Heidi Allen Missing Person Case

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

09/26/2026