1990 Cold Case FINALLY Solved In 2023 | Marlene Warren’s Case | Mysterious Hook

The “Killer Clown” cold case murder of Marlene Warren. She’s the Wellington mom who was shot in the face nearly three decades ago by a killer dressed as a clown. On May 26, 1990, 40-year-old Marlene Warren and her 21-year-old son, Joey, were busy enjoying their weekend in their cozy home in Wellington when Marlene heard the doorbell ring. It was a clown.

Marlene was overwhelmed with happiness, as she thought that someone had sent her a gift. But behind that makeup and costume was a killer who, without warning, pulled out a gun and shot a bullet into Marlene’s face. Who was this killer, and why did they choose Marlene?

Wellington, Florida, was known as a village where people who wanted to escape the crime in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach moved to. Wellington had a variety of events and celebrations throughout the year. The Winter Equestrian Festival was a famous event that ran from January to April and attracted equestrian enthusiasts from around the world. The Wellington Bacon and Bourbon Fest was another well-attended event. A lot of famous people, like Bruce Springsteen and Madonna, used to visit a nearby club called Mar-a-Lago. The town itself is a very nice place with good schools, and people feel safe and happy there. According to many surveys, Wellington’s crime rate was lower than the national average, and it has been listed as one of the safest cities in Florida. But on Memorial Day weekend in May 1990, while everyone else was enjoying parades, barbecues, and picnics, something terrible happened to the Warren family.

A Complicated Marriage

Marlene Warren was born on April 15, 1950. She grew up in Michigan and loved spending time with her sisters on her grandfather’s farm. She enjoyed baking, making art, and painting—especially clowns. The whole family shared her love for clowns, and her parents even had a room dedicated to them.

Marlene had her first child in 1965 at the tender age of 15 and named him after her husband, John Ahrens. Later, in 1969, she had another child named Joey. Sadly, Marlene became a single mother of two after her first husband died in a car accident. She later married Michael (Mike) Warren in 1972. Michael was just 19 and younger than 22-year-old Marlene. They moved from Michigan to South Florida, where Michael’s family lived. Michael got a job as a meat inspector, but they also started investing in rental properties, which eventually brought in a lot of money. Marlene managed the rental properties, and Michael quit his job to open a used car lot called Bargain Motors. He sold cars to people who had no credit and couldn’t buy them elsewhere. In the late 1980s, Mike and Marlene bought their dream home in Wellington, Florida.

However, in 1983, Michael was arrested for tampering with the odometers on his used cars. He pleaded guilty and received probation but kept his business. For a few more years, Mike and Marlene led separate lives, with Mike focused on his business and spending time at the racetrack, while Marlene managed the rental properties.

In 1988, tragedy struck again when Marlene’s oldest son, John Jr., died in a car accident at just 22 years old. His death caused tension in Michael and Marlene’s relationship. During this time, Michael Warren met Sheila Keen, the wife of one of his employees, Richard “Spud” Keen. There was an instant connection between Michael and Sheila. Initially, they kept their relationship a secret, even though it was obvious to those around them.

The Day of the Murder

On a rainy Saturday morning, May 26, 1990, Michael went to the racetrack while 40-year-old Marlene stayed at home. She was cooking breakfast for her son, 21-year-old Joey, who had some of his friends over. At around 10:45 AM, there was a knock on the door. When Marlene opened it, she saw a clown holding flowers and balloons, and she assumed it was a gift. She was pretty excited to see a clown at her door, having loved them ever since she was a child.

But behind the balloons and the clown costume, the clown held a gun. The clown pulled out the gun and shot her in the face. Joey heard the gunshot, ran to the door, and saw the clown driving away in a Chrysler LeBaron. Marlene was dying on the ground, and a neighbor named Bill Cramer had heard the shot too. Some people ran out saying that someone had shot Joey’s mother. An ambulance was called, and Marlene was taken to the hospital, but she died two days later on May 28, 1990.

Marlene was an outstanding human—friendly, loving, kind, always courteous, and always respectful—but her end was unfortunate.

The Investigation Unfolds

After Marlene’s shooting, Joey saw the clown walking away, but all he could remember was that the clown had brown eyes. Initially, Joey’s description to the police was vague, saying the suspect had broad shoulders and big hands. However, he did see the clown drive away in a white Chrysler LeBaron, which was a crucial detail.

At first, Michael Warren was a suspect, but he had an alibi as he was at the racetrack. As a result, the police turned their attention to his girlfriend, Sheila Keen. And the more they investigated, the more evidence pointed toward her involvement. There were allegations of an affair between Michael Warren and Sheila Keen at the time of the crime; Michael vehemently denied these. However, investigators scrutinized their relationship to identify the motive and opportunity for Marlene’s murder.

Sheila (who also went by Sheila Sheltra, her maiden name) had a criminal record dating back to her upbringing in Central Florida. She was known to be headstrong, wild, and very attractive; her long hair was often described as similar to Crystal Gayle’s. Sheila had a criminal record from a young age, including a shoplifting charge and a theft charge. People who knew her revealed that Sheila had associated herself with older men and bad influences. She was married to Richard “Spud” Keen, a former Ku Klux Klan member who had served time for drug trafficking. Richard was 20 years older than Sheila. She even moved to Georgia to be close to him while he was in prison.

After Sheila’s husband was released, they moved back to Florida where Richard started working with Michael Warren. Soon, the three began to spend a lot of time together, engaging in sketchy activities. As time passed, Michael and Sheila grew closer, and Richard faded into the background. Co-workers of Michael and Sheila told investigators that they believed the two were having an affair. They would go out for long lunches and were very affectionate towards each other.

