On that fateful day in 2005, Raymond left his home to meet a friend at a local supermarket, only to vanish without a trace.
Even with a high-profile trial and a conviction, Raymond’s body has never been found.
This missing person case, which has left a community in anguish, revealed the lengths people will go to when they believe the law has failed them.
Let's get into the details.
Background of the Case
Raymond Allen, a 16-year-old teenager, was described by his family as a loving son and brother.
He had recently moved to Mooroopna in Victoria to live with his father, George Allen.
Raymond was previously living with his mother Katrina Rowlands in Keilor Downs, however, he had to move out after a minor legal issue.
Despite the upheaval, Raymond settled into his new life in Mooroopna, Victoria.
His family insists he was happy and had no reason to disappear voluntarily.
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| Raymond George Allen |
The unsolved dissappearance of Rraymond Allen is reportedly linked to a web of false accusations and revenge, according to official documents,
Jamie Leslie Sumner, a 27-year-old man from Keilor East, believed that Raymond had sexually assaulted his younger brother, Daniel.
This allegation, however, was later found to be false.
Daniel, who was suffering from acute psychosis and depression due to drug use, had made the claim while in a highly delusional state.
There was no evidence to support the accusation, and it was likely a product of Daniel’s drug-induced paranoia.
Jamie Sumner, despite the lack of evidence, became consumed by the idea of avenging his brother.
At the time, Sumner was a daily heroin user and had a history of criminal behavior, including theft and drug offenses.
His obsession with revenge led him to plan Raymond’s murder meticulously, as reported by The Age.
Despite the eventual conviction of Jamie Sumner, the case remains unresolved for Raymond’s family, as his body has never been found.
The Day of the Disappearance
On April 25, 2005, which was also Anzac Day, Raymond George Allen mysteriously vanished.
In the late afternoon, Raymond told his family he was going to meet a friend named Jamie at the Bi-Lo supermarket on Echuca Road.
He left his home in Gange Street at around 5:30 PM, taking nothing with him except his mobile phone.
He did not carry a wallet or any personal belongings, suggesting he intended to return home shortly.
Raymond’s last known movements were captured by witnesses who saw him walking toward the Bi-Lo supermarket.
He was described as calm and unhurried, with no signs of distress.
At approximately 6:00 PM, he was seen crossing the road near the supermarket, heading toward a car parked parallel to the curb at the next intersection.
This car, later identified as a white Holden Commodore, is believed to have been driven by Jamie Sumner.
After this sighting, Raymond vanished without a trace till today.
He never returned home, and his mobile phone stopped transmitting signals shortly after 6:50 PM.
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| Raymond George Allen |
The Search And Investigation
After Raymond Allen had failed to return home, law enforcement and the community mobilized to find the missing teenager.
On April 26, 2005, the Victoria Police Missing Persons Unit took charge of the case.
The first step in their investigation was to retrace Raymond’s last known movements.
Witnesses had seen him walking toward the Bi-Lo supermarket on Echuca Road, and this area became the focus of the initial search.
Police conducted door-to-door inquiries in Mooroopna and Shepparton, questioning residents and businesses near the supermarket.
They also set up an information caravan outside the Bi-Lo store, manned by officers from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, to gather tips from the public.
Despite these efforts, no concrete leads emerged in the first few days.
As days turned into weeks, the search intensified and expanded.
On May 19, 2005, Victoria Police conducted an aerial search over Mooroopna and surrounding areas, using helicopters to scan the terrain for any signs of Raymond.
Ground teams, including search and rescue units, combed through nearby forests, rivers, and farmland.
Divers were deployed to search waterways, while sniffer dogs were used to track Raymond’s scent.
The search extended to the Barmah State Forest, a vast and remote area near the New South Wales border.
Police believed Raymond’s body might have been hidden there, based on later revelations from Jamie Sumner’s associates.
Despite the exhaustive efforts, no trace of Raymond was found.
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| Raymond George Allen |
The Break in the Case
During the investigation, Jamie Leslie Sumner’s name came up due to the false allegation that Raymond raped his brother Daniel.
When the police interviewed his heroin dealer, Chi Dung Lien, he told investigators that Sumner had confessed to kidnapping and killing Raymond.
According to Lien, Sumner claimed he had questioned Raymond about the rape, broken his jaw, stabbed him repeatedly, and buried his body in a concrete pipe.
Sumner later allegedly told Lien that he had moved the body and burned it in the Barmah State Forest.
This confession provided police with the evidence they needed to pursue Sumner as the prime suspect.
However, without Raymond’s body, the case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and witness testimony.
On December 19, 2005, Jamie Sumner was arrested and charged with Raymond’s murder.
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| The car linked to Raymond George Allen's disapperance |
Jamie Leslie Sumner’s Trial and Conviction
The trial began in 2007, with Justice Geoffrey Nettle presiding.
Despite the absence of Raymond’s body, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence that ultimately led to Sumner’s conviction.
According to the prosecution, phone records showed that Raymond and Sumner had communicated earlier that day.
At 2:58 PM, Sumner called Raymond and asked if he had any marijuana.
Raymond replied that he did not and mentioned he might get some later in the week.
A second call was made at 4:53 PM, during which Sumner told Raymond he was in Shepparton and arranged to meet him at the Bi-Lo supermarket.
Jamie Sumner’s movements on that fateful day were meticulously reconstructed by investigators.
It showed that he had lured Raymond to the meeting under the false pretense of giving him marijuana.
During the trial, the court heard how Sumner had planned the murder out of revenge, believing Raymond had sexually assaulted his brother, Daniel.
Sumner’s defense argued that he was under the influence of heroin and driven by a misguided sense of justice, but the jury found him guilty of murder.
In May 2008, Sumner was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 18 years.
Despite the conviction, Raymond’s body was never recovered, leaving his family without closure.
Ongoing Efforts
Even after Sumner’s conviction, the search for Raymond George Allen’s remains continued.
Police enlisted the help of local cattlemen during the annual Barmah Forest muster, hoping they might stumble upon clues.
However, no new evidence was found.
The case remains open, and police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
As Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin stated during the investigation, “We are committed to finding Raymond and bringing closure to his family. Every piece of information, no matter how small, could be the key to solving this case.”
If you have any information about Raymond Allen’s disappearance, no matter how small, please contact Crime Stoppers.
Every piece of information brings us one step closer to solving this cold case and giving Raymond’s family the closure they deserve.
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