Abby Williams and Libby German's cause of death revealed

As Richard Allen's trial continues, new details emerge about the 2017 murders of teenage friends Liberty “Libby” German, 14, and Abigail “Abby” Williams, 13.

The double murder case against the 52-year-old former pharmacy technician continues at the Carroll County Courthouse in Indiana, where Allen is accused of murdering middle school students on February 13, 2017. That day, the girls decided to spend their day off from school hiking the historic Delphi Trails, about 70 miles north of Indianapolis, before eventually disappearing.

Their bodies were found the next day less than a mile from the Monon High Bridge, where German's phone recorded the suspect walking and saying, “Guys, down the hill,” as was widely publicized nationwide.

The full 43-second clip, which was never released to the public, was shown to jurors on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, as reported by Oxygen.com.

Jury selection began on October 14, 2024, and the trial continues to reveal new details about the murders, many of which were previously hidden from the public.

Here's what we know:

The cause of death of Abigail Williams and Liberty German

Although an unspent .40-caliber casing found at the crime scene linked Allen to the murders, semi-retired forensic pathologist Dr. Roland Kohr stated that both girls died after their throats were cut The Indianapolis Star. His statement matched that of 2023 Court documents – obtained from Indianapolis WISH TV — revealed, noting that the girls died from “wounds caused by a sharp object.”

Dr. Kohr, who has performed more than 7,700 autopsies over his long career, performed the autopsies on both girls and testified that Williams suffered a fatal, two-inch laceration that ruptured the teen's carotid artery.

German, however, suffered no fewer than four overlapping cuts to his neck, two of which proved fatal, according to the statement Indianapolis Star.

On the second day of testimony, Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland said that German was found naked and that Williams was found wearing German's clothing, according to a Fox Indianapolis affiliate WXIN. On the fourth day, Indiana State Police (ISP) crime scene investigator Brian Olehy testified that one could “logically assume” that Deutsch was “unclothed.”

Dr. However, Kohr said there was no obvious evidence that either girl was sexually abused. He added that “no trauma was left behind,” suggesting such an attack might have occurred, but that there was no evidence of it, they said Indianapolis Star.

Furthermore, Dr. Kohr said blood found on German's hands indicated that German may have reached for her throat after the injuries were inflicted. He said both girls survived about four to 10 minutes after the fatal cuts, although both likely lost consciousness before succumbing to their injuries.

RELATED: Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen's lawyers claim victims were sacrificed by pagans

The evidence from Libby German's phone

Libby German's iPhone, which captured the girls' suspected killer as he allegedly followed them on the Monon High Bridge shortly before their deaths, has become a crucial piece of evidence in the ongoing murder trial.

ISP Sgt. Christopher Cecil confirmed on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 that German's phone did not receive any incoming SMS messages between 4:06 p.m. on February 13, 2017 and 4:33 a.m. on February 14, 2017. So the phone was receiving iMessages – messages that came through an internet connection and not a cellular service, it says Indianapolis Star.

Fifteen text messages reached German's phone at 4:33 a.m., indicating the phone had received enough signal to receive previously sent messages. Cecil said there was no evidence the phone was turned off.

According to the Indianapolis branch, German called her father on February 13, 2017 to confirm the pickup time later that day. Minutes later, at 1:41 p.m., German took several selfie snaps that showed Williams in the background.

German posted a photo of the bridge at 2:05 p.m. before “a video of the murder suspect on the bridge was recorded” at 2:13 p.m., Cecil told the court. According to the Indianapolis StarJurors saw the full video of the man following Williams.

An Apple Health app recorded the phone's last movements at 2:32 p.m

The phone reportedly stopped there and remained in Deer Creek, where the girls were later found dead, according to an ABC Chicago affiliate WLS TV. Investigators said German's phone was discovered under Williams' body.

At 4:06 p.m., a text message from German's grandmother, Becky Patty, said, “You need to call me now,” followed by several exclamation points.

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The Odinism Theory of Defense

Lawyers Andrew Baldwin of the Criminal Defense Team and Brad Rozzi have claimed that Williams and German were killed as part of a neo-pagan sacrifice, suggesting their client was the possible culprit, as reported by Oxygen.com. They claim that Odinists – those who worship the Norse god Odin – reportedly killed the girls, positioned their bodies and ritually made symbols with sticks.

On September 4, 2024, special judge Fran Gull blocked the introduction of the alternative theory in the trial. However, on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, lawyers, citing Allen's constitutional rights, filed a motion to have Odinism expert Dr. Dawn Perlmutter could be brought in to comment, the ABC affiliate said.

The new request came a day after Investigator Olehy said someone used sticks as an “attempt to conceal.”

In Wednesday's filing, defense attorneys claimed: “The sticks on the girls appear to be arranged in a pattern/arrangement, or (at least) a reasonable person could with a reasonable person's own eyes, common sense, logic and reason.” “I assume the sticks were formed into a specific pattern/arrangement and were not intended to conceal the bodies,” according to the NBC Indianapolis affiliate WTHR.

Experts say Odinism is a focus for white supremacist gangs in Indiana prisons, although the district attorney previously called the defense theory “an imaginative defense that can devour social media.” WXIN.

The judge has yet to rule on the latest request.