The stepfather of Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen was caught snoring during a technical testimony tying his stepson to the brutal killing of two teen girls. This testimony by Melissa Oberg, a former forensic firearm examiner, explained how she connected an unused bullet found near the victims to a handgun found at Allen’s home. Despite being nudged awake, Allen’s stepfather was reportedly seen falling asleep during the dry discussion.
During the testimony, Oberg detailed how she fired and cycled through several rounds of the 40-caliber Sig Sauger handgun recovered from Allen’s home. She concluded that the “tool marks” left on the bullets she fired were similar to those on the unspent cartridge found at the crime scene. Allen’s defense attorney, Bradley Rozzi, attempted to discredit the firearm evaluation during cross-examination by pointing out that Oberg compared the bullet to spent rounds rather than unused ones that cycled through the gun without being fired.
Prosecutors have alleged that Allen followed the teenage girls while they were hiking near Delphi on Feb. 13, 2017, before forcing them at gunpoint off the Monon High Bridge Trail into the woods, where he killed them. Despite the evidence presented, defense attorneys have maintained Allen’s innocence, arguing that there is reasonable doubt in the prosecutor’s case. If convicted on the two counts each of murder and murder while kidnapping the girls, Allen faces up to 130 years in prison.
The trial for Richard Allen, the suspect in the Delphi murder case, has seen dense technical testimony regarding the forensic evidence linking him to the crime scene. The testimony by Melissa Oberg detailed how a bullet found at the scene of the murder was connected to a handgun found at Allen’s home. Oberg’s conclusions were challenged by the defense attorney, who questioned the accuracy of the firearm evaluation and pointed out discrepancies in the comparison of rounds.
Despite attempts by the defense to sow doubt in the jurors’ minds, prosecutors are pressing forward with the case against Allen. The allegations against Allen include following the two teenage girls, forcing them at gunpoint off a trail, and ultimately killing them. The defense continues to argue for Allen’s innocence, pointing to gaps in the evidence presented by the prosecution. The trial continues with the potential for a 130-year prison sentence if Allen is convicted on all charges.
The trial of Richard Allen has revealed tense moments, including his stepfather snoring during crucial testimony connecting him to the murder of two girls. The technical evidence presented by Melissa Oberg has been a focal point of the trial, with her forensic analysis linking a bullet found at the crime scene to a handgun owned by Allen. Despite challenges from the defense attorney, the prosecution is intent on proving Allen’s guilt in the brutal killing of the two teenagers, while the defense maintains his innocence. The trial has garnered significant attention due to the high stakes involved in the case.
