LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After more than five years, police investigating the unsolved slayings of two teenage girls in 2017 in northern Indiana announced an arrest. 

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said during a news briefing Monday morning that Richard Allen, 50, of Delphi, was arrested in the 2017 murders of Liberty "Libby" German, 14, and Abigail "Abby" Williams, 13.

An emotional Carter said "today is not a day to celebrate," as he talked about the case. "I'm proud to report to you that today — actually last Friday — was the day. An arrest has been made." 

Libby German and Abby Williams went missing during a walk on Feb. 13, 2017.

Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland said Allen is charged with two counts of murder. He has already been arraigned on the charges and has pleaded not guilty. The probable cause paperwork is sealed by the courts, so no details of the investigation are being released. 

Allen is being held in the White County Jail without bond. 

The girls' bodies were found in a rugged area near a hiking trail on Feb. 14, 2017, one day after they vanished while walking on that trail near the Monon High Bridge. That bridge is just outside their hometown of Delphi, about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis.

The evidence against Allen, a licensed pharmacy technician who worked at a local CVS store, has been temporarily sealed to jeopardizing the “integrity” of their investigation, authorities said. “While I know you were all expecting final details today concerning this arrest, today is not that day,” Carter said.

"We are going to continue a very methodical and committed approach to ensure if any other person had any involvement in these murders in any way, that person or persons will be held accountable," Carter vowed.

"Since the murders of Abby and Libby 2086 days ago, the daily investigative team has worked tirelessly," said Carter, who made a point of thanking hundreds of media outlets and the entire law enforcement community.

"I stand before you in this church and very place where we held our first briefing nearly six years ago in just hours after the murders of Abby and Libby. Right here. Pulling in today, wasn't sure what emotions I would experience. But peace came over me, and I didn't expect that to happen. And I hope all of you, with all the different responsibilities you have from around the planet today, have felt some of that as well. But remember, we're not done."

McCleland said Allen is scheduled for a court hearing on Jan. 13, 2023, and has a tentative trial date of March 20, 2023. 

McLeland was asked if he was surprised by the arrest of a Delphi man. 

"It's mixed emotions," he said. "I've been watching the news all weekend like everybody else has and I think a lot of members of the public said it right. It's bittersweet. It's a step in the right direction. It's concerning that he's a local guy. So I think just different emotions. Again, this is a step in the right direction. This is the first step in getting into court and having a trial."

McLeland asked for the public to continue to provide information to the Delphi Double Homicide Task Force by emailing abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com or by calling 765-822-3535.

"I believe in a God of justice and righteousness," Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby said. "Today, I believe that same God has provided us with justice for Abby and Libby. We now move forward through the Indiana criminal justice system, allowing the system to provide its due diligence and process in providing that justice that is owed Abby and Libby, their families and this community." 

Libby’s grandmother, Becky Patty, told reporters that Allen once processed photos for the family at the CVS store in Delphi where Allen worked. He didn’t charge them for the photos, she added.

The families always knew that the suspect could have been “living right amongst us, hiding in plain sight,” said her grandfather, Mike Patty. “That's why we never stopped searching anywhere, because we didn't know where he was.”

Becky and her husband Mike both wore gray shirts that read “Today is the Day...Justice will be served for Abby and Libby," to Monday’s news conference.

The case has drawn local, state and national attention with the release of evidence, sketches and no shortage of theories. 

Within days of the killings, investigators released two grainy photos of a suspect walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited and an audio recording of a man believed to be the suspect saying "down the hill."

Authorities have since released two sketches of the suspected killer, including one in April 2019 based on video from German's cellphone that's believed to be more accurate than a sketch released in July 2017.

Police also released video in April 2019 which shows the man suspected of killing the teens walking on the abandoned railroad bridge the girls had visited.

In December 2021, state police announced they were seeking information from people who had contact with someone who used a fictitious online profile to communicate with young girls.

State Police said at that time that investigators probing German and Williams' deaths had uncovered a fictitious online profile named "anthony_shots" that was used from 2016-17 on Snapchat, Instagram and other social media platforms.

The profile was traced to Kegan Kline, who police were investigating for a child exploitation case. Kline has been questioned in the case, but he has never been charged or named as a suspect. He is facing a trial on 30 counts of possession of child pornography. 

A statement from CVS said the company is “shocked and saddened to learn that one of our store employees was arrested as a suspect in these crimes. We stand ready to cooperate with the police investigation in any way we can.”

“We remain devastated by these murders and our hearts go out to the German and Williams families,” the statement said.

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