Stevie, known for her vocal stance against the local drug trade, quickly blamed drug dealers for the attack. The Oakland Police Officers Association responded with support, offering her $500 to replace her dogs and pledging to bring the perpetrators to justice. The community rallied around Stevie, raising $4,700 for her hospital bills, and even the Governor of California stepped in, securing a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
Stevie's life had always been one of resilience and dedication. Born on April 12, 1945, in Modesto, California, she grew up in the family home with her eight siblings. After their father left, Stevie took on the role of caretaker, helping her mother raise the younger children. Her bond with her sister Sarah, who was five years younger, was particularly strong, with many mistaking them for twins.
While her siblings eventually moved out and started their own lives, Stevie remained in the family home, working for a local business and caring for her aging mother. After their mother's passing in 1994, Stevie bought out her siblings' shares of the house, allowing Sarah to continue living with her. Stevie's life, though simple, was marked by her kindness, strength, and unwavering support for her family.
From her hospital bed, Stevie continued to speak out, urging her neighbors to stay involved in the fight against drugs and encouraging them to join Neighborhood Watch programs. She insisted that the firebombing was the work of drug dealers who targeted her for filming their activities. The police, fully committed to solving the case, interviewed local drug dealers, who denied any involvement and claimed ignorance of Stevie's surveillance.
However, the story took a dark and unexpected turn just a few days later. A tip led the police to search the remains of Stevie's home, where they made a horrifying discovery: a dismembered body hidden in the freezer. The investigation quickly revealed inconsistencies in the story Stevie had told. For instance, the shattered glass from the window through which the firebomb had supposedly been thrown was found outside the house, not inside, casting doubt on the sequence of events.
As the police delved deeper, they received a call from another of Stevie's sisters, Leotta, who had reported Stevie missing. Leotta was adamant that the woman in the hospital was not Stevie but their sister Sarah. She insisted that Stevie would never have been involved in filming drug dealers and that she was more likely to ignore such activities. Leotta's suspicions grew when she spoke to "Stevie" in the hospital and noticed discrepancies in her behavior.
The truth finally came to light when the police confronted the woman in the hospital, who was eventually identified as Sarah Mitchell, Stevie's younger sister. Sarah, who had a criminal history including charges of prostitution and fraud, had been impersonating Stevie. She had killed her sister, dismembered her body, stored it in the freezer, and then set fire to the house in a bid to cover up the crime. Sarah's motive was simple: money. She had been living off Stevie's generosity for years, and with rumors that Stevie was considering selling the house and leaving Oakland, Sarah's future had become uncertain.
The revelation sent shockwaves through the community. Sarah, the "wild child" of the family, had always been a source of concern, but no one could have imagined that she would murder her own sister. The police confirmed Sarah's identity through fingerprints, and she was arrested and charged with first-degree murder on July 23, 1997.
The case went to trial in 2000, where prosecutors sought the death penalty, arguing that Sarah's actions were premeditated and motivated by greed. However, the Allman family, already devastated by the loss of Stevie, pleaded with the court to spare Sarah's life. In the end, Sarah was sentenced to life in prison in December 2000.
The case of Stevie Allman remains a haunting reminder of the complexities of family relationships and the dark potential for betrayal. For those interested in learning more, Stevie's story is featured in an episode of Snapped.