Quick Read

Police uncover the dismembered body of Kelly Jean Warner in coolers, leading to a chilling confession from her boyfriend, Wade Allen, who initially claimed her death was an accident.
Wade Allen initially claimed Kelly Jean Warner died accidentally and he dismembered her body for a 'proper burial'.
Witnesses, including Allen's friend and cellmates, exposed a history of abuse, torture, and a deliberate murder by strangulation.
Allen was sentenced to a minimum of 44 years after pleading no contest to homicide, dismemberment, and sexual assault charges.

Summary

The episode reconstructs the investigation into the murder of Kelly Jean Warner, whose dismembered body was found in coolers in her boyfriend Wade Allen's apartment. Initially alerted by a friend of Allen's, police found Allen evasive and uncooperative. After securing his consent to search, they discovered Warner's remains. Allen first claimed Warner died from a fall in the shower due to pre-existing health issues, and he dismembered her body to preserve it and give her a proper burial. However, witness statements from his friend Steven, his ex-girlfriend Katie, and his cellmates revealed a pattern of domestic abuse, torture, and a deliberate murder by strangulation, with Allen making her watch a clock as he choked her for five minutes. He later bragged about the murder and attempted to dispose of evidence, including a reciprocating saw. Allen eventually pleaded no contest to second-degree homicide, attempted dismemberment, and attempted criminal sexual conduct, receiving a minimum 44-year prison sentence.
This case highlights the insidious nature of domestic violence, where a pattern of control and abuse can escalate to murder. It also demonstrates the critical role of witness testimony, even from those initially complicit, in uncovering the truth behind a perpetrator's fabricated story. The detailed account of the police investigation, from initial suspicion to securing confessions and corroborating evidence, underscores the complexities of solving violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.

Takeaways

  • Police discovered Kelly Jean Warner's dismembered body in two coolers in Wade Allen's apartment after a tip-off.
  • Allen initially claimed Warner died from a fall in the shower due to hypoglycemia and head injury, and he dismembered her body for preservation and burial.
  • Allen's friend, Steven Rush, revealed Allen admitted to hitting Warner, causing her to hit her head, and later using a torch on her body.
  • Cellmates of Allen corroborated a more brutal account, stating he beat, tied, burned, and ultimately strangled Warner, making her watch a clock during the act.
  • Allen had a history of domestic violence and controlling behavior towards Warner and other women.
  • He attempted to dispose of the murder weapon, a reciprocating saw, and showed no remorse, bragging about the crime to cellmates.
  • Wade Allen pleaded no contest to second-degree homicide, attempted dismemberment, and attempted criminal sexual conduct, receiving a minimum 44-year sentence.

Insights

1Discovery of Dismembered Body in Coolers

Police responded to a tip from Steven Rush about a missing woman's body at Wade Allen's apartment. After initial resistance, Allen allowed a search, leading to the discovery of Kelly Jean Warner's dismembered torso in one cooler and her legs in another. The scene was described as horrific, prompting immediate calls for backup.

Deputy's body cam footage and call for backup: 'Got a homicide. Found a body in a cooler.' and 'Yep. Those are legs.'

2Wade Allen's Fabricated Story of Accidental Death

During interrogation, Wade Allen claimed Kelly Jean Warner suffered from hypoglycemia, fainted, and hit her head. He stated she later died in the bathtub from hot water burns or another fall, and he dismembered her body because it was too stiff to fit whole into a cooler for a 'proper burial.' He also claimed he kept cold water running on her for weeks to 'preserve' the body.

Allen's statement: 'I'll start with saying that she's hypoglycemic.' and 'I had to cut her leg.'

3Corroborated Accounts of Abuse and Deliberate Murder

Multiple witnesses, including Allen's friend Steven, his ex-girlfriend Katie, and his cellmates, provided consistent accounts contradicting Allen's story. They detailed a history of domestic violence, including beatings, threats, and controlling behavior. Most disturbingly, cellmates recounted Allen bragging about strangling Warner for five minutes while making her watch a clock, then burning her body with a torch, and using a belt to beat her.

Steven Rush's statement: 'He backhanded her and accidentally killed her and he had her in the bathtub... then he wound up chopping her up.' Cellmate's statement: 'He choked her for 5 minutes... I made her watch it.'

4Attempted Evidence Disposal and Lack of Remorse

Allen attempted to dispose of the reciprocating saw used for dismemberment by trying to trade it to another friend, Bill. He also showed a chilling lack of remorse, bragging and laughing about the murder to his cellmates, indicating a dispassionate and calculated approach to the crime and its aftermath.

Bill's statement about the saw: 'He was insistent.' and cellmate's observation: 'He was bragging and laughing about it the whole time.'

Lessons

  • Recognize the signs of escalating domestic violence, as controlling behavior and physical abuse can lead to fatal outcomes.
  • Report any suspicious activity or admissions of violence to authorities, as timely intervention can prevent further harm or aid investigations.
  • Understand that perpetrators may fabricate elaborate stories to evade responsibility; a thorough investigation involving multiple witness accounts is crucial for uncovering the truth.

Notable Moments

Police discover human remains in coolers at Wade Allen's apartment.

This is the pivotal moment where the missing person case transforms into a homicide investigation, revealing the horrific fate of Kelly Jean Warner.

Wade Allen details his fabricated story of Kelly Jean's accidental death and subsequent dismemberment.

This showcases the perpetrator's attempt to manipulate the narrative and evade culpability, highlighting the psychological aspect of criminal deception.

Steven Rush, Allen's friend, provides crucial testimony about Allen's admissions of abuse and dismemberment.

This witness testimony directly contradicts Allen's story and provides the first concrete evidence of foul play, demonstrating the importance of informants.

Allen's cellmates recount his bragging about strangling Kelly Jean and making her watch a clock.

This chilling detail reveals the extreme cruelty and lack of remorse of the perpetrator, solidifying the deliberate nature of the murder and providing key evidence for the prosecution.

Quotes

"

"He said he started to choke her and he said he choked her for 5 minutes and I was like, 'How did you know that?' And he's like, 'Well, there's a clock right in front of me and I made her watch it.'"

Cellmate recounting Wade Allen's confession
"

"Got a homicide. Found a body in a cooler. Had consent to search a house."

Deputy on the phone
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"I wanted to put her all in one so she could be whole and then I couldn't really move her in any kind of way to keep her whole. Nothing I could do to keep her remain cold. That's where it really got close. Well, when I had to get the second cooler, I had to put a leg in that one."

Wade Allen
"

"He backhanded her and accidentally killed her and he had her in the bathtub for a little while and then he wound up chopping her up and putting her in the corners."

Steven Rush
"

"He was bragging and laughing about it the whole time, which was the disturbing part."

Witness/Cellmate

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