This is a true crime in real-time update from True Crime Today and the Hidden Killers podcast.

Richard Allen will stand before Judge Fran Gull on December 20th to learn his fate,

but one thing is already certain. No cameras will capture the moment.

The ruling by Judge Gull, which bars media from recording the sentencing hearing,

has added another layer of complexity to an already convoluted case. It's a decision rooted in controversy

stemming from unauthorized broadcasts of a prior hearing in October. And with that, the

courtroom door seems to close just a little tighter on public scrutiny, leaving many to wonder.

What price does justice pay when transparency is restricted?

The journey to this moment began years ago on a cold February day in 2017.

Abby Williams and Libby German, two best friends enjoying a day on the Monon High Bridge, never made it home.

Their murders went unsolved for more than five years, casting a long shadow over the town of

Delphi, Indiana, as investigators painstakingly sifted through mountains of tips, leads, and dead ends.

In October 2022, the case that seemed destined for stagnation

exploded back into the headlines with Richard Allen's arrest. It was a bombshell,

unexpected, stunning, and for many, a long overdue turn toward justice. Fast forward to November

7th of this year. After 17 days of testimony, the courtroom was steeped in tension.

Prosecutors laid out their case meticulously, pointing to an unspent round found at the murder scene,

later determined to have been cycled through Allen's firearm.

Jurors listened intently as expert witnesses connected dots that had remained elusive for years.

Then there were Alan's own words, damning and often bizarre, as he admitted to being on the bridge the day Abby and Libby were killed,

followed by repeated confessions while in custody.

For the jury, those pieces fell together into an undeniable picture.

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