Woman faces second trial in death of son, 22 months

Portland Press Herald (ME)

February 12, 2005

Author: From staff reports

Dateline: AUBURN

A second trial for a mother charged with causing her 22-month-old son's death is scheduled to begin Monday at the Androscoggin County Courthouse in Auburn. Sarah Allen, 31, of Lisbon Falls faces a charge of manslaughter for the Feb. 14, 2003, death of her son, Nathaniel. Prosecutors say Nathaniel died of head injuries from violent shaking. Allen's attorney said the boy died of an undiagnosed neurological disorder. Allen went on trial last year, but a mistrial was declared on June 18 when jurors reported being deadlocked after 18 hours of deliberations. Later it was revealed that one juror held out against a guilty verdict. In September, Allen's husband, Jeremy Allen, was convicted of an unrelated assault against Nathaniel the day before he died.