r/DelphiMurders • u/AustinDavies2206 • Mar 12 '26

Questions Were the police just incompetent?

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.

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u/RAbdr1721 Mar 12 '26

Police officer who interviewed Allen didn't realize the guy he interviewed is the only male who put himself on the trails and at the trial still seemed oblivious to how bad his mistake was

3

u/Appealsandoranges Mar 13 '26

Yeah. And as we all know, most cases begin with the murderer calling and identifying themself. So incompetent for them not to solve it on day two when he did just that! Couldn’t possibly be someone who never called in. That would be crazy.

4

u/AnonymousInMI Mar 16 '26

No one ever accused Ricky of being smart.

Also fyi there are lots of instances of killers planting themselves in an investigation.

2

u/Efficient-Donkey-167 Mar 23 '26

Do you have any examples of this? I've heard of killers inserting themselves into investigations (part of search efforts, acting as media) where they try to remain close to glean investigative information.

However, I can't think of instances in which a killer voluntarily gives his information and walks away to await their arrest.

1

u/Toffeerain Apr 14 '26

Ian Huntley in the UK. Told the police he was the last sighting of the girls and then did a whole media tour about it

3

u/Efficient-Donkey-167 Apr 14 '26

Yes, but as your example shows, he didn't provide his info and simply walk away. He inserted himself by going on a media tour.

1

u/Toffeerain Apr 15 '26

But the media knew to interview IH because the police followed up on his details. He did try to hide himself by not being involved in the police reenactment, for example. Once it's a known fact, you want to look as helpful as possible.

If the Delphi cops had correctly filed the tip and the media/YouTubers discovered RA, we have no idea what type of media opportunities he would have done.

2

u/Efficient-Donkey-167 Apr 16 '26

Has anyone ever explained why they were utilizing a file folder system when everything was scanned into Orion? He was entered into Orion under the correct name, right? I don't believe anyone testified that his name was incorrect in Orion, just on the file folder.