old white man in a van asking children if they wanted candy, or if he had heard of a man named Aaron. Both questions were sustained, so Mullin never answered.

The final witness of the day was Brad Weber, who also testified early in the trial. He previously said he went straight home after work the day the girls were killed.

On Monday, he changed his story and told defense attorneys that in 2017 he told police he went to various ATMs after his shift at the local Subaru plant.

Weber says police searched his land, buildings, home and car. He says he has also been questioned many times in connection with the case. He admitted to telling different stories to different investigators over the years.