'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABP/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAxmYBO//EAB8QAAEDAwUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQBAgMABREGRGHS0//aAAgBAQABPwCALS7wVmUW7Jw8iPpUr7Okr8Bn4yu6Z51//8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDITH/2gAIAQIBAT8AhTbP/8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAyH/2gAIAQMBAT8AueRP/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Marlene Warren was the victim of a gruesome murder back in 1990. The businesswoman from Florida was shot brutally at the front door of her house by a killer who was dressed as a clown.
The case remained unsolved for almost three decades due to the lack of any conclusive evidence from the scene of the murder. However, there was a breakthrough in the case in 2014 when police re-opened the case and used advanced DNA technology to try and match a strand of hair found back in 1990. The evidence helped uncover the identity of the killer clown. The killer was found to be Sheila Keen-Warren.
The chilling details of the case have been explored in detail in the upcoming episode of 48 Hours on ID. The episode titled Murder by Clown will air on ID, this Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 10 pm ET. The official synopsis reads:
Trending
"Florida 1990, Marlene Warren was shot and killed by Sheila Keen Warren who was dressed as a clown to deliver balloons and flowers to Marlene's home. Marlene's son witnessed the shooting. The case went cold for decades until it was solved by DNA in 2017."
This article explores some of the shocking details about Marlene Warren's murder ahead of the airing of 48 Hours on ID.
48 Hours on ID: 5 shocking details about the murder of Marlene Warren
1) Marlene Warren was enjoying breakfast with her son when the assailant rang her doorbell
It was May 26, 1990, and Marlene Warren was having breakfast with her son and his friends at her house in Florida. Marlene was a successful businesswoman who owned a chain of businesses along with her husband Mike.
The assailant arrived with balloons and a bouquet of flowers and rang her doorbell. Marlene was shot in the face by the killer dressed as a clown. The incident was witnessed by her son Joe Ahrens. He also saw the killer clown flee in a white Chrysler LeBaron. Marlene succumbed to her injury two days after the shooting.
2) Police identified the shop from where the killer purchased the clown outfit
The police led an extensive search for the killer. They eventually identified the flower shop and the costume shop from where the killer purchased the costume. The attendant at the costume shop also identified Sheila Keen as the person who purchased the clown outfit. The police also found the white Chrysler in a parking lot, containing a synthetic wig and strands of brown hair.
3) Marlene's husband Mike Warren was the initial suspect in the case
Mike Warren and Marlene Warren had been married since 1976. However, Marlene suspected an affair between Mike and Sheila (who used to work at a car rental owned by the couple).
Police initially suspected Mike of Marlene's murder. However, he had a strong alibi at the time of the murder, since he was headed to a racecourse with his friends in a car. Mike married Sheila Keen in 2002, and the two settled in Virginia.
4) The case remained unsolved for almost three decades due to a lack of technology
Although Sheila Keen-Warren was suspected of the murder, the police could not recover any evidence linking her to it. They could not test the hair found in the white Chrysler, due to a lack of DNA testing technology.
The case was reopened in 2014, and the police linked the DNA of the hair to Sheila. She was arrested for the murder of Marlene Warren in 2017.
5) Shockingly, the killer did not receive a life sentence due to a plea deal
Sheila Keen-Warren was arrested in 2017 and remained in prison for six years following her arrest. As per CBS News, she was forced to admit her act of murder and convicted as a murderer in 2023.
However, Sheila's defense attorneys worked out a plea deal with the Palm Beach County Court. She received a reduced sentence for accepting her charges of second-degree murder. However, she might be released as early as 2023, since she already served more than six years in prison.
Catch all the details about Marlene Warren's murder on the upcoming episode of 48 Hours on ID.
