From Howard Allen’s appeal for the Ernestine Griffin murder: Allen murdered 74-year-old Ernestine Griffin in her Indianapolis home. Police determined that Griffin had been killed by a combination of a knife wound to her chest and a blow to her head. On a kitchen counter, police found a piece of paper with Allen’s name and phone number on it. A neighbor of Griffin’s informed police that Allen had inquired with Griffin about a car that the neighbor had for sale. Police later discovered Griffin’s camera at the car wash where Allen worked. After extensive questioning, Allen admitted to the police that he had struck Griffin, but denied killing her.
Allen was charged with Murder, See footnote Felony Murder, See footnote and Robbery. See footnote A jury convicted Allen on all three charges and recommended a sentence of death. The trial court sentenced Allen to death on August 30, 1988.
Victims
Opal Cooper, 85 [8/1974] (sentenced to 2-21 years for manslaughter, released 1/1985)
Laverne Hale, 87 [5/29/1987] (sentenced to 88 years in prison)
Ernestine Griffin, 73 [7/14/1987] (sentenced to death)(overturned due to mental retardation finding, sentenced to 60 years in prison)
Howard Allen v State of Indiana 2001
Howard A. Allen Jr v Bill Wilson 2012
Indiana Death Row: Allen, Howard A. #56
Murderpedia: Howard Arthur Allen
Wikipedia: Howard Allen
INMATE INFORMATION
HOWARD A ALLEN JR
DOC Number 881978
First Name HOWARD
Middle Name A
Last Name ALLEN
Suffix JR
Date of Birth 02/10/1949
Gender Male
Race Black
Facility/Location Wabash Valley Level 4 Facility
Earliest Possible Release Date 04/23/2035
Sentence Information
Date of Sentence 05/28/2013
Description MURDER
Term in Years / Months / Days 60 00 00000
Type of Conviction M
Indiana Citation Code 35-42-1-1
Cause Number 49G02 8707 CF 021579
County of Conviction MARION
Projected Release Date 07/13/2017
Sentence Information
Date of Sentence 05/28/2013
Description ROBBERY (SERIOUS BODILY INJURY)
Term in Years / Months / Days 49 11 00029
Type of Conviction FA
Indiana Citation Code 35-42-5-1
Cause Number 49G02 8707 CF 021579
County of Conviction MARION
Projected Release Date 07/12/2012
Sentence Information
Date of Sentence 06/26/1991
Description THEFT,RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY
Term in Years / Months / Days 38 00 00000
Type of Conviction FD
Indiana Citation Code 35-43-4-2
Cause Number 49G058708CF020966
County of Conviction MARION
Projected Release Date 04/23/2035
