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Opal Cooper

Case from Indianapolis, IN dated Aug 24, 1974

Victim Details

Opal Cooper

Female

Black / African American

Indianapolis

IN

1974-08-24

85

Opal

Cooper

07/15/2026

Case Description

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In the summer of 1974, a deeply unsettling crime shattered the peace of an Indianapolis neighborhood. Opal Cooper, an 85-year-old woman, was brutally beaten to death in the security of her own home. The motive for this horrific act was a robbery. The violence inflicted upon her sent ripples of fear throughout the community, leaving many to wonder about the safety of their elderly residents.

The investigation into the murder of Opal Cooper led to the arrest of Howard Arthur Allen. He was s ...
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Links to Additional Sources (6)

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  • Opal Cooper collection - NYPL Archives - The New York Public Library
  • Cooper, Opal D. - Notable Kentucky African Americans Database
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    Forum Posts (2)

    It's been haunting to read about the case of Opal Cooper and how the system dealt with Howard Arthur... ...Read More
    08/31/2024
    I was recently reading about the tragic case of Opal Cooper and couldn't help but reflect on how oft... ...Read More
    02/10/2023
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