***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2023

INFANT DEATH RESULTS IN ARREST OF MOTHER FOR MURDER, NEGLECT OF A DEPENDENT

Media Contact: Vicki Elaine Becker (574) 296-1888

On July 7, 2023 at approximately 7:46 p.m., the Elkhart Police and Elkhart Fire Departments were dispatched to 324 Middlebury Street, Elkhart, concerning a six-month-old baby unconscious and not breathing. Upon their arrival, the Elkhart Police and Elkhart Fire Department rendered aid to the baby. The baby was transported to Elkhart General Hospital, and subsequently to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where she died on July 8, 2023. Investigators of the Elkhart County Homicide Unit observed numerous visible injuries on the baby’s body. A Forensic Autopsy was performed on the baby at the Homer Stryker School of Medicine located at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The cause of her death was ruled a Homicide.

During the course of the investigation, numerous witnesses and other sources of information were documented. Alauraeve Allen (24) of Elkhart, the mother of the infant, initially advised that she had left the baby in the care of friends on July 8, 2023, and after returning home, the baby had vomited on her so she took a long bath. Upon finishing, she was told the baby was not breathing so she called 911. However, on July 19, 2023, Ms. Allen was interviewed again at which time she advised that she had been angry with the baby and shook her on July 6, 2023, in their apartment on Middlebury Street, Elkhart, as well as having struck the baby and caused injuries prior to this on other occasions. Ms. Allen further advised that the baby appeared to be cold after the shaking event and began vomiting, but she did not take the baby for medical assistance at that time. Ms. Allen also stated that she has researched “shaken baby syndrome” before, and understood that a possible consequence of shaking an infant is death.

Ms. Allen has been arrested on suspicion of Murder, a felony, and Neglect of a Dependent, and presented an Affidavit in Support of Probable Cause to a Judicial Officer of Elkhart County. Probable Cause was found for the arrest, and Ms. Allen is being held in the Elkhart County Jail, without bond, until her initial hearing on August 3, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in the Elkhart Circuit Court. Formal charges are expected to be filed by the Prosecuting Attorney of Elkhart County, Vicki Elaine Becker, the first of next week.

This is considered and on-going investigation. If you have any information considering this investigation or know any individual who may, contact the Elkhart County Homicide Unit at 574-295-2825 or 574-296-1888.

***

“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”