TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Police have identified a 75-year-old man, currently incarcerated in Delaware, as the suspect in the 1981 cold case murder of Samuel Allen, officials announced on Friday.
Alan Bass, who is serving multiple consecutive life sentences for rape in Delaware, was linked to the decades-old homicide through DNA evidence recovered from the original crime scene.
The homicide occurred on Aug. 2, 1981, when officers responded to a home in the 6400 block of Liberty Road where 59-year-old Allen had been fatally shot. Allen’s wife and daughter, who were in the kitchen at the time, witnessed the shooting, according to a police press release.
An unknown armed suspect, wearing surgical gloves and carrying a cloth bag, entered the home and demanded money. When Allen entered the kitchen, the suspect fired two shots, striking him once in the upper body. The gunman then stole money from Allen’s wallet and demanded more from his wife and daughter before forcing the daughter out the door with him.
The suspect, however, misplaced the cloth bag and a shirt he was carrying before fleeing. Detectives recovered the items, which were packaged as evidence but did not immediately lead to an arrest, leaving the case open for more than four decades.
DNA Analysis Yields a Breakthrough
In 2023, detectives with the Baltimore County Police Department’s Cold Case Squad reviewed the case after speaking with Allen’s daughter. They determined the evidence collected in 1981 was suitable for modern DNA analysis.
The pouch and shirt were sent to a private lab, where scientists were able to obtain a CODIS-eligible DNA profile from the blue bag. In November 2024, the profile was entered into the national CODIS database, and a month later, it generated a match: Alan Bass.
After obtaining a warrant for Bass’ DNA, further testing confirmed on Jan. 31, 2025, that his profile was consistent with the DNA recovered from the bag at the scene of Allen’s murder.
Prosecution Status
Police have issued an open warrant charging Bass with Samuel Allen’s murder. However, due to “significant health conditions,” Bass will not be immediately brought back to Maryland to stand trial, police said.
The Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office is fully prepared to prosecute the case should Bass’ health status change in Delaware, according to the release. Bass is currently serving five consecutive life sentences on rape charges.
Samuel Allen
Photos via BCoPD
Please follow and like us:
Disclaimer: This news has been automatically collected from the source link above. Our website does not create, edit, or publish the content. All information, statements, and opinions expressed belong solely to the original publisher. We are not responsible or liable for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any news, nor for any statements, views, or claims made in the content. All rights remain with the respective source.