Ame Lynn Deal
Child Abuse and Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Phoenix, Arizona
TIME PERIOD
July 2011
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
Ame Lynn Deal, a 10-year-old girl, was murdered on July 12, 2011, in Phoenix, Arizona, after enduring prolonged abuse at the hands of her family. She was discovered suffocated inside a footlocker, having been subjected to severe mistreatment, including physical punishment and neglect. Key figures involved in the case include her guardians, Sammantha Allen and John Allen, both of whom were convicted of first-degree murder in 2017 and sentenced to death. Sammantha's mother, Cynthia Stoltzmann, accepted a plea deal and received a 24-year prison sentence. The case remains a significant example of child abuse and has drawn attention to systemic failures in protecting vulnerable children.
Investigators and the public believe that Ame Deal's murder was the result of severe and prolonged abuse by her family, particularly Sammantha and John Allen, who were directly involved in her death. There is speculation that the abuse was systemic, with some theorizing that the family environment contributed significantly to the neglect and mistreatment that led to Ame being locked in a footlocker. Additionally, some community members question the adequacy of the child welfare system, suggesting that previous reports of abuse may not have been properly addressed, allowing the situation to escalate to tragedy.
The Tragic Tale of Ame Deal: A Life Cut Short
An Innocent Life
Ame Lynn Deal came into the world on July 24, 2000, in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. Her life, however, was marred by uncertainties from the very beginning. Although David Deal was listed as her father on her birth certificate, Ame's mother, Shirley Deal, confessed to having been involved with another man around the time of Ame's conception. Shirley and David had two other children together, and their tumultuous relationship saw them living in various places, including Donora, Pennsylvania, and Midland, Texas, where they resided with David's mother, Judith Deal, and his sister, Cynthia Stoltzmann.
Shirley's claims of being mistreated by David's family, who allegedly used her as a "slave," coupled with accusations of name-calling and physical abuse, paint a bleak picture. Despite these allegations, Shirley insisted that the children were spared from abuse. However, as the years unfolded, the truth about Ame's suffering would emerge in the most horrifying manner.
A Life of Abuse
Ame's short life was a series of relentless abuse and neglect. Neighbors in Phoenix, Arizona, would recall the disturbing scenes of Ame being forced to walk barefoot on scorching sidewalks in the blistering heat. On one occasion, she endured the 114-degree pavement for fifteen agonizing minutes. The so-called "discipline" didn't end there. Ame was subjected to beatings with a paddle ominously dubbed the "Butt Buster," forced to consume hot sauce and dog feces, and made to crush aluminum cans with her bare feet. At night, she was often left to sleep on the cold floor of a shower as punishment for bed-wetting.
The family's transient lifestyle took them across states, from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, Utah, and Texas, before finally settling in Phoenix, Arizona. In Wisconsin, local child protective services were alerted to the squalid conditions of their home. In Utah, school officials repeatedly reported signs of abuse and neglect. They noted that Ame and her siblings often arrived at school in a filthy state, with Ame bearing the brunt of the family's mistreatment. She was often seen with head lice and, on one occasion, cat urine on her shoes.
In Phoenix, Ame's living conditions deteriorated further. Her father, David Deal, was reduced to living in a tent behind the family home with his two other children. Ame, however, was singled out as the sole victim of abuse within the household. Police investigations revealed that the other children were coerced into fabricating stories to protect the family's sinister secrets.
The Horrific Discovery
On July 12, 2011, the harrowing reality of Ame's life came to a tragic climax. Police officers were summoned to her home in Phoenix, where they discovered her lifeless body inside a small plastic footlocker, placed in a stifling hot garage. Ame's death was a result of suffocation, exacerbated by heat exhaustion and dehydration. She had been living under the guardianship of her aunt, Cynthia Stoltzmann, along with her grandmother, Judith Deal. Also residing in the home were Cynthia's daughter, Sammantha, and her husband, John Allen, alongside a dozen or more children.
Initially, the family concocted a tale of a game of hide-and-seek gone wrong, claiming that Ame had locked herself in the trunk the night before her death. However, the police suspected foul play, especially after discovering bruises on Ame's body that suggested forced confinement. Under interrogation, Sammantha and John Allen confessed to locking Ame inside the footlocker as punishment for taking a popsicle without permission, revealing a chilling pattern of abuse.
