November 3rd 2024.
In a bizarre case that has captured the attention of the public, a woman who admitted to dressing up as a clown and murdering the wife of her future husband in 1990 has been released from prison. Sheila Keen-Warren, now 61 years old, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Marlene Warren. However, she was released after serving only 18 months, thanks to Florida's law at the time that allowed for significant credit for good behavior.
Keen-Warren had maintained her innocence throughout the case, even after pleading guilty. Her attorney, Greg Rosenfeld, explained that she only took the plea deal because she would be released in less than two years. If she had gone to trial, she could have faced a life sentence. Despite her release, Keen-Warren will always carry the label of a convicted murderer. Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg stated, "Sheila Keen-Warren will always be an admitted convicted murderer and will wear that stain for every day for the rest of her life."
The case dates back to 1990 when Marlene Warren was shot and killed by a person dressed as a clown at her home in Florida. Witnesses, including Marlene's son, Joseph Ahrens, and his friends, reported that a clown rang the doorbell and handed Marlene balloons before pulling out a gun and shooting her in the face. Despite suspicions, it wasn't until 27 years later that Keen-Warren was arrested for the crime. Improved DNA testing tied her to evidence found in the getaway car, which had been reported stolen from Marlene's husband's car lot a month before the murder.
Rosenfeld has argued that the evidence against Keen-Warren is weak, and even the state's case was falling apart last year. One DNA sample showed both male and female genes, and the other could have come from many different women. Additionally, Marlene's son and another witness told detectives that the car found by investigators was not the same one used by the killer. Despite these holes, Keen-Warren's husband, Michael Warren, was convicted in 1994 of grand theft, racketeering, and odometer tampering. He served almost four years in prison, but his attorneys argued that his sentence was disproportionate due to suspicion surrounding his involvement in his wife's death.
It has been a long and complicated journey for all involved in this case. Keen-Warren and Michael Warren eventually married and moved to Virginia, where they ran a restaurant together. Marlene's family has always believed that Michael was involved in her death, with her mother even claiming that Marlene had told her, "If anything happens to me, Mike done it." Despite these allegations, Michael has never been charged, and he maintains his innocence.
The strange and tragic events that unfolded in 1990 have now come to an end, but the questions and suspicions surrounding Marlene Warren's death will likely linger on. The case has undoubtedly left a stain on all those involved, and it serves as a reminder of the strange and unpredictable nature of life in Florida.
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