WESTFIELD, Indiana – Mitchell Westerman, 41, has been arrested and charged with leaking sensitive crime scene photos of the Delphi murder case. The Delphi Historic Trails in Indiana were the site of the 2017 murder of 14-year-old Libby German and 13-year-old Abby Williams. Westerman, a former friend and co-worker of one of Richard Allen’s defense attorneys, allegedly took photos of the evidence and leaked them online.
Allen, 50, is accused of killing the two girls while they were hiking through the trails. The leak of the photos delayed Allen’s trial, prompting his defense team to withdraw from the case. The new trial date is set for October 2024.
The leaked evidence photos found their way to various individuals and online platforms, resulting in widespread dissemination before law enforcement was alerted to the situation. This eventually led to the suicide of one of the individuals who had received the photos. The leak ultimately caused a significant delay in the judicial process.
Westerman maintains that he did not have permission to take the photos and claims he was unaware of their sensitivity. His actions have been described as a betrayal by the defense team, who stated that all sensitive documents are now stored in secure cabinets.
Ultimately, the leak of the gruesome crime scene photos has had far-reaching implications for the case, delaying the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families. The impact of such leaks on ongoing criminal investigations underscores the need for strict adherence to ethical and legal standards in handling sensitive evidence. Such breaches can result in profound disruptions to the judicial process, adding to the pain and suffering of those affected by the crimes.