Masked woman arrested for breaking into home & attempted murder of mom & toddler in Lancaster

Community Message has been issued by the LASD - HQ Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff.


Friday July 1, 2011 10:06 PM PDT

Masked woman arrested for breaking into home & attempted murder of mom & toddler in Lancaster

A female (suspect) arrived at the Lancaster home of a 40-year old Hispanic woman on Friday morning, July 1. The suspect was wearing white construction coveralls and a face mask.



Suspect Dierdre Allen, a 49-year old African-American woman who resides in Los Angeles, knocked on the door of the home on the 43000 block of Gadsden Ave.



At about 10:30 AM, when the door was answered by a relative of the intended victim, the suspect forced her way inside and brandished a replica handgun. A struggle ensued between the suspect and several of the victim’s family members. The suspect was wrestled to the ground and held until Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies arrived minutes later.



Lancaster Sheriff’s Station deputies searched the suspect and found a digital recording device. The recording included messages by the suspect wherein she provides step by step instructions to herself. They include what to do to kill the victim and her toddler child, and making it appear to be a murder suicide.

The intended murder weapon appears to be poisoning by an unknown chemical. A jar containing a chemical substance was also located at the scene.
Deputies arrested the suspect and booked her at Lancaster Sheriff’s Station for attempted murder. They discovered a warrant for her arrest as a parolee at large from San Diego. She is being held without bail. No one else has been implicated in the alleged attempted murder.



The victim was home at the time the suspect forced entry inside, but was not involved in the altercation. The husband lives with the victim at the residence where the incident occurred. The suspect and the victim’s husband know each other.



Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact Detectives Simon & Feehan (661) 948-8466 of the Los Angeles County