Delphi murder case: Psychologist says suspect was lying during prison confession

Delphi, Ind. — Richard Allen’s defense team began the week by calling Doctor Polly Westcott to the stand. He detailed the history of Allen’s mental health and decline while in prison.

Allen is accused of killing Libby German and Abby Williams while they were hiking 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. He said he looked at Allen’s mental health history, performed a neurological exam, and determined the extent and extent of his decline when he confessed to killing the girls.

Westcott testified that he started with his own mental health history. He said it was unusual to have more than 20 hours of video footage of a patient. He was also able to access the data that was taken when he watched the suicide.

In August 2023, Westcott first met with Allen and conducted a two-hour interview, as well as a five-hour interview conducted over two days.

Westcott reunited with Allen’s wife, Kathy, a few weeks ago and reviewed his medication.

He told the court that Allen arrived at the Westville Correctional Facility with depression and anxiety. Westcott was also diagnosed with Dependent Personality Disorder and was very dependent on Kathy.

Westcott says that when Allen broke up with Kathy, his depression became more pronounced and spiraled into psychosis.

“He fell,” he said.

Westcott went on to testify that Allen showed “significant decline” while in prison that progressed to negative emotions, psychosis and suicidal thoughts. “Solitary confinement can change the brain’s chemistry,” he said.

Westcott explained that someone with Allen’s mental health history is more likely to develop psychosis, especially given the conditions he was in. He testified that other inmates would yell at Allen while he was in solitary confinement, calling him a “baby killer” and telling him to do it. kill yourself.

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

Westcott also said that Allen made up the stories while he was in his psychotic state. He was asked by the government how he was able to make that decision. Westcott told the jury at one point Allen said, “Satan killed the girls.”

During cross-examination, the government pressed Westcott about Allen’s confession. Prosecutor Stacy Diener asked, “Is everything that someone says when they’re in a psychosis distorted because of psychosis?”

Westcott responded, “Much of what a man says or sees when he is in a state of mind does not agree with the world that others see around him.”

Diener continued, “but they would say the right things?”

Westcott replied, “yes.”

Another witness Monday morning was Max Baker, who watched “hundreds of hours” of jail cell video from Richard Allen’s jail. Baker edited the videos together to show things like Allen taking a shower, getting x-rays and meeting with nurses and psychologists.

He said the edited video was similar to Allen’s activities in prison and should have shown more.

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

Suspect’s sister, daughter wait

Allen’s sister and daughter took action later Monday afternoon.

The government says that at times when Allen was in prison and confessed to the German and Williams murders, he also admitted to abusing his sister and daughter.

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

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

Jones replied, “No.”

Auger followed up, “Did Richard Allen ever touch you sexually?”

Jones again said, “No.”

Then Auger asked, “Can you fool him?”

Jones simply said, “No.”

There were no government questions.

Brittney Zapanta, Allen’s daughter was next. It was also a series of quick questions from the defense.

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

Zapanta said, “No.”

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

Zapanta simply said, “Yes.”

Auger ended by asking, “Can you fool him”?

Zapanta finished by saying, “No.”

The state examined Zapanta with questions. Prosecutor Jim Luttrell asked him, “Did your father’s appearance change after you went to college?”

Zapanta replied, “No.”

Zapanta attended Ball State college in 2018.

Lutrell showed him several pictures of Allen from between 2014-2018. He told the court they were his, but did not confirm the dates.

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

As Allen’s sister and daughter stood, Allen was seen smiling with them. Zapanta sobbed a little in the chair.

The defense called Shelby Hicks, who was on the road with her boyfriend the day of the murders. He testified that he saw a “big man with a camera” on the road. Hicks said police did not take any data from his phone.

Carroll County Coroner and former Delphi Police Chief Steve Mullin is back in office for at least a fourth term.

He agreed to a defense question in which he said he did not have information from some of the investigations, interviews, but he says he now has them.

Attorney Andrew Baldwin also asked Mullin if he had heard of a white man in his 40s in a van asking children if they wanted candy or if he had heard of a man named Aaron. Both questions were so sustained that Mullin did not answer.

The final witness of the day is Brad Weber, who also testified earlier in the trial. He once said he went home right after work on the day the girls were killed.

Monday changed his story and told lawyers that in 2017 he told police he went to different ATMs after working at a local Subaru factory.

Weber said the police searched his land, buildings, house and car. He says he was also asked many times about the case. He admitted that he told different investigators different stories over the years.