Leaked Delphi Murders Crime Scene Photos Ignite Disturbing ‘Cult Killing’ Theory after Grisly Discovery

As the trial of Richard Allen, the man accused of murdering two Indiana teenage girls, begins, a controversial conspiracy theory has emerged, suggesting that the Delphi killings were part of a ritualistic sacrifice. The theory gained traction after leaked crime scene photos, discussed in court, fueled speculation that the murders may have been tied to a pagan Norse cult.

Richard Allen, 52, is charged with two counts of murder and kidnapping in connection with the deaths of 14-year-old Libby German and 13-year-old Abby Williams, whose bodies were found near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, Indiana, in February 2017. If convicted, Allen could face a sentence of up to 130 years in prison.

The two girls vanished while hiking the Delphi Historic Trails, and their bodies were discovered the next day. The case remained unsolved until October 2022, when Richard Allen was identified as the prime suspect and subsequently charged with the murders.

However, Allen’s defense team has presented an alternative theory, arguing that the killings were carried out by members of a pagan Norse religion and white nationalist group known as “Odinism.” According to the defense, the girls were “ritualistically” murdered by a group of Odinist men, and the crime scene was staged in a manner too complex for Allen to have accomplished alone.

As The Sun reported, the defense suggested the possibility that the girls may have been killed elsewhere, with their bodies later placed at the crime scene. In February 2023, journalist Áine Cain and her lawyer husband, Kevin Greenlee, received an anonymous tip containing disturbing crime scene photos. The couple immediately alerted authorities, as the images were protected by a court order.

While few details about the crime scene have been made public, authorities previously revealed that the girls’ throats were cut, and their bodies were found covered with branches. The defense further claimed that these branches formed symbols associated with Odinism, such as runes, and that Libby’s blood was used to paint Germanic letters on a nearby tree. They also argued that faux antlers made from sticks were placed above Abby’s head, adding to the ritualistic theory.

The defense memorandum, which spanned 136 pages, suggested that some of the branches had been precut with a power saw, implying that they were prepared in advance of the killings. This, according to the defense, further pointed to the involvement of a group rather than a single perpetrator,  IndyStar reported.

However, in September 2024, Special Judge Frances Gull dismissed the defense’s bid to present the Odinism theory to the jury, stating that the evidence provided did not conclusively link Odinist practices or specific individuals to the murders. “The Court will not permit the evidence submitted by the defense in support of their arguments regarding third-party perpetrators in the trial of this cause as the probative value of such evidence is greatly outweighed by confusion of the issues and its potential to mislead the jury,” Judge Gull wrote in her ruling.

As the trial continues, the public remains captivated by the mystery of the Delphi murders, with questions lingering about whether the defense’s claims will have any bearing on the outcome of the case.