In the summer of 1987, a 74-year-old woman named Ernestine Griffin was found murdered in her Indianapolis home. An investigation determined that her death was the result of a knife wound to her chest and a blow to her head. The crime scene yielded a significant clue: a piece of paper with the name and phone number of Howard Arthur Allen.
A neighbor of Griffin's provided police with a lead, stating that Allen had spoken with Griffin about a car the neighbor had for sale.
This connection prompted investigators to look closer at Allen. Their suspicions were further solidified when they discovered Griffin's camera at the car wash where Allen was employed. During extensive questioning, Allen admitted to striking Griffin but denied killing her.
Despite his denial, Howard Arthur Allen was charged with Murder, Felony Murder, and Robbery. Following a trial, a jury found him guilty on all three charges. On August 30, 1988, the court sentenced Allen to death. However, his death sentence was later overturned due to a finding of mental retardation, and his sentence was changed to 60 years in prison. Allen was also a suspect in other crimes involving elderly women and had a prior conviction for voluntary manslaughter in the death of an 85-year-old woman. Howard Arthur Allen died in prison on June 5, 2020.
