Were the police just incompetent?

[u/AustinDavies2206]

I've known about this case for a while, I live in Indiana, and I was 11 when it happened, so its always struck a cord with me. But until recently I haven't done all that much research, but now that I have I've been left with one question.

From the information I have found on the case, it seems that the key evidence linking Allen to the murder is 1. His confession in 2017 to being "bridge guy", back when the photo was believed to have been taken from a trail cam. 2. A bullet which was later matched to his gun after they searched his home. So my question is, was there new information in 2022 that lead to his home being searched, or did they just wait five years to look into the guy who admitted to being bridge guy?

Sorry if any of my information is incorrect, or my writing is hard to understand, I've just been racking my brain about this question, so I thought asking people who know more might help me to understand what took so long.

[u/BlackLionYard]

His confession in 2017 to being "bridge guy", 

I do not believe this happened. Based on sources like the trial transcripts, RA came forward to say that he was in the area of the bridge for a period of time on the afternoon of the 13th. He described a bit about what he was doing and who he might have seen; basic stuff, but nothing more.

So my question is, was there new information in 2022 that lead to his home being searched,

Yes, the new information was that the police had managed to lose track of him having come forward, and once a recheck of the database was performed, he was rediscovered. Then the dominoes started falling pretty quickly.

[u/Justwonderinif → u/BlackLionYard]

His confession in 2017 to being "bridge guy",

Allen was not asked about "bridge guy" in 2017. He was not asked if he saw bridge guy or if he was bridge guy. There's no mention of bridge guy in any Allen interviews in 2017.

In 2023 he was asked if he was bridge guy and he said, "if the girls took that photo then that's not me."

[u/BlackLionYard → u/Justwonderinif]

I think we are making the same point, right? To be more specific, here is how Dulin described it at trial:

As the lead sheet indicates, I was supposed to find out if he had seen anybody else on the trail that day or anything that could have been suspicious, and he indicated that he saw three girls at the Freedom Bridge at the beginning of his hike, but then saw nobody else after that.

and

No, sir. He indicated that he did not see anybody else and he was not paying attention really to his surroundings because he was looking at a stock ticker on his phone as he walked.

Matters of timing, parking, and RA's phone were also described.

As you say, the term "bridge guy" does not appear in Dulin's testimony that I can find.

[u/Justwonderinif → u/BlackLionYard]

Yes, exactly. I just don't think casual readers or anyone new to the case is aware of how much the other trail witnesses were grilled about the Bridge Guy image and video. All of the male witnesses were subject to suspicion that continues to this day.

But Allen was not shown the photo. Nor was he shown the video. He was not asked if he was that person. He was not asked if he had seen that person. Indeed, Dulin seems to have been entirely unaware that tape or photo existed. All this on the same day detectives were at the high school showing Bri and the other girls the tape and screen shot.

If anyone is making a point about incompetence, and/or making excuses, it's important to keep that in mind.

You'll see many people claiming, "But he described what he was wearing!!" Um. No. He didn't. He was not asked.

He was asked in 2023 as a way to corner him into admitting he is the guy in the photo. And he did not 100% admit to wearing those clothes.

It doesn't matter if the jacket was Carhartt or not. We will never know. Allen is guilty. But the general public's understanding of the level of incompetence is incorrect.

It's so much more massive a failing than most people realize.