Delphi murders trial: Psychologist said suspect had distorted reality during prison confessions

DELPHI, Ind. -- Richard Allen's defense team started the week by calling Doctor Polly Westcott to the stand. She went into detail about Allen's mental health history and decline while in prison.

Allen is charged with murdering Libby German and Abby Williams while they were out on a walk in Delphi, Indiana in February 2017.

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Westcott was hired by Allen's defense in May 2023 and paid $450 per hour. She said she looked at Allen's mental health history, conducted a neurological exam, and determined the breadth and context of his decline when he confessed to murdering the girls.

Westcott testified she started with his mental health history. She said it was very unusual to have more than 20 hours of videos of a patient. She also had access to the notes that were taken when he was on suicide watch.

In August 2023, Westcott first met with Allen and performed a two-hour evaluation, along with a five-hour test that was conducted over two days.

Westcott also met with Allen's wife Kathy a few weeks ago and examined his medication.

She told the court she determined that Allen arrived at Westville Correctional Facility with depression and anxiety. Westcott also diagnosed him with Dependent Personality Disorder and was particularly dependent on Kathy.

Westcott says when Allen became cut off from Kathy, his depression became more pronounced and escalated into psychosis.

"He fell apart," she said.

Westcott went on to testify Allen showed a "significant decline" while in jail that progressed to hallucinations, psychosis, and suicide ideation. "Solitary confinement can change brain chemistry," she said.

Westcott explained someone with Allen's mental health history is much more likely to enter psychosis, especially with the conditions he was in. She testified other prisoners would yell at Allen while he was in solitary confinement, calling him an "baby killer" and telling him to kill himself.

She said Allen had no window, slept erratically and quickly lost weight. "Your brain can't tell what's real," she said "It's like being in a fun house. You don't know what's reality and what's not."

Westcott also said Allen made up stories while in his psychotic state. She was asked by the state how she was able to make that determination. Westcott told the court at one point Allen said, "Satan killed the girls."

During the cross-examination, the state pressed Westcott about Allen's confession. Prosecutor Stacy Diener asked, "Is everything a person says when in a psychotic state distorted due to their psychosis?"

Westcott responded, " Most of what a person says or perceives while in a psychotic state is not consistent with the world others perceive around them."

Diener continued with, "but they could say things that are accurate?"

Westcott responded, "yes."

The other witness Monday morning was Max Baker, who watched "hundreds of hours" of prison cell video from Richard Allen's incarceration. Baker edited those videos together to show the jury things like Allen getting tased, showering, getting x-rays and meeting with nurses and psychologists.

He said the edited video was typical of Allen's activities in prison and he could've shown more.

"I chose videos I thought were most important," he said.

Suspect's sister, daughter take the stand

Allen's sister and daughter took the stand later Monday afternoon.

The state says at points while Allen was in prison and confessing to the murders of German and Willaims, he also claimed he molested his sister and daughter.

Jaimie Jones, Allen's sister was on the stand for just three minutes.

Defense attorney Jennifer Auger asked Jones, "Did Richard Allen ever molest you?"

Jones responded, "No."

Auger followed up, " Did Richard Allen ever touch you in a sexual manner?"

Jones again said, "No."

Auger then asked, "Would you lie for him?"

Jones simply said, "No."

There was no cross-examination by the state.

Brittney Zapanta, Allen's daughter was up next. It was also a rapid-fire series of questions from the defense.

Auger asked, " Did your father ever molest you?"

Zapanta said, "No."

Auger then asked, "Do you love your father?"

Zapanta simply said, "Yes."

Auger finished up by asking, "Would you lie for him"?

Zapanta finished by saying, "No."

The state did cross-examine Zapanta. Prosecutor Jim Luttrell asked her, "Did your father's appearance change after you went to college?"

Zapanta responded, "No."

Zapanta went to Ball State for college in 2018.

Lutrell then showed her several pictures of Allen from between 2014-2018. She told the court they were of him, but she couldn't confirm the dates.

They were entered into evidence over the objections of Allen's defense.

While Allen's sister and daughter was on the stand, Allen was seen smiling at them. Zapanta did get a little teary on the stand.

The defense then called Shelby Hicks, who was on the trail with her boyfriend the day of the murders. She testified she saw a "older gentleman with a camera" on the trail. Hicks says police never took any data from her phone.

Carroll County investigator and former Delphi Police Chief Steve Mullin then returned to the stand for at least the fourth time.

He agreed with defense questioning that he said in a deposition he doesn't have logs from some of the investigations, interviews, but says now he has them.

Defense attorney Andrew Baldwin also asked Mullin if he had ever heard of a white man in his 40s in a van asking kids if they wanted candy or if he'd heard about a man named Aaron. Both questions were sustained so Mullin never answered.

The day's last witness was Brad Weber, who also testified earlier in the trial. He previously said he went straight home after work the day the girls were murdered.

Monday he changed his story and told defense attorneys that in 2017 he told police he went to various ATMs after his shift at the local Subaru plant.

Weber says police searched his land, buildings, house, and car. He says he was also questioned many times about the case. He admitted he told different stories to different investigators over the years.