Evidence found behind Cracker Barrel helps solve 1985 cold case murder

A 1985 murder case in Ohio has been solved, thanks to a renewed investigation and modern forensic analysis of old evidence. Authorities identified Randy McAllister as the suspect in the killing of John Warren, a traveling salesman.

Warren was found dead in his Middletown, Ohio, hotel room on Oct. 17, 1985. At the time, his car and personal belongings were missing. Police in Dalton, Georgia, later recovered some of the stolen property behind a Cracker Barrel restaurant in their area, while his car surfaced in Redington Beach, Florida.

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'Cold case' investigations are 'cold' for a reason. Many times there is some evidence that points to a suspect, but just not enough evidence to move forward. And leads diminish over time.

Despite initial leads, the Warren County Prosecutor's Office lacked sufficient evidence to proceed in 1985. The case remained stagnant until 2019 when it was reopened. Items from all three crime scenes were submitted for lab analysis, which helped identify McAllister as a potential suspect.

Following further investigation by county detectives and sheriff's deputies, evidence was presented to a grand jury last month. McAllister, 62, was subsequently indicted on murder and aggravated murder charges. Prosecutor David Fornshell noted the tenacity of the detectives in bringing the case to a point where charges could be filed, highlighting the challenges of "cold case" investigations where evidence and leads diminish over time. While the motive has not been publicly detailed, reports suggest the killing was part of a robbery.

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But particularly over the past five years, Warren County Sheriff's Office detectives have been tenacious in their investigation of this case to get it to a point that our office believed we had sufficient evidence to charge McAllister for the murder of John Warren. And the grand jury agreed.