MARLENE Warren’s murder went unsolved for over 30 years.
A 20/20 episode about Marlene’s case originally premiered on Friday, May 5, 2023.
What happened to Marlene Warren?
Marlene Warren — a mother and wife who lived in Wellington, Florida— was murdered on May 26, 1990.
Her husband, Michael Warren, owned a car dealership.
As reported by The Florida Times-Union, on the May morning, a Chrysler LeBaron entered Marlene’s driveway.
A clown carrying a bouquet of flowers and two balloons exited the vehicle and approached Marlene’s door.
The clown sported an orange wig, a red bulb nose, and a painted-on smile.
As the outlet also reported, one balloon said: “You’re the greatest!”
The clown fatally shot Marlene after offering the items.
Her son, Joe Ahrens, witnessed his mother’s death.
According to The Florida Times-Union, witnesses said the clown proceeded to “calmly” walk back to the vehicle.
Who killed Marlene Warren?
As reported by CBS News affiliate WPEC-TV, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Sheila Keen-Warren, 59, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Marlene’s case “as part of an unexpected plea deal reached weeks before her first-degree murder trial was set to begin.”
Shelia was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with credit for over five years she served since her September 2017 arrest.
Despite pleading guilty, Sheila says she is innocent of the crime.
As the outlet reported, defense attorney Greg Rosenfeld said: “It was an incredibly hard decision for our client, saying you did something that you didn’t do. I mean nothing is harder than that.”
The lawyer noted that Sheila could be released from jail within ten months.
He said: “When she [Sheila Keen-Warren] was arrested, the state wanted to execute her. So this case went from a death penalty case to a woman who will be out in ten months now. We’re thrilled with the resolution.”
However, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg thinks otherwise, saying: “She will be serving more prison time, it’s not going to be ten months. It’s going to be longer than that, at least two years in state prison.
“Remember, she also served five years in solitary confinement in the local county jail. She will be a convicted murderer for the rest of her days. It will be something that she will have hanging over her head forever. She admitted to it. She murdered Marlene Warren. She is a convicted murderer and that is a stain that will never go away.”
In response to DNA evidence, Sheila was arrested for the murder on September 26, 2017, in Virginia.
As reported by CBS News, following Marlene’s death, witnesses told authorities that Michael and Sheila had been having an affair. However, both denied the accusations.
Investigators also said that in the years following Marlene’s death, costume shop workers identified Sheila as the woman who had purchased a clown suit a few days before the murder.
At the time of the killing, Sheila worked for Michael’s dealership.
The pair married in 2002 before later relocating to Abington, Virginia, and opening up a restaurant.
Despite suspicion, Michael has never been charged in Marlene’s killing and has denied any involvement in her death.
How can I watch the 20/20 episode about Marlene Warren?
The 20/20 TV special about Marlene’s murder will premiere on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 9 pm ET on ABC.
The episode is titled The Case of the Killer Clown and will later be available for streaming on Hulu.
Yahoo! News reported that the episode will feature an “exclusive” interview between ABC correspondent Deborah Roberts and Marlene’s son Joe, as well as another “exclusive” interview with Sheila’s lawyer.
It will also reportedly include interviews with witnesses, prosecutors, and more of Marlene’s family members.
An encore of the episode will air on May 24, 2024, at 9 pm ET on ABC.