In the summer of 1976, a young life was tragically cut short, leaving a mystery that has endured for decades. Jane Louise 'Janey' Allen, a 13-year-old White female from Royal Oak, Michigan, had a history of being a bit of a runaway, but had not left home in months. On August 7th of that year, she decided to hitchhike to her boyfriend's house in Auburn Heights. After her visit, despite his mother offering her a ride, Jane opted to hitchhike back home.
It was a decision that would prove fatal; she was never seen alive by her family again. Her father reported her missing the following day.
Three days later, on August 11, 1976, a grim discovery was made nearly 200 miles away in Miamisburg, Ohio. A young woman's body was found floating in the Great Miami River. Her hands were tied behind her back with strips of a white t-shirt, and her ankles were also bound. An autopsy would later reveal a strange and unexpected cause of death: carbon monoxide poisoning, leading investigators to believe she was likely held in the trunk of a car. Due to the condition of her body, it was impossible to determine if she had been sexually assaulted, but it was clear she was deceased before entering the water. A note found in her pocket eventually led to her identification as Jane Allen.
The investigation into Jane's murder has remained open and unsolved. Her death occurred during the time of the notorious 'Oakland County Child Killer,' a serial killer who murdered at least four children in the Detroit suburbs between 1976 and 1977. While some investigators and amateur sleuths have pointed to similarities in the cases and suggested Jane may have been another victim, a 1978 police report stated there was no connection between her death and the other child killings. The significant distance her body was moved also raised questions about a link to the other local murders.
To this day, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been officially named in the death of Jane Louise Allen. Her case is a haunting one, often overshadowed by the more widely publicized Oakland County Child Killer cases. The press at the time largely dismissed her as a runaway, a label that frustrated those who knew that at the time of her disappearance, she was on her way home. The Miamisburg Police Department in Ohio continues to have her case open, hoping that one day, information will come to light that will finally bring justice for Jane.
