On August 4, 1972, 17-year-old Zelma Allen was reported missing in Akron, Ohio. Nearly two years later, on May 18, 1974, her remains were found in the rear of the Ace Rubber Company, also located in Akron. The investigation determined that Allen had been fatally shot. The exact date of her death remains uncertain due to the time gap between her disappearance and the discovery of her body.
Allen’s case is listed as an unsolved homicide, and despite the passage of time, it remains open. Law enforcement agencies, including the Akron Police Department and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, have kept this case active in hopes of receiving new information. Authorities urge anyone with potential leads or information regarding the case to come forward to help solve this tragic crime.
Efforts to solve Allen's case have continued over the decades, and detectives have recently re-examined her case as part of a broader look into unsolved homicides in Summit County. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the recovery of her body indicate a violent act, but the lack of immediate evidence and the time elapsed between her disappearance and discovery have posed significant challenges to investigators. Authorities hope that renewed interest in this cold case could finally bring answers for Zelma Allen and her family.
