In the early morning hours of June 27, 2020, a tragic sequence of events unfolded at a residence in the 1000 block of East Chandler Avenue in Evansville, Indiana, claiming the life of 53-year-old Bobbie Demitria Rice. A Black woman described by loved ones as a sweet and kind-hearted mother who enjoyed bingo and cooking for her family, Rice was employed at ResCare at the time of her death.
She had returned home from work that morning, unaware of the violence that had already taken place inside her house.
Authorities arrived at the scene around 8:30 a.m. following reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers discovered Rice deceased outside the home, having suffered fatal gunshot wounds. As police secured the area and entered the residence to check for other victims or suspects, they found the body of Rice’s 23-year-old daughter, Whitney Allen, inside. Investigators later determined that Whitney had been shot while she was asleep. The perpetrator had then waited at the residence for Rice to return home before ambushing her as well.
The investigation quickly identified the suspect as Siddigga Allen, Rice’s other daughter and the sister of Whitney. According to police reports, Siddigga fled the scene in a blue minivan immediately after the shooting. A witness observed the suspect shoot Rice in front of the residence before speeding away. Minutes later, the Evansville Police Department received calls regarding a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Bellemeade Avenue and S. Garvin Street involving a vehicle matching the description of the suspect's van.
Officers arriving at the crash site apprehended Siddigga Allen, who was found with blood on her clothing. A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun believed to be the weapon used in the double homicide. Following her arrest, Siddigga allegedly admitted to the killings, detailing how she shot her sister and then waited for her mother to arrive. The motive for the violence was reportedly rooted in a family dispute involving accusations that her mother and sister had been stealing her checks. Siddigga Allen was subsequently charged with two counts of murder and held without bond at the Vanderburgh County Jail.
