Indiana
No phones, no laptops, no cameras in Delphi murders trial of Richard Allen. Here’s how we’ll report
Richard Allen: Delphi, Indiana, man charged in double homicide
Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland gives an update on the Delphi murders.
Starting this week, the man accused of the 2017 killings of Delphi teenagers Abby Williams and Libby German will stand trial.
If you’ve read IndyStar or our sister USA TODAY Network Indiana newspapers for any amount of time, you’re likely familiar with the case against Richard Allen, the man arrested in 2022 on suspicion of the murders that rocked this small Indiana town.
You probably know the girls disappeared the day before Valentine’s Day and and it took more than five years for authorities to make an arrest. You’re probably familiar with the twists since Allen’s arrest, such as defense assertions of a link to Odinism to the defendant’s alleged prison confessions.
You might feel vested in knowing what evidence authorities have compiled to explain why they think Abby, 13, and Libby, 14, were forced off a trail and killed by a fellow Delphi resident.
And now, barring a last-second delay, a 12-member jury will hear the case against Allen and his defense over the next six weeks in one of the most high-profile murder trials in Indiana history. Journalists from IndyStar and the Lafayette Journal & Courier will be there every step of the way to keep you informed.
Our presence in the courtroom will be critical to Hoosiers’ understanding of the proceedings. Here’s why.
While Allen has the constitutional right to a public trial, Special Judge Frances Gull has given orders that will limit public access to only those who are actually in the courtrooms — in Fort Wayne for jury selection and in Delphi for the trial. No video or audio recording is allowed.
Gull has the unenviable task of managing a charged environment that will maintain the integrity of the trial, along with the safety of the accused and friends and family of the victims seeking closure from this horrific crime.
But to do that, the judge has clamped down on all electronic communication into and out of the courtroom, banning cellphones, smartwatches, laptops, audio recorders, TV cameras and digital cameras. Media seating has also been greatly restricted, and at Gull’s direction, members of the Indiana and national press corps have developed a “pool” approach to ensure all professional news outlets have access to what happens in court each day to share with their audiences.
Ensuring public access to the trial through trustworthy reporting from the courtroom has not been a given for this case, but we consider it vital and have put significant effort toward its preservation.
Without digital tools to aid our reporting in the courtroom, reporters will rely on handwritten notes that will be transcribed outside of the court and then form the basis of our daily reporting. A team of staffers will work together to bring you the latest news as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
Here’s what you can expect from IndyStar and the Journal & Courier after jury selection is completed and the trial starts, likely Friday.
Each weekday, Journal & Courier reporter Ron Wilkins will report from the court’s morning session, with a daily update posted at jconline.com and indystar.com by early afternoon. IndyStar reporters Sarah Nelson and Jordan Smith will cover the afternoon and Saturday sessions, with new reporting coming each weekday evening and Saturday afternoon.
The weight of justice: Delphi murder case jurors will face unimaginable pressure, life-changing decision
A recap of each full day at trial will appear in the next available print edition in both Indianapolis and Lafayette.
A team of editors and reporters in both newsrooms will support our reporters in Delphi, ensuring that you always have the latest from the trial.
Covering this trial is a large undertaking, especially considering that it’s scheduled to continue through the Nov. 5 election and some of our most important political reporting in the past four years. But we’re committed to telling Central Indiana’s stories and keeping you informed on all fronts.
As always, thank you for reading IndyStar.
Eric Larsen is IndyStar executive editor. Reach him at ericlarsen@indystar.com or 317-444-7342.
Indiana
Indiana A.G. finishes Karl King Tower investigation, finalizes compliance order
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — The Indiana Attorney General has finished its investigation into Karl King Tower and issued a compliance order.
This is coming after a months-long investigation into the unsafe living conditions for residents at the apartments.
From December 2025 to January 2026, there were prolonged failures with the heating and a lack of heat for residents during winter conditions at Karl King.
The property owner provided a 20% rent credit for affected tenants and documentation related to health and safety issues.
Below is the agreement from the Attorney General:
- The owner must complete boiler and heating system improvements by September 30.
- The property is subject to a monitoring period for multiple years.
- The owner needs to provide on-site security, including cameras in common areas and monthly incident reports.
- The building needs an on-site property manager to address resident concerns.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
The Attorney General has the authority to inspect the property and enforce compliance if commitments aren’t met.
Indiana
Indiana Baseball Series Preview Against Illinois
It’s been a rough season for the Indiana baseball team, but the Hoosiers have one more shot to finish the season on a high note against Illinois this week.
Indiana (21-30, 7-20) has lost five straight contests and failed to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament after finishing outside the top 12 in the Big Ten, meaning Saturday’s game against the Illini will be the Hoosiers’ last.
