Day 3 of the Richard Allen trial focused on crime scene evidence, featuring graphic photos and testimony from multiple investigators. Defense attorneys highlighted inconsistencies in the investigation, especially concerning the handling of a bullet and sticks found at the scene.

Witness Testimonies:

1. Deputy Darren Giancola - Carroll County Sheriff’s Office:

Initial Search (Feb 13, 2017):

  • Was off-duty but assisted in the search after seeing social media posts about the missing girls.
  • Began searching around midnight.
  • Used a flashlight but visibility in the woods was poor.
  • Noted a disturbance near the end of the High Bridge where bare ground was visible and pointed it out to a firefighter.
  • Ended his search at 2 am on Feb 14th.
  • Did not consider it a murder investigation at that point and believed the girls were still alive.

Discovery of Evidence (Feb 14, 2017):

  • Was sent to investigate a possible lead and then redirected to Morning Light Cemetery after receiving a call from someone named Liet.
  • Upon arrival, saw Libby German’s tie-dye shirt and one of her shoes in the creek.
  • Was then informed the girls’ bodies were located behind him.
  • Identified the bodies based on previously circulated pictures.
  • Described the bodies’ states, noting both girls had lacerations to the throat, Abby’s pants were wet, and there was a substantial amount of blood around both bodies.
  • Did not perform life-saving measures as it was apparent the girls were deceased.
  • Called for the area to be secured.
  • Remained at the scene until sunrise on February 15th.

Cross-examination:

  • Defense attorney Andrew Baldwin questioned Giancola about the search timeline, area where the girls were found, the nature of the disturbance, and the specific appearance of the bodies.
  • Giancola clarified Libby had blood around her body and Abby had some blood on her person but mainly around her, with the largest concentration of blood pooled on the ground between the girls.
  • Giancola also confirmed he was carrying a Glock 17 9mm pistol at the time.

2. Sergeant Jason Paige - Indiana State Police CSI:

Background:

  • Law enforcement officer for 24 years.
  • Crime Scene Investigator for 16 years.

Responsibilities at the Scene:

  • Secured and photographed the scene.
  • Described the area behind the crime scene tape as the size of a football field with “Ground Zero” being where the bodies were found.
  • Testified about 45 State exhibits, including 42 crime scene photographs, many depicting the bodies and surrounding evidence.
  • Testified about the topography of the crime scene and provided detailed explanations of all photos taken.
  • Explained that his responsibility was solely to document the scene and did not include moving bodies or making decisions about DNA testing.
  • Was not aware of any DNA evidence from Richard Allen found at the scene.

Cross-examination:

  • Defense attorney Bradley Rozzi focused his questioning on the time of death and Paige acknowledged it was not within his expertise to determine that.
  • Paige could not confirm whether rape kits had been performed.
  • Rozzi questioned the evidentiary value of sticks found placed on the girls’ bodies. Paige initially stated they were irrelevant but later noted he’d seen sticks used in other death investigations and acknowledged epithelial cells or other DNA could potentially be recovered.
  • Rozzi questioned why the bullet was not individually photographed once recovered from the ground. Paige agreed it would have been helpful to establish continuity of evidence for the courtroom, especially considering its importance to the case.

3. Sergeant Dwayne Datzman - Retired Indiana State Police CSI:

Background:

  • Had 20+ years of experience as a CSI and processed hundreds of crime scenes.

Testimony:

  • Focused primarily on the photos he took of the scene, including aerial views from a helicopter and ground-level images.
  • Talked about blood found on and near the bodies.
  • Described finding a bullet at the scene between the bodies.
  • Reiterated that the yellow rope visible in many photographs was used by the CSI team to demarcate searched areas, not evidence found at the scene.
  • Explained that a process involving an Alternative Light Source (ALS) revealed the “sparkle” of the bullet casing among the leaves, leading to its discovery.
  • Claimed the sticks covering the bodies had no evidentiary value as there was no blood on them. He also indicated the sticks appeared intentionally placed.

4. Brian Olehy - Indiana State Police CSI:

Testimony:

  • Discussed clothing and other personal items found both on the victims and in the creek.
  • Identified Abby’s clothing: Delphi swimming sweatshirt with the name “German,” pink shirt, a sports bra, jeans, and Converse shoes (without socks).
  • Showed Libby’s clothing found in the creek: inside out tie-dye shirt, inside out jeans with dark pink underwear still attached, a left Nike shoe, and a gray zip-up hoodie. A single ankle sock (black/dark blue) and a muddy handkerchief/bandana were also retrieved from the creek.
  • Described the placement of items related to Libby’s body: her left shoe on its side near the body, her phone underneath it, face up.
  • Noted Libby had multiple abrasions on her backside, suggesting she may have been dragged.
  • Claimed the sticks covering the bodies DID have blood on them, contradicting Datzman’s earlier testimony. Confirmed the sticks were later recovered and taken into evidence.

Note: Testimony regarding specific injuries and condition of the bodies was extremely graphic.

Courtroom Exchanges:

  • Jurors requested clarification on how the chain of custody of the bullet was maintained to ensure it remained the same item recovered from the scene. Paige and Olehy explained the process for evidence documentation and collection used at the scene.
  • Family members and some jurors were visibly upset during the presentation of crime scene photos, particularly when a close-up image of Libby German was briefly displayed on screen due to a technical error.

Judge’s Rulings:

  • Judge Gull granted the jury a 90-minute lunch break following the presentation of emotionally challenging crime scene photographs.
  • Court proceedings ended for the day at approximately 5:40 p.m. due to time constraints, before the cross-examination of Brian Olehy could be completed. Testimony will resume the next day.

Unresolved Issues:

  • There remain discrepancies regarding the initial recovery of the sticks covering the girls’ bodies and whether blood was initially detected.
  • The reason for not taking a picture of the bullet individually after it was removed from the ground was never satisfactorily addressed by the CSI witnesses.
  • Clarification is needed regarding whether Abby Williams was wearing two bras at the time of her death, as mentioned in previously released documents, as this was not addressed in court.
  • It’s still unclear where the missing bra and Libby’s underwear are.

General Observations:

  • The day’s proceedings were dominated by detailed and often graphic descriptions and photographs of the crime scene and victims’ conditions.
  • Defense attorneys focused their questioning on attempting to establish inconsistencies in evidence handling procedures and lack of certain types of evidence collection, particularly in relation to the bullet and sticks.
  • The prosecution’s case relies heavily on establishing the integrity of the investigation and emphasizing the brutal nature of the crime.

Anticipated Upcoming Events:

  • Testimony from the medical examiner who performed the autopsies is expected shortly.
  • Potential witness Railly Voorhies may testify about her encounter with a man on the trail the day the girls went missing.

Overall Impression:

Despite graphic evidence and emotional testimony, the state’s case continues to face challenges related to questionable decisions made early in the investigation, particularly concerning documentation, evidence handling, and testing procedures. This has provided avenues for the defense to attack the integrity of the investigation, raising questions about whether the evidence presented truly links Richard Allen to the murders.