Murder of Marlene Warren by Sheila Keen-Warren, aka the Killer Clown, investigated on Snapped

Snapped is investigating the twisted murder of Marlene Warren, who was shot dead by Sheila Keen-Warren at her front door in Wellington, Florida.

On the morning of May 26, 1990, 40-year-old Marlene was at home with her 21-year-old son Joseph Ahrens and several of his friends when they spotted a White Chrysler LeBaron pull into the driveway. A person dressed as a clown emerged from the vehicle.

The clown was carrying balloons and an arrangement of flowers. Marlene answered the knock on the door, and after the clown had handed over the items, they shot Marlene in the face. The clown then calmly walked back to their car and drove away.

Marlene was transported to a hospital, where she died a couple of days later. The cops found the abandoned LeBaron but no sign of the killer.

The police always suspected Sheila Keen was involved in the killing. Witnesses told them that Marlene’s husband, Michael “Mike” Warren, was having an affair with Sheila, who was his employee at a car lot.

Sheila and Mike denied having an affair, but in 2002, they married and moved to Abington, Virginia, where they ran a restaurant just over the border in Tennessee.

Evidence against Sheila Keen-Warren was building for decades

In 2000, Marlene’s family members told the press that Marlene wanted to leave Mike but was hesitant because the car lot and property were in her name, and she feared something might happen to her. She allegedly told her mother, “If anything happens to me, Mike done it.”

The police further learned from a nearby costume store that a woman matching Sheila’s description had bought a clown costume a few days before the murder.

However, the real breakthrough in the case didn’t come until 2017, 27 years after the murder, when DNA analysis determined that a hair found in the getaway car belonged to Sheila.

The cops arrested Sheila and charged her with first-degree murder. The state initially wanted the death penalty but soon dropped that for life in prison.

Sheila Keen-Warren pleaded guilty to Marlene Warren murder but maintains innocence

The start of the trial was continuously delayed, and by 2023, Sheila had spent six years in custody but still hadn’t gone on trial. However, in April 2023, she struck a deal with the prosecution, agreeing to plead guilty to second-degree murder, but she still maintains her innocence.

Sheila was only sentenced to 12 years. Due to good behavior and time served, Sheila is likely to be released this year. Her lawyer, Greg Rosenfeld, called the verdict “an incredible win for Ms. Keen-Warren.”

Prosecuting attorney Dave Aronberg said the decision had “obtained a measure of justice” for Marlene Warren and her son.

Michael Warren has denied any involvement in his first wife’s murder and has never been charged in connection with the case. In 1994, he was convicted of grand theft, racketeering, and odometer tampering and was sentenced to four years. His lawyer claimed the sentence was unduly harsh due to suspicion surrounding Marlene’s murder.

Snapped airs Sundays at 6/5c on Oxygen.