Police are gathering recordings of a costumed person seen near homes before a 78-year-old man was found fatally stabbed.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A doorbell camera recording of a person wearing a clown costume has become a key public element in the investigation of a fatal stabbing in East St. Louis, where Illinois State Police arrested a 15-year-old suspect Tuesday.
The video was recorded less than an hour before police found John Wesley Allen Sr., 78, dead in a roadway Monday night. Authorities said they are collecting surveillance recordings from the area but have not explained what connection the person’s movements may have had to Allen’s death.
The doorbell recording showed a costumed person approaching a home at 9:11 p.m. Monday and saying, “I’ve been looking for you.” The person then left the porch and moved around the property, according to footage reported by local news organizations.
At about 10:02 p.m., investigators were called to the intersection of North 76th and State streets for a report of a body in the roadway. Allen was found with multiple stab wounds, according to the St. Clair County coroner.
State police said footage of the person dressed in the costume had circulated on social media. Investigators were attempting to collect the original recordings and other relevant video, a step that can help establish a person’s movements and the timing of events.
Police have not said that the doorbell recording shows the killing or any encounter with Allen. They also have not publicly identified the home’s intended visitor or explained the statement captured by the camera.
Lee Palmer told First Alert 4 that his mother was alone inside the house when the costumed person appeared. Palmer said the individual stayed around the property for several minutes and went behind the home, causing concern for his mother’s safety.
The recording’s circulation drew attention to the unusual costume, but authorities have released few details about the underlying homicide. Police have not announced a motive or said whether the suspect and Allen had a prior relationship.
A 15-year-old was taken into custody at a residence Tuesday afternoon in connection with the death, state police said. The teenager has not been publicly identified because of the suspect’s age.
Authorities have not announced formal charges or released information about a juvenile court appearance. The teenager is considered a suspect, and the arrest does not establish guilt.
Investigators also have not disclosed what evidence, beyond the video under review, linked the teenager to the case. No information has been released about a recovered weapon or statements attributed to the suspect.
State police continued seeking recordings and witness information Wednesday as they worked to reconstruct the period before Allen was found. Investigators asked anyone with information or surveillance footage to call 618-806-7611.
Author note: Last updated August 5, 2026.