Delphi Murders Update: During Richard Allen Trial, Doctor Says Suspect Was Severely Mentally Ill While In Westville Jail

DELPHI, Ind. — Richard Allen’s defense began its first full day of calling witnesses by bringing Officer Christopher Gootee to the stand Friday.

Gootee served with the Hammond Police Department as a teenager Libby German and Abby Williams were found murdered near the Monon High Trail in Delphi, Indiana.

Gootee interviewed Brad Weber as part of the investigation. Weber lived near the trail and, according to Gootee, Weber said he went home after work on Feb. 13, 2013, the day the girls were killed. Gootee couldn’t remember what else Weber said, despite looking at his own report.

The State did not cross-examine Gootee.

The defense then called Dr. Deanna Dwenger with the Indiana Department of Corrections to the stand. Dwenger supervises contract employees, such as State’s witness Dr. Monica Wala.

Wala testified this week about the times Allen confessed to her about killing Libby and Abby. The defense attacked his credibility because Wala admitted to being a true crime buff who listened to and participated in podcasts about Delphi.

Dwenger was further questioned about Wala’s personal interest in the Allen case. Dwenger said she only found out about it after she had already been assigned to work with Allen.

Dwenger knew that Wala had visited the Monon Bridge before Allen arrived at Westville Correctional Institution. She told the jury she thought it was unusual to visit the crime scene of someone you work with, but said Wala had spoken to her direct supervisor more about the matter.

Dwenger said he did not determine which correctional facility Allen was placed in and did not know who made the decision. She said Allen was classified as a safety risk when he arrived at Westville. Dwenger said Allen was a Code D for mental health, meaning Allen needed an individual therapist.

Dwenger said he regularly heard Allen threatened by other inmates. She also testified that she knew Allen was always on camera and that worried her. Dwenger said he recommended the cameras be removed to improve Allen’s mental health, but that never happened.

Dwenger also told jurors that solitary confinement is not good for mental health.

The Department of Corrections has a policy that someone with a “serious mental illness” should not be held in isolation for more than 30 days. Allen was in solitary confinement for 13 months.

Prosecutor Stacey Diener cross-examined Dr. Dwenger. She told the court that Allen was not diagnosed with a serious mental illness when he first arrived in Westville in late 2022. It wasn’t until April 2023 that he was given that diagnosis when his mental health took a noticeable turn. This is also the same time that Allen began confessing to Libby and Abby’s murders.

The first document determining Allen’s “severe disability” was dated April 13, 2023. It was around the same time that a team of mental health professionals determined that Allen had deteriorated enough to require intervention. Dwenger testified that Allen was involuntarily given antipsychotic medication.

The jury also asked Dwenger several questions, most notably focused on Allen’s mental health.

A juror questioned whether a person faking a mental health crisis could slip truths into a confession. Dwenger said he’s seen psychotic people make honest confessions, and psychotic people make things up.

Another juror asked how a psychiatrist can tell if someone is feigning psychosis. Dwenger said the clinician listens for body language and the chain of the story. Dwenger said that if the story is organized, the person is likely claiming psychosis, if it is disorganized and out of chronological order, the person is more likely to be psychotic or delusional.

When court returned from a mid-morning break, the prosecution and defense argued over videos of Allen in his cell and how much of it would be shown. Judge Frances Gull decided to allow the videos to be played without sound.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.