Virginia woman dresses as clown, kills woman then marries victim's husband, Florida deputies say

ABINGDON, Va. - A Virginia woman dressed as a clown and murdered the wife of her future husband 27 years ago in Florida, according to deputies.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said 40-year-old Marlene Warren was at her home in Wellington, Florida along with her son and several of his friends the morning of May 26, 1990, when a white Chrysler LeBaron pulled into the driveway

A person dressed as a clown got out of the car and walked to the front door carrying a flower arrangement and two balloons, according to investigators.

Marlene Warren answered the front door and was handed the flowers and balloons by the clown, detectives stated. The clown pulled out a gun, shot Marlene Warren in the face, calmly walked back to the car and drove away, according to officials.

Marlene Warren died two days later at the hospital.

At the time of Marlene Warren’s murder, Shelia Keen, then 27, was identified as a suspect but never arrested, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office stated.

Her case went cold, but was reopened back in 2014. Detectives learned Shelia Keen married Michael Warren, Marlene Warren’s husband, in Las Vegas in 2002. Investigators also learned Shelia Keen-Warren, now 54 years old, and Michael Warren owned and operated a restaurant together in Tennessee. According to the Palm Beach Post, property records show Shelia Keen-Warren has owned a home in Abingdon, Virginia, near the Tennessee border since 2002.

The Palm Beach Post reports Shelia Keen-Warren worked for Michael Warren at his used car dealership in West Palm Beach, Florida and investigators had been told the two were having an affair. Family members also told the Palm Beach Post that Marlene Warren wanted to leave her husband but feared he would kill her.

Evidence was presented to a grand jury in August of 2017 and a warrant was issued for Sheila Keen-Warren. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Sheila Keen-Warren was arrested in Abingdon, Virginia on Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder. She was taken to jail in Washington County where she was being held awaiting extradition to Palm Beach County, Florida.

Authorities have not stated whether Michael Warren had any connection or would be charged in his widow’s death. The Palm Beach Post reports Michael Warren spent several years in prison for grand theft, racketeering and odometer tampering in connection with his used car dealership.