Mar 15, 2010
Jun 24, 2022
Heidi
Allen
50
18
71 inches
140 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
On Easter Sunday, April 3, 1994, 18-year-old Heidi Marie Allen began her shift at the D&W Convenience Store in New Haven, New York. She had opened the store at approximately 5:45 a.m. and worked for about two hours without incident. The last transaction recorded on the cash register was at 7:42 a.m. Shortly after, a customer flagged down a passing sheriff's deputy to report that the store was open but unattended. Investigators found Heidi's jacket, purse, and car keys left behind, and her car was still in the parking lot. There were no signs of a struggle, and money was still in the cash register and on the counter, suggesting that robbery was not the motive. It was as if she had simply vanished. The investigation into Heidi's disappearance quickly pointed to foul play, and massive searches were conducted by law enforcement, the military, and hundreds of volunteers, but they yielded no results. The investigation eventually focused on two brothers, Gary and Richard Thibodeau. In May 1994, Richard was arrested and charged with kidnapping, followed by his brother Gary in August on the same charge. The brothers were tried separately. In June 1995, Gary Thibodeau was convicted of first-degree kidnapping and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. His brother, Richard, was acquitted in September of that same year. Gary Thibodeau maintained his innocence until his death in prison in 2018. Over the years, the case has seen numerous appeals and claims of new evidence. Gary Thibodeau's defense attorneys argued that prosecutors withheld evidence and that other individuals were responsible for Heidi's abduction. Despite these efforts, his conviction was repeatedly upheld. The case garnered significant media attention, including a feature on "Dateline NBC." Heidi Allen's body has never been found, and the case remains an open investigation with the Oswego County Sheriff's Department. The disappearance of Heidi Allen has left a lasting impact on the community, and her family continues to hold out hope for answers. The case is a complex and controversial one, with a conviction based on largely circumstantial evidence and lingering questions about what truly happened on that Easter morning.
Apr 03, 1994
Town of New Haven
New York
Oswego County
13121
No
2092
Oswego County Sheriff's Office
Oswego
New York
Oswego County
13126
Tyler Morse
Investigator
39 Churchill Road, New York
3153493411
County
Law Enforcement
DS0000648
1994-04-03
Oswego County Sheriff's Office
Blond/Strawberry
Blue
Blue
10/15/2026
