A wave of violent attacks on elderly residents in Indianapolis in spring 1987 culminated in a fatal home invasion on May 20 that left 87-year-old Black woman Laverne Hale critically injured. An intruder forced entry, inflicted blunt force trauma, and Hale died in hospital nine days later from those injuries. Investigators linked her assault to a pattern of assaults, burglaries, and arsons targeting elderly women in the neighborhood.

Police identified Howard Arthur Allen, who had a prior manslaughter conviction from 1974 and had been paroled in 1985, as the primary suspect; he lived directly behind Hale’s property. Allen was arrested on August 4, 1987, after evidence and witness accounts tied him to a later fatal attack in July. As of this account, Allen was charged and prosecuted in connection with the string of crimes, and Hale’s killing is treated as part of that pattern.

If anyone knew Hale, lived in that neighborhood in 1987, or has information about her case, please share what you remember.