Sammantha Allen Found Guilty of Murder in Death of Ame Deal

A Maricopa County jury has found Sammantha Allen guilty on all counts.

June 26, 2017

Well-wishers set up a Facebook page to honor Ame's memory. Facebook

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

A jury has found Sammantha Allen guilty of murder and child abuse in conjunction with the death of 10-year-old Ame Deal, who was found dead after she was locked in a plastic storage box overnight as punishment for stealing a popsicle.

As Phoenix New Times has previously detailed, Deal's short life involved horrifying abuse. Court documents say that she was forced to hold uncomfortable positions for hours at a time, forced to eat hot sauce and dog feces, and hit with a wooden paddle that was printed with the words "Butt Buster."

Prosecutors initially sought to charge Allen with first-degree murder as well as a dozen counts of child abuse and one of conspiracy to commit child abuse. A jury in Maricopa County Superior Court found her guilty of the murder and conspiracy charges, as well as three counts of child abuse.

Her husband, John "Bud" Allen, is expected to face trial for the same charges in August.

Three other relatives — Deal's grandmother, father, and aunt — are already serving lengthy sentences for child abuse.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Antonia Noori Farzan is a staff writer at New Times and an honors graduate of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. Before moving to Arizona, she worked for the New Times Broward-Palm Beach.

Contact: Antonia Noori Farzan