Here's a timeline of major developments in the Delphi murders case
Police sources confirmed for 13News an arrest was made in the case and a news conference was scheduled for Monday.
The killings of Abby and Libby
Abigail Williams and Liberty German went missing at the Monon High Bridge in Delphi on Feb. 13, 2017. They were reported missing that evening, but an initial search turned up nothing.
Feb. 14, 2017
The next day, Tuesday, Feb. 14, law enforcement and volunteers from all across the area joined the search for German and Williams.
People in the community were on edge. There was concern that two girls in a quiet community could go missing and there was fear something bad had happened.
It wasn't until late on the 14th, that police confirmed two bodies were found in an area along Deer Creek, just a ways east from the bridge.
At the time, about 24 hours after they were reported missing, police would only confirm bodies were found and would not identify them.
Feb. 15, 2017
On Feb. 15, 2017, police confirmed the two bodies found were those of the missing girls.
In documents later released, an FBI agent noted that pieces of clothing from one of the victims were missing and that it "appeared the girls' bodies were moved and staged." There were no visible signs of a struggle or fight.
The agent suspected a souvenir had been taken by the killer and that it was common for perpetrators to memorialize the crime scene with pictures.
The FBI agent said investigators did recover fibers and unidentified hairs at the crime scene.
Later on Feb. 15, 2017, police revealed German's phone was found. On it, police believed, were images of the suspected killer. They showed a man coming across the bridge toward the girls.
In those early days, and at times later, investigators looked at the man who owned the property along where the girls were found.
For more than 50 years, Ronald Logan lived on County Road 300 North near the trail that leads to the Monon High Bridge.
“People walk up and down there with their children. It’s quite a nice little trail and bridge," Logan told 13News at the time. “The area they were in was very hard to get to. I mean, you can’t get there unless you walk there. Somebody had to be walking with them or something."
RELATED: FBI agent believed clothing taken and bodies 'staged' in Delphi murders search warrant request
Logan's home was searched. An FBI agent speculated about his possible involvement in the homicides, but no evidence was ever found linking Logan to the murders.
The FBI agent noted that 77-year-old Logan appeared to be in good physical condition and his voice was "not inconsistent" with that of the voice captured on German's phone.
The FBI agent also claimed that text messages sent to and from Logan's phone the evening of Feb. 13, 2017, showed he was likely outside his home and "in the proximity of where LG and AW's bodies were located." The agent noted that Logan had been physically able to get up and down the hill from his home to the crime scene when he met with officers on Feb. 17.
The agent was specific that they believed Logan could be involved in the murders: “I believe there is probable cause to believe that Ronald Logan has committed the crime of murder and evidence of that could be found on Ronald Logan’s property.”
Feb. 16, 2017
The FBI got permission to search the entire property, including Logan’s home, garage, his pick-up truck, computers and cell phones. A previous search of Logan's home on Feb. 16, for a parole violation, noted he had numerous weapons including handguns and knives.
Logan died in 2020 and was never officially named a suspect in the Delphi murders.
Feb. 18, 2017
On Feb. 18, 2017, a memorial service was held for the girls. The community began mourning their loss at the same time concerns about a killer in the community remained.
Feb. 22, 2017
A week later on Feb. 22, 2017, police released audio from German's phone, in which you hear a man say, "Down the hill." It wouldn't be until years later that we would learn the recording was 43 seconds long.
March 9, 2017
Despite thousands of tips and assistance from Indiana State Police and the FBI, there were no arrests and few developments beyond the March 6 search of Logan's home.
Then on March 9, police gave another update and we heard from family of Libby German.
Soon a month had passed since the killings and then weeks more. The girls' school memorialized them with benches. A charity game was held in their memory. But police were no closer to finding her killer.
July 17, 2017
Then on July 17, 2017, police released a first sketch of a suspect.
A flurry of tips came pouring in, but as police crossed each one off – no arrests were made.
September 2017
In September of 2017, the girls' families went on Dr. Oz pleading for tips and answers.
1 year after the killings
On Feb. 13, 2018, Delphi marked one year since the killings. The community came together with hope for new tips, for justice for the two girls.
There were no significant updates in the case for another year. There was speculation when other, similar cases came up – but they never led to a connection with Delphi.
Another year passes without answers
The case was going cold.
Then on April 22, 2019, Indiana State Police released an updated sketch. The sketch was vastly different from the original. It showed a younger man with curly hair and no goatee.
Investigators also released additional audio of the suspected killer from German's phone. Listen to the extended audio clip of the suspect here:
Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter noted at the time, that the killer was likely in the room or watching the news conference. He promised that he would one day be able to share all that investigators knew about the crime.
Again, tips came pouring in, but there were no arrests.
Another year passed and then another until 2021 – four years after the girls' murders.
Renewed hope
It was seeming like another year would slip by – until December 2021. That's when police announced a possible break in the case. A fake social media account by the name "anthony_shots" was found to have communicated with German shortly before the killings.
The account was linked back to a man who lived about 30 minutes away and was a suspect in a child porn case.
Oct. 26, 2022
The case seemed to center around that individual for much of 2022. He was questioned, but denied having any involvement in the Delphi killings. That man was never charged, but there was activity not far from his home in late summer when a river near his home was searched.
On Oct. 26, law enforcement arrested 50-year-old Richard M. Allen of Delphi. He was formally charged with two counts of felony murder on Oct. 28. He has pleaded not guilty at an initial hearing.
He was taken to the White County jail and is being held without bond.
Nov. 22, 2022
A special judge held a hearing on whether to publicly release the probable cause affidavit in the Delphi murders case. Carroll County Benjamin Diener had previously granted a motion from the prosecutor to keep all documents related to the case from public release. Diener later recused himself from the case.
After the hearing with the special judge, Andrew Baldwin, Allen's defense attorney, said he wants the documents publicly released because his team is "not impressed" with the lack of evidence in the document.
During the hearing, Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland revealed his belief that others may be involved in the murders.
The special judge decided to take the defense's motion under advisement. The judge said she will release an order at a future time.
Allen is also asking for the court to either reduce his bail to a "reasonable" amount or release him on his own recognizance. The hearing for that decision is now scheduled for Feb. 17, 2023.
Allen's trial is scheduled to start March 20 at 9 a.m., but that date is expected to be moved back to provide both the prosecutor and defense more time to prepare for a trial.
Nov. 28, 2022
Allen's attorneys filed a motion for a change of venue for his trial, according to court documents obtained by 13News.
In the motion, attorneys Andrew Baldwin and Brad Rozzi cited "the extensive media attention" of the case and stated that it "could be argued that the amount of publicity that this particular case has received in the past 5+ years will make it difficult to find a jury that has not heard of this case."
Nov. 29, 2022
Special judge Fran Gull ordered redacted court documents to be publicly released. The 12 pages of court documents include the decision to release a redacted version, murder charges and probable cause affidavit.