Allison M. Feldman was a 31-year-old Minnesota native who built her adult life in Arizona after graduating from the University of Arizona. She worked in medical sales specializing in wound and burn-care products and was remembered by family, friends and colleagues as a compassionate and active person.
Feldman’s life was cut short in February 2015 when she was murdered inside her Scottsdale home. More than 11 years later, her case returned to national attention after a jury convicted Ian Mitcham of her murder in April 2026.
Important clarification: Allison Feldman died in 2015. The renewed interest in her obituary during 2026 relates to developments in the criminal case surrounding her death, including the April 2026 conviction of Ian Mitcham.
Background: Who Was Allison Feldman?
Allison M. Feldman was originally from Minnesota and later moved to Arizona. She attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, graduated from the university and remained in Arizona, eventually establishing a home in Scottsdale.
Her professional life centered on medical sales, where she specialized in wound and burn-care products. Her obituary published by The Arizona Republic described her as a burn and trauma specialist for Molnlycke Health Care. More recent reporting has described her work as medical-device sales involving wound and burn care.
Outside work, Feldman was involved in her community and had worked with Camp Courage, a camp serving children who had experienced burns. People who knew her described her as joyful, compassionate and accepting.
Latest Update: October 3, 2026
As of October 3, 2026, Allison Feldman’s murder case has resulted in a conviction, although the legal proceedings are not completely finished. On April 9, 2026, a jury found Ian Mitcham guilty of first-degree murder, sexual assault and burglary in connection with Feldman’s death.
The case attracted renewed national attention in October 2026 because ABC’s 20/20 examined the investigation and the use of familial DNA that eventually helped investigators identify Mitcham.
Mitcham’s sentencing proceedings have also involved a separate penalty phase. ABC13 reported that the jury deadlocked over the death penalty, while Mitcham received a 10-and-a-half-year sentence for the sexual-assault and second-degree-burglary convictions. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office planned to retry the penalty phase, and Mitcham is appealing his conviction.
Allison Feldman Cause of Death
Authorities determined that Allison Feldman’s death resulted from strangulation and blood loss caused by blunt-force injuries. Investigators also determined that she had been sexually assaulted and beaten.
Feldman was found dead inside her Scottsdale home on February 18, 2015. Her boyfriend discovered her unresponsive and called 911. Investigators found evidence indicating that a struggle had occurred.
Police also found DNA evidence at the scene that eventually became central to the investigation. The DNA initially belonged to an unidentified male, leaving investigators without an immediate suspect.
Allison Feldman Age
Allison Feldman was 31 years old when she died. Her published obituary identifies her as 31 and states that she died unexpectedly in Scottsdale, Arizona, on February 17; subsequent reporting about the investigation identifies February 18 as the date she was found and the date the death was reported to authorities.
Because the obituary and later investigative reporting use slightly different references to the date, this article focuses on the established fact that Feldman died in February 2015 at age 31.
Family and Early Life
Feldman was raised in Minnesota. Her parents were Harley and Elayne Feldman, and she had a sister, Kelly Feldman Weinblatt.
Her family remained closely involved in the search for answers following her death. Her father, Harley Feldman, spent years attending hearings and advocating for the investigation to continue. He ultimately became involved in efforts to expand the use of familial DNA in Arizona.
Allison Feldman’s Education
Feldman attended the University of Arizona in Tucson. Her father recalled that she selected the university herself and later graduated before remaining in Arizona to build her career.
Her connection with the university continued after graduation. Following her death, her family worked with the University of Arizona to establish a scholarship in her name. The scholarship supports students seeking opportunities to study abroad.
Allison Feldman’s Career
After graduating from the University of Arizona, Feldman remained in Arizona and established herself professionally in Scottsdale. She worked in medical sales with a specialization in wound and burn-care products.
Her work was connected to burn and trauma care, and people who knew her also remembered her involvement with Camp Courage, where she helped children who had suffered burns.
