DELPHI, Ind. — The prosecutor in the Delphi murders case wants to keep jurors from seeing or hearing about two widely circulated composite sketches investigators released in their search for a suspect.
Tuesday morning, the state filed a motion asking Special Judge Frances Gull to prevent the defense or any of its witnesses from referencing those sketches during the trial without express permission from the judge.
Law enforcement released the sketches with requests for public help as they investigated the deaths of Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14. The girls went for a walk near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi on Feb. 13, 2017, but did not return that evening to meet family. Searchers found their bodies nearby on Feb. 14.
On July 17, 2017, nearly five months later, investigators released the drawing of a man wearing a hat based on reports of witnesses who saw a man in the area.
On April 22, 2019, Indiana State Police held a news conference where they released the second sketch along with a video clip and extended audio clip.
In his request, prosecutor Nick McLeland contends the sketches are not relevant to the trial. He wrote, “The composite sketches prepared were intended as an investigative tool to generate leads to identify a suspect, and, in fact, these sketches were not related to the identification of Richard Allen as a suspect.”
He also claims the sketches should be excluded because they might prejudice or mislead the jury, as well as confuse the issues.
The defense team has not yet responded to the motion, and the judge has not yet said when she will consider this topic and whether a hearing will be held.
Tuesday morning, jury selection resumed in Allen County. Twelve jurors and two alternates were selected Monday. Two more alternates will be selected.
Tuesday, the court also plans to hold a hearing on the defense motion to have jurors visit the Monon High Bridge and the scene where the girls were found. The state objects to that request.