The Disappearance of Heidi Allen

And the controversial conviction of Gary Thibodeau

On April 3rd 1994, 18 year old Heidi Allen was abducted from job at the D&W convenience store. It didn’t take long for police to find suspects in the brothers, Richard and Gary Thibodeau.

The two were put on trial separately and when one was found guilty and the other acquitted, the community was confused and divided.

In recent years, new evidence has surfaced that many believe does not only clear the Thibodeau brothers, but also points to the real perpetrators.

Heidi Allen has never been found and the truth never fully discovered. Who kidnapped Heidi? And where is she now?

Heidi Allen

Heidi Allen

Heidi Allen (left) with her sister, Lisa

Outside the D&W store on the morning of April 3rd 1994

Age progressed photo of what Heidi may look like in 2022

Richard Thibodeau’s van

Gary Thibodeau being arrested for kidnapping 1994

Donald Dodd cross examining Richard Thibodeau 1995

Gary Thibodeau throws his head back in disbelief upon hearing his guilty verdict
His lawyer, Joe Fahey, sits beside him (right)

Richard Thibodeau with his lawyer 1995

Gary Thibodeau arriving at his preliminary hearing January 2015

Lisa Buske, Heidi’s sister, reacts to Gary’s guilty verdict 1995

Gary Thibodeau in his last interview – July 2018

Roger Breckenridge 2014

James Steen 2010

Michael Bohrer arriving in court 2015

Sources:

https://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/news/25-years-later-heidi-allens-legacy-lives/article_cb8b86de-5599-11e9-bc1b-739b7c259080.html

NBC3: The Heidi Allen Files investigative Series 

Dateline: The Informant 

Scrapped: Justice and a Teen Informant by Lisa Peebles and John O’Brien 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/258537061/?terms=%22Heidi%20Allen%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/255299290/?terms=Thibodeau%20polygraph&match=15

https://www.newspapers.com/image/138493688/?terms=%22heidi%20allen%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/138500711/?terms=Thibodeau&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/255135972/?terms=%22heidi%20allen%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/255136155/?terms=Thibodeau&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/136128441/?terms=%22Heidi%20Allen%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/136129152/?terms=%22Heidi%20Allen%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/136036351/?terms=%22Heidi%20Allen%22&match=1

https://www.syracuse.com/news/2015/01/michael_bohrer_alleged_heidi_allen_suspect_breaks_down_testifying_about_investig.html

https://www.syracuse.com/crime/2015/10/brother_of_possible_heidi_allen_suspect_reveals_tantalizing_detail.html

https://www.syracuse.com/news/2015/01/james_steen_possible_suspect_in_heidi_allen_kidnapping_implicates_an_alleged_acc.html

Click to access Jan.%2015%2C%202015.pdf

https://www.syracuse.com/crime/2015/03/michael_bohrers_1981_victim_retells_horror_of_abduction_13_years_before_heidi_al.html

https://www.syracuse.com/news/2015/01/michael_bohrer_alleged_heidi_allen_suspect_breaks_down_testifying_about_investig.html

https://cnycentral.com/news/local/witnesses-testify-about-new-suspect-in-heidi-allen-disappearance

https://cnycentral.com/news/matts-memo/guilty-until-proven-innocent-lesson-of-gary-thibodeau-matts-memo

https://www.syracuse.com/crime/2015/11/heidi_allen_witness_takes_issue_with_judge_calling_him_unreliable.html

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ny-court-of-appeals/1897932.html

https://www.localsyr.com/news/motion-for-new-trial-for-gary-thibodeau-denied/

https://www.syracuse.com/crime/2018/08/gary_thibodeau_dead_kidnapper_of_heidi_allen_dies_in_prison.html

https://www.syracuse.com/crime/2018/08/heidi_allens_sister_what_if_gary_thibodeau_took_her_whereabouts_to_the_grave.html

‘Where’s Heidi? One Sister’s Journey.” by Lisa Buske