Credit: OSBI
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is announcing the arrest of Meaonia Michelle Allen in connection with the death of Baby Doe in 1993. Allen, 53, turned herself in to an OSBI Special Agent in Hugo, Oklahoma for an outstanding warrant for one count of Murder in the First Degree – Deliberate Intent. Bond was denied.
In October 2020, the OSBI Special Agent currently assigned the Baby Doe case worked with the Cold Case Unit, including criminalists in the Biology Unit at the OSBI Forensic Science Center, to submit Baby Doe’s DNA to Parabon Nanolabs. In April 2021, the result from Parabon were reviewed by the OSBI team and investigative leads as a result of the test results were pursued.
Earlier this month, additional DNA testing resulted in Allen being identified as the baby boy’s mother. During her subsequent interview, Allen admitted to being the baby’s biological mother.
“The synergy between our agents and criminalists to solve cold cases, especially those with an unidentified victim, is to be applauded,” said Ricky Adams, OSBI Director. “Identifying the use of genetic genealogy as a tool and the work of Parabon and our internal genealogy specialist provided significant leads in this disturbing case. Baby Doe can now be properly laid to rest and his killer will be held accountable.”
Baby Doe was found on Dec. 8, 1993 by a homeowner who found the baby in her yard in rural Choctaw County. The Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office responded and then contacted the OSBI to request investigative assistance.
The Office of the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy of Baby Doe. The ME determined Baby Doe was born alive and the manner of death was homicide as a result of his throat being slashed.
Numerous interviews were conducted during the initial investigation; however, the case went cold. At that time, DNA samples of Baby Doe were retained by the OSBI for future use.
On Wednesday June 15, 2022, an OSBI Special Agent met with Allen at the Durant Police Department. During the interview, Allen agreed to submitted samples of her DNA to be tested to determine if she was the biological mother of Baby Doe. Shortly after providing a DNA sample, Allen admitted that she was, in fact, the biological mother of Baby Doe. During a follow-up interview a few days later, Allen admitted to cutting the baby’s throat shortly after his birth.
Allen, who was working for a daycare center at the time, did not tell anyone of her pregnancy or delivery in the almost 30 years of the child’s murder.
Republished courtesy of Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.