The Mobile Alabama Police Department SWAT team surrounded a home on Cheshire Drive at Hollybrook Drive Tuesday Morning. Police Chief said that a warrant was issued in a cold case murder and the suspect was believed to be in the home.

According to police, Allen barricaded himself into his house when police attempted to serve an arrest warrant and the S.W.A.T. team was dispatched to the scene. Why wouldn’t he just come outside if he was innocent? He’s almost proving his own guilt.

The suspect’s wife surrendered herself to authorities. Police then used a robot to gain entry to the house and the suspect then surrendered to police.

After the standoff, officers took the 63-year-old suspect, Alvin Ray Allen, into custody.

They say Allen was wanted in connection to the September 11, 1980 murder of Sandra Williams who was found dead miles away from her apartment on Azalea Road. Officials say she had been raped and stabbed. Williams was 19 at the time of her death. Justice has never been served for this girl or her family, maybe now it will be.

Allen was silent as he was taken to Metro Jail Tuesday morning, for a murder that happened 39 years ago today.

For decades police have not been able to make an arrest, but the case was reopened last year when Williams’ sister brought it to the attention of state investigators.

The 19-year-old’s body was found on a dead-end street in Toulminville, miles away from her apartment on Azalea Road. It’s believed she may have been taken from her home initially then killed at a later time. Her car was still in the apartment complex parking lot along with her other belongings she’d normally take with her if she were leaving willingly, like her purse. The apartment didn’t show any evidence of a struggle but the door was ajar. Even if no one broke in they seemed to have left in a hurry.

Detectives have been re-testing DNA in the case, technology that wasn’t available to officers when the crime happened.

Allen lives 10 miles from where Williams was found. He would’ve been roughly 24 years old at the time the murder occurred.

Investigators came to try to arrest him on a Grand Jury secret indictment connected with the case.

Less than 12 hours after being arrested, Allen was given bond and released from Mobile Metro Jail.

But investigators are also hoping to re-interview witnesses. However, they are having challenges tracking down people that may have also lived in the Summer Tree Apartments. If you knew the victim or lived in the Summer Tree apartments around the time of the murder please contact the police immediately. They need all the help they can get to put an end to this families suffering. This is proof, that you never give up hope!

Mobile Police can be reached at (251) 208-1810, 866-419-1236 (Toll Free) or email [email protected]