DELPHI, Ind. — Richard Allen’s defense began its first full day calling witnesses by bringing Officer Christopher Gootee to the stand Friday.

Gootee served with the Hammond Police Department as a teenager Libby German and Abby Williams were found murdered near Monon High Trail in Delphi, Indiana.

Gootee interviewed Brad Weber as part of the investigation. Weber lived near the trail, and according to Gootee, Weber said he returned home after work on Feb. 13, 2013, the day the girls were murdered. Gootee couldn’t remember what else Weber said despite looking at his own report.

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The state did not question Gootee.

The defense then called Dr. Deanna Dwenger of the Indiana Department of Corrections to the stand. Dwenger supervises contract employees, such as State witness Dr. Monica Wala.

Wala testified this week about the times Allen confessed to killing Libby and Abby. The defense has attacked her credibility because Wala admitted to being a true crime fan who listened to and participated in Delphi-related podcasts.

Dwenger was asked further about Wala’s personal interest in Allen’s case. Dwenger said she only found out after she had already been assigned to work with Allen.

Dwenger knew Wala visited the High Monon Bridge before Allen arrived at the Westville Correctional Facility. She told the jury she thought it was unusual to visit the crime scene of someone she works with, but said Wala spoke to her direct supervisor more about the issue.

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Dwenger said he did not determine which correctional facility Allen was placed in and did not know who made the decision. She said Allen was classified as a security risk when he arrived in Westville. Dwenger said Allen was a Code D for mental health, which meant Allen needed an individual therapist.

Dwenger said he regularly heard Allen threatened by other inmates. She also testified that she knew Allen was always on camera and that worried her. Dwenger said he recommended the cameras be removed to improve Allen’s mental health, but that never happened.

Dwenger also told jurors that solitary confinement is not good for mental health.

The Department of Corrections has a policy that someone with a “serious mental illness” should not be held in solitary confinement for more than 30 days. Allen was in solitary confinement for 13 months.

State’s Attorney Stacey Diener questioned Dr. Dwenger. She told the court that Allen was not diagnosed with a serious mental illness when he first arrived in Westville in late 2022. It wasn’t until April 2023 when that diagnosis was made, when his mental health took a notable turn. It is also the same time that Allen began confessing to the murders of Libby and Abby.

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The first document determining Allen’s “severe disability” was dated April 13, 2023. It was around the same time that a team of mental health professionals determined that Allen had deteriorated enough to require intervention. Dwenger testified that Allen was involuntarily given an antipsychotic drug.

The jury also asked Dwenger several questions, the most notable of which focused on Allen’s mental health.

One juror asked whether a person faking a mental health crisis could include truths in a confession. Dwenger said he has seen psychotic people sincerely confess and psychotic people make things up.

Another juror asked how a psychiatrist can tell if someone is faking psychosis. Dwenger said the doctor listens to body language and the story chain. Dwenger said that if the story is organized the person is probably faking psychosis, if it is disorganized and out of chronological order the person is more likely to be psychotic or delusional.

When the court returned after a mid-morning recess, the prosecution and defense argued over the videos of Allen in his cell and how much would be shown. Judge Frances Gull decided to allow the playback of videos without audio.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.