The Arrests and Legal Proceedings
The arrest of Sammantha and John Allen on July 27, 2011, marked the beginning of the legal battle to bring Ame's tormentors to justice. Cynthia Stoltzmann and Judith Deal were also apprehended for past incidents of locking Ame in the trunk. Bail for the Allens was set at $1 million each, while Cynthia and Judith's bonds were set at $500,000. Shockingly, David Deal sought financial assistance from friends and family to bail out his mother and sister.
On August 10, 2011, formal indictments were issued against Judith Deal, Cynthia Stoltzmann, and the Allens. Judith and Cynthia faced multiple charges of child abuse, while Sammantha and John Allen were charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit child abuse, and numerous counts of child abuse. Prosecutors announced their intent to seek the death penalty for the Allens.
Justice and Sentencing
David Martin Deal was ultimately sentenced to 14 years in prison on July 6, 2013, after pleading guilty to attempted child abuse. Cynthia Stoltzmann received a 24-year sentence for her role in the abuse, along with a lifetime of probation. Judith Deal, too, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with a similar probation requirement.
The culmination of the legal proceedings saw Sammantha Allen sentenced to death by lethal injection on August 7, 2017, making her one of only three women on Arizona's death row. Her husband, John Allen, was found guilty of murder on November 8, 2017, and received the same sentence on November 17, 2017.
Ame Deal's tragic story is a haunting reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by innocent children and the devastating consequences of unchecked abuse.
Sources
For further reading and references, please visit the original Wikipedia article on Ame Lynn Deal.
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Ame Deal Born
Ame Lynn Deal is born in Monongahela, Pennsylvania.
Ame Found Dead
Ame Deal is found dead in a footlocker in Phoenix, Arizona, after being locked inside as punishment.
Arrests Made
Sammantha Allen and John Allen are arrested for the murder of Ame Deal.
Indictment
Judith Deal, Cynthia Stoltzmann, and the Allens are formally indicted on multiple charges including murder and child abuse.
David Deal Sentenced
David Deal pleads guilty to attempted child abuse and is sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Cynthia Sentenced
Cynthia Stoltzmann is sentenced to 24 years in prison for child abuse.
Sammantha Sentenced
Sammantha Allen is sentenced to death by lethal injection for first-degree murder.
John Allen Convicted
John Allen is found guilty of murder in the death of Ame Deal.
John Allen Sentenced
John Allen is sentenced to death by lethal injection for his role in Ame Deal's murder.
Ame Lynn Deal, a 10-year-old girl, was murdered on July 12, 2011, in Phoenix, Arizona, after enduring prolonged abuse at the hands of her family. She was discovered suffocated inside a footlocker, having been subjected to severe mistreatment, including physical punishment and neglect. Key figures involved in the case include her guardians, Sammantha Allen and John Allen, both of whom were convicted of first-degree murder in 2017 and sentenced to death. Sammantha's mother, Cynthia Stoltzmann, accepted a plea deal and received a 24-year prison sentence. The case remains a significant example of child abuse and has drawn attention to systemic failures in protecting vulnerable children.
Investigators and the public believe that Ame Deal's murder was the result of severe and prolonged abuse by her family, particularly Sammantha and John Allen, who were directly involved in her death. There is speculation that the abuse was systemic, with some theorizing that the family environment contributed significantly to the neglect and mistreatment that led to Ame being locked in a footlocker. Additionally, some community members question the adequacy of the child welfare system, suggesting that previous reports of abuse may not have been properly addressed, allowing the situation to escalate to tragedy.
The Tragic Tale of Ame Deal: A Life Cut Short
An Innocent Life
Ame Lynn Deal came into the world on July 24, 2000, in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. Her life, however, was marred by uncertainties from the very beginning. Although David Deal was listed as her father on her birth certificate, Ame's mother, Shirley Deal, confessed to having been involved with another man around the time of Ame's conception. Shirley and David had two other children together, and their tumultuous relationship saw them living in various places, including Donora, Pennsylvania, and Midland, Texas, where they resided with David's mother, Judith Deal, and his sister, Cynthia Stoltzmann.
Shirley's claims of being mistreated by David's family, who allegedly used her as a "slave," coupled with accusations of name-calling and physical abuse, paint a bleak picture. Despite these allegations, Shirley insisted that the children were spared from abuse. However, as the years unfolded, the truth about Ame's suffering would emerge in the most horrifying manner.
