Arrest made in 2017 murders of Delphi, Indiana teenagers

Law enforcement stated Monday that an arrest had been made in the deaths of Indiana teenagers Abigail Williams and Liberty German, whose 2017 disappearance and murders shocked the nation.

Indiana State Police announced that Richard Allen, 50, had been charged with two counts of homicide associated to the girls’ deaths. He has pleaded not guilty.

Allen’s arrest marks a major milestone in the practically six-year investigation into the crime. On Feb. 13, 2017, Williams, 13, and German, 14, went for a hike in the woods in rural Delphi, Indiana, on a day off from school. They were never seen alive again, and their bodies had been quickly found following an in depth search.

The case generated significant media attention throughout the nation, each for the heinous crime itself and for the fact that social media played a big part in the case. Williams had posted an image of her and German on Snapchat before they have been killed, and officials additionally released a grainy image and audio recording of the alleged killer talking to the girls.

During a press conference, Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter called Allen’s arrest “a major step in leading to the conclusion of this long-term and complex investigation,” however added, “This investigation is far from complete.”

Cynthia Rossi, a friend of Williams and German, informed CNN there was “a lot of hopefulness” that the arrest would provide closure.

“I’m glad that justice will be served, hopefully, that that’s what the news is,” Rossi added.