Howard Allen

Not to be confused with William Howard Allen.

Howard Allen
Born	Howard Arthur Allen
Criminal penalty	Death
Details
Victims	3
Span of crimes	August, 1974 – August 4, 1987
Country	U.S.
State(s)	Indianapolis, Indiana
Date apprehended	August 4, 1987

Howard Arthur Allen (born February 10, 1949) is a serial killer from Indianapolis, Indiana. He is believed to be responsible for the deaths of three elderly people, as well as assault, burglary, and arson.

• August 1974: Beat to death Opal Cooper, age 85, in her home during a robbery. Sentenced to 2–21 years for manslaughter and paroled in January 1985.

• May 18, 1987: Assaulted a 73-year-old woman in her home, who survived.

• May 20, 1987: Assaulted Laverne Hale, age 87, resulting in her death nine days later.

• June 2, 1987: Burglarized the house of an elderly man, then set it on fire.

• July 14, 1987: Killed Ernestine Griffin, age 73, with kitchen knives and a toaster in her home while attempting to purchase a car. He stole a camera and $15. He was arrested later that day.

• August 4, 1987: Arrested. Indicted based on witness testimony of the May 18th attack and charged for the May 18th, June 2nd, and June 14th attacks. Soon linked to the May 20th attack as well as eleven other assaults of elderly persons in Indianapolis.

• Spring 1988: Sentenced to 88 years in prison for burglary and felony battery.

• June 11, 1988: Sentenced to death by lethal injection for the murder and robbery of Ernestine Griffin.

• August 30, 1988: Placed on death row, where as of 2006 he remains awaiting ruling by a U.S. District Court on a petition for writ of habeas corpus.

References

• Michael Newton. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. 2nd edition. Checkmark Books. 2006. ISBN 0-8160-6196-3. pg.1.
• Indiana Death Row: ALLEN, HOWARD A. # 56. Last updated 1 Jul 2006. Accessed 23 Jan 2007. (includes mugshot)