A Life of Abuse
Ame's short life was a series of relentless abuse and neglect. Neighbors in Phoenix, Arizona, would recall the disturbing scenes of Ame being forced to walk barefoot on scorching sidewalks in the blistering heat. On one occasion, she endured the 114-degree pavement for fifteen agonizing minutes. The so-called "discipline" didn't end there. Ame was subjected to beatings with a paddle ominously dubbed the "Butt Buster," forced to consume hot sauce and dog feces, and made to crush aluminum cans with her bare feet. At night, she was often left to sleep on the cold floor of a shower as punishment for bed-wetting.
The family's transient lifestyle took them across states, from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, Utah, and Texas, before finally settling in Phoenix, Arizona. In Wisconsin, local child protective services were alerted to the squalid conditions of their home. In Utah, school officials repeatedly reported signs of abuse and neglect. They noted that Ame and her siblings often arrived at school in a filthy state, with Ame bearing the brunt of the family's mistreatment. She was often seen with head lice and, on one occasion, cat urine on her shoes.
In Phoenix, Ame's living conditions deteriorated further. Her father, David Deal, was reduced to living in a tent behind the family home with his two other children. Ame, however, was singled out as the sole victim of abuse within the household. Police investigations revealed that the other children were coerced into fabricating stories to protect the family's sinister secrets.
The Horrific Discovery
On July 12, 2011, the harrowing reality of Ame's life came to a tragic climax. Police officers were summoned to her home in Phoenix, where they discovered her lifeless body inside a small plastic footlocker, placed in a stifling hot garage. Ame's death was a result of suffocation, exacerbated by heat exhaustion and dehydration. She had been living under the guardianship of her aunt, Cynthia Stoltzmann, along with her grandmother, Judith Deal. Also residing in the home were Cynthia's daughter, Sammantha, and her husband, John Allen, alongside a dozen or more children.
Initially, the family concocted a tale of a game of hide-and-seek gone wrong, claiming that Ame had locked herself in the trunk the night before her death. However, the police suspected foul play, especially after discovering bruises on Ame's body that suggested forced confinement. Under interrogation, Sammantha and John Allen confessed to locking Ame inside the footlocker as punishment for taking a popsicle without permission, revealing a chilling pattern of abuse.
The Arrests and Legal Proceedings
The arrest of Sammantha and John Allen on July 27, 2011, marked the beginning of the legal battle to bring Ame's tormentors to justice. Cynthia Stoltzmann and Judith Deal were also apprehended for past incidents of locking Ame in the trunk. Bail for the Allens was set at $1 million each, while Cynthia and Judith's bonds were set at $500,000. Shockingly, David Deal sought financial assistance from friends and family to bail out his mother and sister.
On August 10, 2011, formal indictments were issued against Judith Deal, Cynthia Stoltzmann, and the Allens. Judith and Cynthia faced multiple charges of child abuse, while Sammantha and John Allen were charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit child abuse, and numerous counts of child abuse. Prosecutors announced their intent to seek the death penalty for the Allens.
Justice and Sentencing
David Martin Deal was ultimately sentenced to 14 years in prison on July 6, 2013, after pleading guilty to attempted child abuse. Cynthia Stoltzmann received a 24-year sentence for her role in the abuse, along with a lifetime of probation. Judith Deal, too, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with a similar probation requirement.
The culmination of the legal proceedings saw Sammantha Allen sentenced to death by lethal injection on August 7, 2017, making her one of only three women on Arizona's death row. Her husband, John Allen, was found guilty of murder on November 8, 2017, and received the same sentence on November 17, 2017.
Ame Deal's tragic story is a haunting reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by innocent children and the devastating consequences of unchecked abuse.
Sources
For further reading and references, please visit the original Wikipedia article on Ame Lynn Deal.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Ame Deal Born
Ame Lynn Deal is born in Monongahela, Pennsylvania.
Ame Found Dead
Ame Deal is found dead in a footlocker in Phoenix, Arizona, after being locked inside as punishment.
Arrests Made
Sammantha Allen and John Allen are arrested for the murder of Ame Deal.
Indictment
Judith Deal, Cynthia Stoltzmann, and the Allens are formally indicted on multiple charges including murder and child abuse.
David Deal Sentenced
David Deal pleads guilty to attempted child abuse and is sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Cynthia Sentenced
Cynthia Stoltzmann is sentenced to 24 years in prison for child abuse.
Sammantha Sentenced
Sammantha Allen is sentenced to death by lethal injection for first-degree murder.
John Allen Convicted
John Allen is found guilty of murder in the death of Ame Deal.
John Allen Sentenced
John Allen is sentenced to death by lethal injection for his role in Ame Deal's murder.