Overview of 13th Juror (preview on Chameleon)
This transcript is a promotional crossover episode on Chameleon introducing the new true-crime / courtroom podcast 13th Juror, hosted by Brandi Churchwell and produced by Audiochuck | Campside Media. Rather than focusing solely on the crimes, 13th Juror analyzes how cases are built and tried — letting listeners act as a hypothetical “13th juror” to decide which side of the courtroom story they believe. The preview episode walks through Part One of Indiana v. Richard Allen (the Delphi murders), summarizing the facts, the central piece of evidence (a short video/audio clip from a victim’s phone), and how the trial split public opinion.
Episode summary — Indiana v. Richard Allen (Part One: The Prosecution Story)
- Case: The murders of 14-year-old Liberty “Libby” German and 13-year-old Abigail “Abby” Williams in Delphi, Indiana (February 13, 2017).
- Victims: Close friends who spent the day on local trails and the Monon High Bridge; both were found dead the next day.
- Central evidence: A grainy phone video recorded by Libby around 2:13 p.m. on the bridge. The clip shows a man walking toward the camera; near the end an audio fragment clearly says, “Guys, down the hill.” That recording became the case’s centerpiece.
- Perpetrator initially known publicly as “Bridge Guy” for more than five years; in 2022 police named and arrested Richard Allen, a 50-year-old CVS employee who admitted being on the trail that day.
- Trial framing: The episode presents the prosecution’s narrative and stresses how the courtroom tests narratives — how evidence is presented, what jurors heard (and didn’t), and why reasonable people remained divided.
- Host approach: Brandi Churchwell methodically unpacks investigative detail and courtroom strategy to let listeners assess the case.
Key points and takeaways
- The podcast’s premise: Play both sides of a criminal case and invite listeners to act as the 13th juror — weighing identical evidence presented by prosecution and defense.
- The Delphi murders are presented as a case defined by a single, haunting piece of evidence (the bridge recording) that both focused the investigation and fueled dispute over identification and interpretation.
- The timeline and setting matter: warm February afternoon, a small tight-knit town (Delphi, pop. ~3,000), and a bridge that was appealing but dangerous — all contextual elements investigators and jurors consider.
- Public reaction fractured: some believed police had the right suspect; others believed Richard Allen was innocent or that investigators missed other leads. The series emphasizes how courtroom process addresses (or fails to resolve) those disputes.
- The episode is Part One (prosecution story), implying later episodes will cover defense arguments, jury deliberations, and trial outcomes.
Notable quotes and audio moments
- The recorded line from Libby’s phone: “Guys, down the hill.” (the key audio piece).
- Show tagline: “Two sides, the same evidence. You decide what to believe.” — encapsulates the podcast’s juror-centered format.
- Intro framing from Chameleon: focus on people “who live by deception” and the idea that “we often learn the most details about crimes once they enter the courtroom.”
People, places, and evidence to know
- Hosts: Josh Dean (introducing the crossover on Chameleon); Brandi Churchwell (host of 13th Juror).
- Victims: Liberty (Libby) German (14) and Abigail (Abby) Williams (13).
- Location: Monon High Bridge / Delphi trail system, Carroll County, Indiana.
- Suspect: Known publicly as “Bridge Guy” until 2022 — Richard Allen (named and arrested; admitted to being on the trail that day).
- Key physical evidence: Libby’s video (visual + the audio “Guys, down the hill”), photos posted to Snapchat, and other investigative materials presented at trial (details to be covered in later episodes).
Why this episode matters
- It shifts focus from crime narrative to courtroom process, showing how evidence is translated into legal arguments and how that process influences public understanding.
- The Delphi case demonstrates how a single piece of recorded evidence can guide an investigation, polarize public opinion, and become central to prosecutorial narrative and defense challenges.
- For listeners interested in legal reasoning and evidence evaluation, the podcast is structured to teach how to weigh competing interpretations of the same facts.
Where to listen / next steps
- Full episodes of 13th Juror are available wherever you get podcasts (this preview was presented to Chameleon listeners).
- Recommended listening path: start with Part One (prosecution), then listen to subsequent episodes covering the defense, trial testimony, and post-trial developments to form an informed juror judgment.
Final note
This preview sets expectations: careful, evidence-focused storytelling that prioritizes courtroom mechanics over sensationalism. It uses the Delphi murders to illustrate the show’s method — present both sides clearly and let listeners decide.