The combination of her medical-sales career and community involvement became part of the picture of Feldman that emerged after her death. Friends and colleagues described her as someone who was active, compassionate and engaged with the people around her.
Allison Feldman’s Personal Life
At the time of her death, Feldman was living in Scottsdale. Her boyfriend, Alex Sukhodolov, was the person who found her body and called 911, according to reporting about the investigation.
Her obituary lists her parents, Elayne and Harley, and her sister Kelly Weinblatt among her survivors. It also mentions numerous relatives and friends who mourned her death.
Allison Feldman Parents
Allison’s parents were Harley and Elayne Feldman. Her father became a prominent advocate in the years following her murder, attending court proceedings and working to advance the use of familial DNA in criminal investigations.
Harley Feldman died in April 2026, only weeks after Mitcham was convicted of killing his daughter. His own death was reported on April 29–30, 2026, and his cause of death was not publicly released.
Allison Feldman Sister
Feldman’s sister was Kelly Feldman Weinblatt. Kelly has spoken publicly about Allison and the long process of seeking justice following her murder.
After the 2026 conviction, Kelly continued to describe the lasting effect of Allison’s death on the family. The family has emphasized that a criminal conviction cannot restore the life they lost.
The 2015 Scottsdale Murder
Feldman returned home after running errands on February 17, 2015. When family members did not hear from her as expected, her father became concerned and contacted Scottsdale police for a welfare check. Meanwhile, her boyfriend went to her home and discovered her body.
Investigators determined that she had been sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled. Evidence at the scene suggested that she had fought with her attacker.
The investigation initially failed to identify the person whose DNA was found at the scene. Police examined numerous people connected to Feldman and collected DNA samples, but no immediate match was found. The case remained unsolved for several years.
How Familial DNA Helped the Investigation
A major breakthrough came through familial DNA. Instead of searching only for an exact DNA match, investigators looked for a close genetic relative of the unknown person whose DNA had been found at Feldman’s home.
The approach led investigators toward the Mitcham family. Mark Mitcham, who was incarcerated for unrelated crimes, was identified as a close relative of the person whose DNA was found at the crime scene. Investigators then focused on his brother, Ian Mitcham.
Ian Mitcham had previously been arrested for DUI, and authorities had retained a blood sample from that incident. Police ultimately used DNA from that sample and determined that it matched the crime-scene evidence. Mitcham was arrested in 2018.
Legal Fight Over the DNA Evidence
The DNA evidence became the subject of a lengthy legal dispute. Defense attorneys argued that authorities improperly retained and used the DNA obtained from Mitcham during the earlier DUI investigation.
In 2022, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled that the DNA had been improperly collected. The Arizona Court of Appeals later reversed that decision, and the Arizona Supreme Court ultimately ruled in December 2024 that the crucial DNA evidence could be used in the murder case.
The Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for the murder case to proceed using the evidence that prosecutors said connected Mitcham to Feldman’s killing.
2026 Conviction in Allison Feldman’s Case
After years of investigation and legal challenges, Ian Mitcham went to trial in 2026. On April 9, a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, sexual assault and second-degree burglary.
The conviction followed nearly five months of trial proceedings. Feldman’s family and friends attended court and publicly discussed the significance of the verdict after more than a decade without a conviction.
Mitcham denied involvement in Feldman’s death. His defense argued that investigators had focused too heavily on the DNA evidence and had not adequately pursued another potential suspect. The jury nevertheless returned guilty verdicts on all counts.
Allison Feldman’s Legacy
Feldman’s legacy extends beyond the criminal case. She was remembered as a University of Arizona graduate who built a career in medical sales and maintained an interest in helping children affected by burns.
Her family also established a scholarship in her name at the University of Arizona. The scholarship helps students pursue study-abroad opportunities, creating an ongoing connection between Feldman’s name and the university she attended.
Her case also became significant in Arizona’s development of familial DNA investigations. Her father worked with lawmakers and other advocates to help establish a legal pathway for the technique, which authorities later used in other investigations.
