The man suspected of murdering two teenagers in Indiana five years ago is in state custody following his arrest last week.
Carroll County Sheriff Tobe H. Leazenby filed a request Tuesday to transfer Richard Matthew Allen, 50, from Carroll County Jail to the custody of the Indiana Department of Correction. Judge Benjamin A. Diener of the Carroll Circuit Court approved the request Thursday.
“The Court, being duly advised, FINDS that Defendant is an inmate awaiting trial and is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, or represents a substantial threat to the safety of others. This FINDING is not predicated on any acts or alleged acts of the Defendant, since arrest, rather a toxic and harmful insistence on ‘public information’ about Defendant and this case,” Diener’s order reads. “The public’s blood lust for information, before it exists, is extremely dangerous. ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS administering this action do not feel safe and are not protected.”
ARREST MADE IN CONNECTION TO DELPHI, INDIANA, TEENAGE MURDERS FIVE YEARS LATER
Within hours of filing the order, Diener recused himself from Allen’s case. It is unclear why the judge did so. However, the order does read that one judicial officer has been bombarded with a “maelstrom” of information requests from people not involved in the case. As all court documents have been sealed by Diener surrounding Allen since Friday, these requests have not been fulfilled, resulting in YouTube videos on this particular judicial officer, including his family members.
“When the public peddles misinformation with reckless abandon, we all are not safe,” Diener wrote.
Ever since the suspect’s sketch was released, many online have attempted to connect the sketch to suspects by posting pictures side by side. It led to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office issuing a warning on social media that it was “ruining innocent people’s lives.” The over-involved public could be the reason the police are slowly bringing attention to the situation. Over 50,000 phone and email tips have been reported.
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Allen pleaded not guilty to the two murder charges.
