Jury deliberates for 2nd day in Delphi double murder trial of Richard Allen

DELPHI, Ind. -- The jury in the Delphi murders trial resumed deliberations Friday.

The jurors are back in sequestration until Saturday morning. After reviewing weeks of testimony over nine hours, they still have no verdict.

Richard Allen is charged with killing Abby Williams and Libby German on an Indiana trail in 2017.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Outside the historic Carroll County courthouse, locals paced in anticipation, laying out posters in loving memory of Libby German and Abby Williams.

"It's just emotional," a woman named Angie said. "My daughter was the same age as Libby and Abby when they were killed, and it's just affected the whole community."

The trial for the teenage girls accused killer, Richard Allen, has hit the community in unexpected ways.

"Torn about more feeling sympathy for all families involved," Angie said. "[Ricard Allen's family is also] going through a horrible... I can't even imagine what they're going through. I can't imagine what Libby and Abby's families are going through."

In court, prosecutors painted Allen as a murderer and this week played an enhanced and extended video that Libby recorded on her phone the day she was killed. Jurors heard a phone call Allen made to his wife in which he confessed to the crime.

Defense attorneys told jurors that the investigation was botched.

Richard Allen pleaded not guilty to the murders of best friends Abby Williams, 13, and Libby German, 14. Their bodies were left in the woods on Feb. 13, 2017, and discovered the next day.

"My voice is breaking because I just want the families to be able to have some peace in their lives and from now on we can remember Libby and Abby how they were, not this tragic part," said Kathy Clendening, a friend of the victims' families.

The crime gained national attention when police released an image of the suspect and a clip of his voice -- a recording of him saying "down the hill" -- which was recovered from Libby's phone.

Prosecutors said it was Allen's voice threatening the teenage girl, just moments before prosecutors said he slit the girls throats and left them dead along rural trail in February, 2017.

Allen admitted to being on the trail the day of the murders but denied involvement.

Delphi resident Sarah Ausbrook said she hasn't missed a court hearing.

"Over the course of time I've watched him walk in and out of the courtroom, and I honestly believe he is bridge guy," Ausbrook said.

In closing arguments, prosecutors leaned on Allen's repeated jailhouse confessions

Allen's defense tried to poke deep holes in those confessions, arguing he was held in solitary confident for more than a year.

Jurors watched and winced, watching video of Allen naked with a hood over his head, even smearing and consuming his own feces.

Prosecutors presented no DNA evidence linking Allen to the murder.

"I have faith in the jury and faith in the evidence that the prosecution laid out, so I'm going to keep my faith," Clendening said.

Now, Delphi waits for 12 jurors to determine if they're convinced Richard Allen killed Libby German and Abby Williams.

"They went on a trail that day for a walk. They didn't go on a trail to be murdered," Clendening said. "And all we want is the truth... and if that happened and Richard Allen is guilty, than that's what we want."