Evidence leak focus of Delphi murder hearing

Mar. 18—FORT WAYNE — What defense attorneys Bradley Rozzi and Andrew Baldwin did or didn't know about a suspected evidence leak in the Delphi case was on full display during a hearing Monday inside Allen County Superior Court.

Rozzi and Baldwin represent accused Delphi suspect Richard Allen, who is facing two counts of murder for his alleged connection to the February 2017 deaths of teenagers Libby German and Abby Williams.

Last October, Judge Frances Gull, who is presiding over the case, officially disqualified Rozzi and Baldwin for their alleged connection to the leak of crime scene photos that eventually landed in the hands of members of the media.

This move prompted Rozzi and Baldwin to take their pleas to the Indiana Supreme Court earlier this year in hopes of being reinstated.

The justices eventually agreed with them too, ultimately allowing the pair back on the case.

But then Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland recently filed a motion against Rozzi and Baldwin for what he deemed "contemptuous behavior," citing an "ongoing leak" of information from the defense team to individuals not associated with the case.

One of those individuals is a Westfield man named Mitchell Westerman, who is currently facing a misdemeanor charge of conversion for his alleged connection to the case.

According to police reports, Westerman reportedly took photographs last October of crime scene photos that were lying on a conference room table at Baldwin's law office.

He then allegedly distributed those photographs to another individual, court records indicate.

The prosecution brought forth several witnesses Monday morning to try and prove their arguments.

Their first witness was Steven Mullin, who works in the Carroll County Prosecutor's Office and is a former Delphi police officer.

Mullin testified he first learned of a suspected leak in October 2023 after a YouTuber reportedly posted information titled "Richard Allen thumbnail map" on his page.

He added there was also reportedly a list of evidence and witnesses involved in the case, some of which were juveniles.

That information, according to the prosecution, was leaked via the defense.

Indiana State Police Lt. Jerry Holeman, who was once an investigator on the case, seemed to back up Mullin's claim.

Holeman also testified that while the leak reportedly began with Westerman, it followed a chain of individuals — including one who died by suicide.

This prompted McLeland to once again argue it was ultimately the defense that was negligent with the evidence under their control.

But according to Rozzi — who took the witness stand in his own defense Monday — that wasn't the case.

"Andy (Baldwin) called me on the day that I believe he learned of it (the leak)," Rozzi stated. "I reported it immediately after."

Rozzi also alluded on the stand to what the defense team, including Rozzi and Baldwin's representing attorney David Hennessy, was alluding to all day.

There have been multiple alleged leaks in the case, the defense noted.

They believe the leaks were not actually coming from the defense.

Rozzi then referred to an episode of a Court TV program in which the commentator provided details of the case that Rozzi said he had just learned of.

"I'm not even sure we had it at that point," he said. "I know it wasn't provided by me, and I don't think it was provided by him (Baldwin) either. ... We were both surprised."

Along with Rozzi, the defense also brought in several members of the media — mostly YouTube or podcast personalities — to prove their point.

One of those was Steven "Skip" Wood, who testified that another YouTube personality he had conversations with appeared to have information from the then-unreleased probable cause affidavit.

When asked who allegedly gave that YouTuber the information, Wood said he was told it reportedly came from McLeland.

This caused McLeland to object to the defense's arguments, stating Hennessy was just trying to "parade" a bunch of "YouTubers and podcasters" who knew about the leak up to the witness stand.

"If the shoe was on the other foot, the defense would be screaming from the mountaintop," he told the court.

Gull will now take Monday's arguments under advisement, setting a timetable to make her ruling over the next few days.