Man Sentenced to Prison for Gruesome Murder and Inmate Sexual Assault

Sep 15, 2023, 09:00 PM

Wade Allen, a 39-year-old man, was sentenced for a gruesome murder and a subsequent sexual assault on a fellow inmate while in jail. Allen had pled no contest just a day before his trial was set to begin in January, marking the end of a chilling saga that began in May 2019.
 The victim of Allen's heinous crimes was his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Kelly Jean Warner. Her dismembered remains were discovered in coolers at his apartment. Additionally, Allen was convicted of sexually assaulting an inmate who reported his confession to the authorities while incarcerated at the St. Joseph County Jail in 2020.
 Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Allen's sentencing, which includes a range of prison terms. He received 39 to 60 years for second-degree homicide, two to five years for attempted dismemberment and mutilation, and 38 months to five years for attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct, to be served consecutively with the murder sentence.
 Furthermore, Allen's sentencing encompasses restitution for the victim's burial expenses, recovery of court costs, associated fines, and a lifetime registration with the state's sex offender registry.
 Defense attorney Luke Nofsinger argued that Allen had endured nearly solitary confinement for the past four years, citing this as a factor in his defense. The case also faced delays due to a search and psychiatric evaluation defense appeal.
 Throughout the proceedings, Allen never admitted to killing Kelly Jean Warner, who had underlying health issues. He expressed remorse, saying, "I should have cared for her better. I was trying to take care of myself, let alone someone else. I never have, and I did not want her to die at all. I asked the family to please forgive me. They don't have to. But with or without their forgiveness, I have to forgive myself."
 Assistant Attorney General Danielle Hagamann-Clark revealed that Allen had a history of abusive behavior towards Warner and other intimate partners over several years, a fact they were prepared to present as evidence at trial.
 The victim of the jail sexual assault, appearing via video from a state prison, adamantly asserted that the conduct "was not consensual," describing Allen as "a monster."
 The tragic events leading to Allen's conviction began on May 22, 2019, when Sturgis police officers responded to a tip regarding the murder and dismemberment of Kelly Jean Warner. According to court documents, the tipster informed the police that Allen had accidentally killed Warner during a dispute, kept her in the bathtub for a period, and then dismembered her, placing her remains in coolers.
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