And that may very well be the biggest surprise in all of the Big Ten, considering IU won 33+ games each of the last two years and finished above .500 in Big Ten play each of the last three seasons.
About Indiana
Indiana’s disappointing season is almost over after getting swept by in-state rival Purdue over the weekend. IU has lost four straight Big Ten series and hasn’t won a series in nearly a month.
Regardless of who is playing well and who’s not, don’t be surprised if the majority of the seniors get to play this weekend.
That probably wouldn’t be the case if Indiana were still able to qualify for the Big Ten Tourney, but with that out of the equation, expect to see the guys who might not ever play another competitive game of baseball get to see the field one last time.
The Hoosiers’ best pitcher is southpaw Tony Neubeck, who leads the team in wins, starts, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Neubeck has recorded back-to-back quality starts and could very well hear his name called in this June’s MLB Draft.
Offensively, the Hoosiers have proven they can score some runs, and despite getting swept last week, scored 21 runs against Purdue. IU’s top hitter is Jake Hanley, who leads Indiana’s offense in at-bats, hits, home runs, RBIs, total bases, and walks.
About Illinois
Unlike Indiana, no matter what happens this week for Illinois, the Illini are automatically a lock for the Big Ten Tournament. Illinois might rest some of its everyday players who have played a lot and have some of its top arms on pitch counts, but outside of that, expect the Illini to play this series like it’s their last.
Illinois still has a chance to move up a spot in the Big Ten, and there’s no denying the fact that seeding matters.
Illinois (27-23, 13-14) has won five in a row but has struggled on the road this season, especially in Big Ten play.
Still, though, Illinois has a couple of solid relievers — Sam Mommer and Sam Reed — and has an ace in Aidan Flinn.
Offensively, the Illini are inconsistent but did manage to score 26 runs in three games against Northwestern and have a couple of power hitters in AJ Putty and Collin Jennings.
Series Schedule
Thursday, May 14th (6 p.m. ET)
Friday, May 15h (6 p.m. ET)
Saturday, May 16th (2 p.m. ET)
All three games are available to watch via the Big Ten Network Plus (BIG+).
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Indiana
A ‘verbal bouquet’ to Indiana’s health department | OPINION
A colleague at lunch recently proclaimed that my columns are negative, critical, lacking in affirming values. He didn’t use all those words, but I cut him short.
OK, this week, I’m offering a verbal bouquet to the Indiana State Department of Health. I’m presuming that was the agency identified in a text to me from my IU Health Care Team containing a “Full Screening Form” from SDOH.
Of course, I don’t recognize any IU Health Care Team. I do have a physician who practices at one of the ever-expanding IU Health facilities. From time-to-time he sends me on excursions through the labyrinth of departments, labs, or orifices of that serpentine organization. But I know no team.
The “Full Screening Form” from SDOH came in two sections. First I was asked, “In the past year, have you or any family members you live with been unable to get any of the following when it was really needed?” There were five classes of items indicated: Food, Health care or medication, Housing, Transportation for health care or medication, and Utilities.
I presumed I could check any or all of these. But I selected, “No.” An added option was, “I choose not to answer this question.”
In the second section I was asked, “In the past year, have you been afraid or felt unsafe due to the following?” Choices: Partner or ex-partner, Family member or caregiver, Where you live. Once again I answered, “No” and was glad to see, “Choose not to answer.”
I was not able to identify my insecurity driving the bombed-pocked streets of my city.
Here we find our state government expressing concern about our welfare. These are important indicators of well-being and security. Collecting such information, matching with my characteristics which are already on file, and merging those responses into a well-structured, but confidential data base, could provide useful inputs for policy development.
Where did this come from? Is there leftover money from a Biden initiative? Did the Braun administration or the Indiana General Assembly come up with this independently? Is this a state-wide program or just a test exercise to look (excuse the word) progressive?
Whatever the genesis, this is important and noteworthy. Most of us, faced with any of the conditions enumerated, would be hesitant to admit such concerns. But efforts to overcome that reluctance can be beneficial and prevent tragedy. If the data can be used and if useful, are used.
However, if the at-risk population fails to respond, we’re no better off. If the SDOH has no funding to follow-up itself or if local resources are insufficient to do the job, then we’ll know the need and have failed to provide help.
I look forward to the SDOH reporting on the success of this program. If they only notify my doctor of my well-being… I won’t say it. That would be negative.
Mr. Marcus is a research economist formerly with the Kelley School of Business at IU. Contact him at mortonjmarcus@gmail.com. Listen to Morton with John Guy on the podcast Who Gets What? at mortonjohn.libsyn.com
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