Allison Feldman Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Allison M. Feldman |
| Age at Death | 31 |
| Born/Raised | Minnesota |
| Residence | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| College | University of Arizona |
| Profession | Medical sales / wound and burn-care specialist |
| Parents | Harley and Elayne Feldman |
| Sister | Kelly Feldman Weinblatt |
| Date of Death | February 2015 |
| Cause of Death | Strangulation and blood loss from blunt-force injuries |
| Location of Death | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Case Defendant | Ian Mitcham |
| 2026 Verdict | Guilty of first-degree murder, sexual assault and second-degree burglary |
Funeral and Memorial Information
The published obituary announced a funeral service at Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale at 2 p.m. and identified Hodroff-Epstein Memorial Chapel as the funeral home handling arrangements. The obituary requested that memorial contributions be made to the Arizona Burn Foundation.
These arrangements were published in March 2015 following Feldman’s death.
Reader Questions
Who was Allison Feldman?
Allison Feldman was a Minnesota-raised University of Arizona graduate who lived in Scottsdale and worked in medical sales specializing in wound and burn-care products. She was 31 when she was murdered in 2015.
When did Allison Feldman die?
Allison Feldman died in February 2015 in Scottsdale, Arizona. She was 31 years old.
What was Allison Feldman’s cause of death?
Investigators determined that Feldman died from strangulation and blood loss caused by blunt-force injuries. She had also been sexually assaulted and beaten.
Who killed Allison Feldman?
Ian Mitcham was convicted by a jury in April 2026 of first-degree murder, sexual assault and second-degree burglary in connection with Feldman’s death. He has denied involvement and is appealing the conviction.
How old was Allison Feldman when she died?
She was 31 years old. Her published obituary identifies her as Allison M. Feldman, age 31, who died unexpectedly in Scottsdale in February 2015.
Where did Allison Feldman go to college?
Feldman attended and graduated from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Her family later helped establish a scholarship in her name at the university.
Who were Allison Feldman’s parents?
Her parents were Elayne and Harley Feldman. Her father became a prominent advocate for familial DNA testing after her murder.
Who was Allison Feldman’s sister?
Her sister was Kelly Feldman Weinblatt. Kelly has spoken publicly about Allison’s life, the family’s loss and the long search for justice.
What did Allison Feldman do for a living?
She worked in medical sales involving wound and burn-care products. Her obituary described her as a burn and trauma specialist for Molnlycke Health Care.
What happened to Allison Feldman’s father?
Her father, Harley Feldman, died in April 2026, only weeks after Ian Mitcham was convicted of Allison’s murder. Harley’s cause of death was not publicly released.
What is the latest update in the Allison Feldman case?
As of October 3, 2026, Ian Mitcham has been convicted of the murder and related offenses. His conviction is being appealed, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has pursued another penalty-phase proceeding after the jury deadlocked over the death penalty.
Wrap-Up
Allison Feldman’s life was cut short at age 31, but her story continues to be remembered through her family, professional work, university community and the legal case that followed her death. She was a University of Arizona graduate who built a career in medical sales and was involved with programs serving children affected by burns.
Her 2015 murder remained unresolved for years before familial DNA helped investigators identify Ian Mitcham. After an extensive legal battle over the admissibility of that DNA evidence, an Arizona jury convicted Mitcham in April 2026.
The case also shaped the public work of Feldman’s father, Harley, who advocated for familial DNA testing and victims’ rights until his death in April 2026. Today, Allison’s name remains connected not only to the criminal case but also to a University of Arizona scholarship established in her memory.
Disclaimer
This article is based on Feldman’s published obituary, court-related reporting and current news coverage available as of October 3, 2026. Details concerning the criminal case are reported from identified sources. The conviction of Ian Mitcham is subject to the ongoing appellate process. No unsupported claims about Allison Feldman’s personal life, finances or circumstances have been added.
