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Suspect arraigned on 1981 murder Victim's mom 'will be here for everything' By DANI DODGE After 20 years of being a suspect, William Henry Allen was finally indicted Tuesday on three charges of murder. "It's been 20 years and this is the first step to get some justice for Evelyn Smith," said Chief Deputy District Attorney Beth Heckert. Allen is accused of killing and raping Evelyn Marie Smith, 17, and leaving her bruised and naked body in a tunnel leading to the locker room in Spiegelberg Stadium at what is now South Medford High School. More than a dozen friends and members of Evelyn's family watched Allen's arraignment Tuesday, many wiping away tears. Although they declined comment through a spokesman, Evelyn's mother vowed to Heckert that she would attend every one of Allen's hearings. "I'll be here for everything," she said. At the arraignment, Judge Phil Arnold entered a plea of "not guilty" to the three murder charges that Allen faces. They all carry the possibility of life in prison. One, aggravated murder, also carries a minimum sentence of 20 years. Allen appeared calm during the arraignment. A bearded man of average height and unremarkable looks, he stood in his bright orange jail garb as the judge read him his rights. He answered "Yes" to the judge's questions about whether he was a U.S. citizen and whether he understood his rights. Judge Arnold then approved Allen's request for a court-appointed attorney. Since he did not yet have an attorney appointed, Lisa Greif from the public defender's office stepped up next to Allen to explain the indictments against him. Allen could be overheard saying: "Guesses, that's what these are." Allen was 16 when Evelyn was killed. He was already a convicted arsonist and car thief. Allen became a suspect in Smith's murder after he kidnapped and robbed another teenage girl in Medford less than two months after Smith's death. He served six years in an Oregon prison for that crime. And although Smith was a suspect, detectives were unable to make a case. In 1992, they attempted to match his DNA to evidence found at the scene, but the tests weren't conclusive. In November, they used a new, more sophisticated DNA testing procedure that reportedly linked Allen to the crime. Allen, who was living in the town of Oakley, Calif., was indicted on April 2 in Medford. He was on his way to work in a steel refinery in central California's East Bay when he was arrested on April 25. He was held at Contra Costa County Jail until he waived his extradition rights and was transferred to Jackson County Jail on Friday. Greif - who is not Allen's attorney - said there are a number of defenses Allen's attorney may eventually employ when the case goes to trial. "I suppose you could always try to attack the reliability of the scientific evidence," she said. "There's certainly the theory that perhaps he was with her, but wasn't necessarily the person who killed her." She also said Allen's attorney may pursue leads to other people police pegged as suspects in the case. She said whatever tactic the defense attorney utilizes, it will be watched carefully by the community. "When something like this happens ... it leaves a pretty big imprint," she said. "This has struck a chord in the community." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.