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Randy McAllister Charged in 1985 Ohio Murder

7/7/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Randy McAllister, 62, was indicted for aggravated murder and murder in the 1985 killing of John Warren at a Middletown, Ohio Holiday Inn.
Investigators linked the 1985 murder to McAllister after re-examining evidence recovered behind a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Georgia.
McAllister was booked into the Warren County Jail without bond and will be arraigned on July 7, 2026.

History

Historical Context

After Congress passed the 1994 DNA Identification Act, the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) became operational, with the national DNA index active by October 1998. By 2011 CODIS held over 9 million profiles, allowing Georgia’s Crime Lab to link decades-old evidence and secure the 2024 indictment of Randy McAllister for the 1985 Middletown Holiday Inn murder.

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Story summary

Randy McAllister, 62, was indicted for aggravated murder and murder in the 1985 killing of John Warren at a Middletown, Ohio Holiday Inn.
Investigators linked the 1985 murder to McAllister after re-examining evidence recovered behind a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Georgia.
McAllister was booked into the Warren County Jail without bond and will be arraigned on July 7, 2026.

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