During this period, Michael’s marriage with Marlene was falling apart. An employee at the car dealership claimed that Michael would come in furious after fighting with Marlene and offer $10,000 to anyone who would kill her. There were also reports of Michael saying that he would make someone rich if they got rid of his wife and they would never have to work again.

Mounting Evidence

Finding the white Chrysler LeBaron that Joey saw became the top priority for the police. They learned that a couple had rented the car from a nearby lot called Payless Cars. When it was time to return the car, they got confused and dialed the wrong number from an ad in the phone book. The ad was taken out by Michael Warren for his car lot, Bargain Motors. The couple called the number thinking it was for Payless Cars, and someone at Michael’s car lot instructed them to leave the car outside the gate with the keys in the windshield wipers. The car was stolen shortly after.

On the day of Marlene’s funeral, investigators located the Chrysler LeBaron in a Winn-Dixie parking lot approximately five miles away from the crime scene. A number of hairs were discovered inside the car, some of which appeared to be from an acrylic wig with orange and yellow fibers. However, the DNA technology at that time was insufficient to identify precisely what the fibers were.

Investigators also found the place where the suspect bought the clown costume, balloons, and flowers. Two women who worked at the Spotlight Capezio costume shop told police that a woman came in a few days before the murder and requested a clown costume—specifically a Rubie’s clown costume, an afro clown wig, Bob Kelly clown makeup, and a sponge nose. The woman insisted on purchasing the costume that night. She was described as around 5’8″ with brown eyes, long chocolate hair, and wearing jeans and a men’s work shirt. The police reported that the shop workers identified Sheila from a photo lineup.

Another piece of evidence came from a nearby Publix supermarket where the specific type of mylar balloons used by the clown were sold. An employee there identified a woman with long brown hair who bought those balloons just an hour and a half before the murder, and that employee was also able to identify Sheila from photos. Further adding to the suspicion was the fact that Sheila had previously dressed up as a clown during her marriage to Richard Keen to entertain employees at an auto parts store. Despite this mounting evidence, prosecutors didn’t feel they had enough to make an arrest.

A Recipe for Murder

A bizarre twist emerged backtracking in time. In 1987, when Joey was around 18 years old, he was charged with attempted murder. The Warren family hired Christopher De Santos as their lawyer. After a successful hearing, De Santos and Michael Warren were walking out celebrating Joey’s trial win. Michael casually asked whether someone who hired a hitman to kill their wife would still be able to inherit their estate. The lawyer was taken aback but answered that the law prohibited a murderer from inheriting.

De Santos unfortunately gave another example that he later regretted. He said that if someone wore a clown suit, their identity would be hidden, making it difficult to get a conviction. He didn’t intend to advise Michael to wear a clown suit, but the point was that if identity couldn’t be proven, there could be no conviction. Essentially, De Santos had given him a recipe for murder.

Marlene had expressed fear of her husband prior to her murder. She had told people that she wanted to divorce Mike but was scared he would kill her. Despite all this, no arrests were made.

The Murder
May 1990

Marlene Warren is shot in the face at her front door by a killer dressed as a clown. She passes away in the hospital two days later.

Fraud Charges
1991

Michael is charged with multiple crimes including racketeering, odometer tampering, and theft. He is sentenced to nine years in prison, but no concrete evidence links him to the murder.

A False Lead
1997

An informant claims his deceased father confessed to the crime and points police to a submerged vehicle. Divers recover the car, but nothing of significance is found inside.

A New Life
2002

Michael Warren and Sheila Keen are married in Las Vegas. They eventually move to Abingdon, Virginia, where they open a restaurant and Sheila goes by the name “Debbie.”

Case Reopened
2013

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office receives a grant to investigate cold cases. A task force is formed, and old evidence—including the clown wig fibers and hairs found in the getaway car—is submitted for advanced DNA analysis.

The Arrest
Dec 26, 2017

While driving back to Abingdon from Vermont, Michael and Sheila are pulled over by police. Sheila is indicted for first-degree murder with a firearm after 27 years of evading the law.

Guilty Plea
Apr 25, 2023

59-year-old Sheila pleads guilty to the crime. By accepting a plea deal, she receives a reduced sentence of 12 years in prison rather than facing a potential life sentence.

The Arrest and Resolution

Mike and Sheila had started a new life in Abingdon, a small town in Virginia, where they had reinvented themselves. Sheila had changed her name to Debbie, and they were living a seemingly happy life with neighbors describing them as friendly and in love. They had even opened up a popular fast-food restaurant called The Purple Cow in Tennessee, just across the border.

However, one night during a party, a drunken Sheila revealed a chilling tale of how she had gotten away with murder in Florida. Meanwhile, in Florida, detectives relentlessly pursued the case utilizing the latest DNA technology. The evidence pointed to one person: the very same Sheila Keen-Warren who had casually shared her deadly secret with her unsuspecting colleagues.

On December 26, 2017, Sheila was arrested. She didn’t ask why; instead, she asked if her husband was also being arrested. In her mug shot, she is seen smiling—reminiscent of her teenage mug shot.

Finally, on April 25, 2023, 59-year-old Sheila pleaded guilty to the crime of dressing up as a clown and shooting Marlene Warren. Although her lawyer maintained her innocence, by pleading guilty, she received a reduced sentence of only 12 years. Remarkably, her lawyer suggested that Sheila could be released as early as 2024 due to her good behavior in prison.