Howard Allen was born on February 10, 1949, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was one of eight children, raised by a single mother who struggled to provide for the family. Growing up in poverty, Howard often had to steal food to help feed his siblings.

Due to his learning difficulties, Howard was placed in special education classes. He struggled with reading and was still reading at a second-grade level when he finished elementary school. Teachers noted that he had trouble understanding consequences and was easily influenced by others.

Despite scoring an average IQ of 104, there was disagreement about his mental abilities. While his mother and others saw him as having normal intelligence, his difficulties in school and his later behavior suggested deeper issues. These early struggles set the stage for the troubling path Howard would later take.

Howard Allen's crime spree began in 1974. He targeted elderly women, often robbing and violently attacking them in their homes. His first known murder was the killing of 85-year-old Mary E. "Molly" Burnett, who was found dead in her home in Indianapolis, Indiana. Allen had brutally beaten her, and she died from her injuries.

Over the next few years, Allen continued his attacks. In 1987, he was arrested for the murder of 73-year-old Ernestine Griffin. Griffin was found beaten and strangled in her home. The police linked Allen to the crime through fingerprints found at the scene. He was also suspected in several other assaults and murders of elderly women in the area.

Allen's trial for the murder of Ernestine Griffin began in 1988. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Despite numerous appeals, his conviction and sentence were upheld. Throughout the trial, Allen maintained his innocence, but the evidence against him was overwhelming.

On January 11, 2005, Howard Allen was executed by lethal injection. His death brought some closure to the families of his victims. Allen's case remains a chilling reminder of the danger he posed to the vulnerable elderly population in his community.