A forensics scientist from the Indiana State Police DNA laboratory took the stand Monday morning as testimony resumed in the double murder trial of accused child killer, Richard Allen.
During her questioning by the prosecution, DNA Stacy Bozinovski continued her testimony from last week, and revealed that she analyzed several clothing items and shoes for DNA. The shoes were sourced from both Deer Creek and the crime scene.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Richard Allen is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German.
The girls vanished near the Monon High Bridge in Carroll Coubty during what was supposed to be a day outing.
Police arrested Allen five years after the murders. He has remained in custody since October 2022.
Last week, Indiana State Police Lt. Jerry Holeman described his first interview with Richard Allen, highlighting Allen’s agitation and his inability to explain the presence of a cartridge from his gun at the crime scene.
Bozinovski said efforts to conduct DNA analysis on a cartridge found at the scene were unsuccessful due to its small size.
She also gathered swabs from trees in the area of the crime scene and from branches that were located on the girls’ bodies, confirming that none of the samples contained DNA from Allen.
Bozinovski said efforts to conduct DNA analysis on the cartridge found at the scene were unsuccessful due to its small size, which prevented getting DNA evidence.
She collected swabs from trees in the crime scene area as well as branches found on the girls’ bodies, confirming that none of these samples had DNA from Allen.
Bozinovski reported that while some samples contained male DNA, they were insufficient to generate a complete DNA profile.
State firearms expert Melissa Oberg reported that she submitted the cartridge for DNA and fingerprint analysis prior to gathering ballistics information.
Bozinovski explained that she attempted to collect skin cells from the cartridge, which she showed to the jury for the first time. She emphasized the challenges of extracting DNA from cartridges due to their small size, noting that the DNA found was inadequate for further testing.
She also stated that the State Police Crime Lab no longer conducts tests on cartridges because of the low success rate in obtaining viable results.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: FILE – A makeshift memorial to Liberty German and Abigail Williams near where they were last seen and where the bodies were discovered stands along the Monon Trail leading to the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Ind., Oct. 31, 2022. Jurors for the trial of Richard Matthew Allen, an Indiana man accused of killing the two teenage girls, will be brought from Allen County, which includes the city of Fort Wayne, a judge in the case decided Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)]
