1 00:00:08,341 --> 00:00:10,375 [female narrator] a middle-aged housewife 2 00:00:10,444 --> 00:00:13,244 Becomes the victim of a nightmarish murder. 3 00:00:13,314 --> 00:00:15,213 [david] the clown pulls out a gun 4 00:00:15,282 --> 00:00:17,949 And shoots her, one bullet right in the face. 5 00:00:18,452 --> 00:00:21,520 It was so out of the ordinary. 6 00:00:21,588 --> 00:00:25,290 You know, something as benign as a clown would knock on the door. 7 00:00:25,358 --> 00:00:27,393 Just was such a tragic twist. 8 00:00:28,162 --> 00:00:30,062 This was something personal. 9 00:00:31,565 --> 00:00:34,266 [narrator] the investigation uncovers dark secrets 10 00:00:34,334 --> 00:00:36,701 And deadly desires. 11 00:00:36,770 --> 00:00:41,272 You've got sex and you've got violence. 12 00:00:41,274 --> 00:00:42,407 [aleathea] they were having an affair 13 00:00:42,476 --> 00:00:45,076 And it had been going on for some time. 14 00:00:45,146 --> 00:00:47,246 [narrator] but as the case grows stagnant, 15 00:00:47,248 --> 00:00:50,382 A killer lurks close to home. 16 00:00:50,451 --> 00:00:53,618 [joe] she said, "if anything ever happens to me, 17 00:00:53,687 --> 00:00:58,022 Know that he had something to do with it." 18 00:00:58,092 --> 00:00:59,724 [dave] this is the act of a sociopath. 19 00:00:59,726 --> 00:01:01,560 This is the act of a cold-blooded killer 20 00:01:01,628 --> 00:01:05,264 Who thinks they can deceive everyone for the next 27 years. 21 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:14,573 [joe] there was no doubt. 22 00:01:14,641 --> 00:01:17,709 I saw the eyes of the killer that did it. 23 00:01:18,979 --> 00:01:24,883 [theme music] 24 00:01:32,359 --> 00:01:35,460 [narrator] may 26, 1990. 25 00:01:35,529 --> 00:01:38,663 It's a sunny Saturday in wellington, florida, 26 00:01:38,732 --> 00:01:41,333 An affluent village located just a few miles 27 00:01:41,401 --> 00:01:43,968 From west palm beach. 28 00:01:44,038 --> 00:01:46,638 [joe] wellington is a place like no one else lives. 29 00:01:46,707 --> 00:01:50,108 It was a paradise, you know. It was peaceful. 30 00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:53,078 It was a slice of heaven. 31 00:01:53,147 --> 00:01:56,581 [david] this was a neighborhood with big houses, big yards, 32 00:01:56,650 --> 00:01:58,617 And it got its name, aero club, 33 00:01:58,685 --> 00:02:02,121 Because it had a private airstrip, 34 00:02:02,189 --> 00:02:05,657 And all the houses out back had hangars. 35 00:02:09,830 --> 00:02:12,264 [narrator] in one of the area's largest homes, 36 00:02:12,332 --> 00:02:15,567 40-year-old marlene warren is enjoying the morning 37 00:02:15,636 --> 00:02:19,404 With her 21-year-old son, joe ahrens, and his friend. 38 00:02:23,109 --> 00:02:25,510 The night before, we ran into some friends 39 00:02:25,579 --> 00:02:27,345 That I haven't seen in a while. 40 00:02:27,414 --> 00:02:29,414 My mom said, "hey, well, why don't you come out 41 00:02:29,416 --> 00:02:32,283 To the house and stay?" 42 00:02:32,353 --> 00:02:35,520 We woke up, 8:00, 9:00, something like that. 43 00:02:36,056 --> 00:02:38,157 [narrator] as they all gather in the living room, 44 00:02:38,225 --> 00:02:40,759 Something strange happens. 45 00:02:41,294 --> 00:02:43,328 Around mid-morning, a car pulls into their 46 00:02:43,330 --> 00:02:47,332 Circular driveway, and what steps out of the car? 47 00:02:47,334 --> 00:02:51,403 A clown. Full suit, 48 00:02:51,471 --> 00:02:55,206 Orange curly wig, red bold nose, 49 00:02:55,208 --> 00:02:57,342 And carrying a couple of balloons 50 00:02:57,344 --> 00:02:58,843 And a bouquet of flowers. 51 00:02:58,912 --> 00:03:01,246 And the clown just walks up to the front door, 52 00:03:01,315 --> 00:03:02,881 Rings the doorbell. 53 00:03:03,650 --> 00:03:04,649 [doorbell rings] 54 00:03:04,718 --> 00:03:07,085 [narrator] since joe recently broke his leg, 55 00:03:07,154 --> 00:03:09,521 Marlene assumes the clown is a messenger 56 00:03:09,590 --> 00:03:12,891 Bringing a get well gift, and opens the door. 57 00:03:13,927 --> 00:03:17,195 [joe] I hear, "how pretty, how nice," 58 00:03:17,263 --> 00:03:19,831 And then we heard bang. 59 00:03:20,801 --> 00:03:23,668 The clown pulls out a gun and shoots her. 60 00:03:23,737 --> 00:03:27,439 One bullet right in the face. Her son, who was on the couch, 61 00:03:27,507 --> 00:03:31,142 He's in a cast, gets up, rushes over to her, 62 00:03:31,211 --> 00:03:32,677 Where she's laying in the doorway. 63 00:03:32,746 --> 00:03:35,814 And she's bleeding from the mouth pretty extensively, 64 00:03:35,882 --> 00:03:39,151 But he doesn't really yet understand what's happening. 65 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,555 We didn't see the gun. It just didn't register 66 00:03:43,624 --> 00:03:48,160 Until I saw my mother's teeth gone and her gasping for air, 67 00:03:48,228 --> 00:03:50,929 And then it sunk in. 68 00:03:50,997 --> 00:03:54,899 I felt a rip in my body, like a spirit, or my soul, 69 00:03:54,901 --> 00:03:57,702 Or my heart, or all of the above. 70 00:03:57,771 --> 00:04:01,673 I looked at the clown, watching him walk to the car. 71 00:04:01,742 --> 00:04:05,944 I was trying to find any detail to see who this person is. 72 00:04:06,012 --> 00:04:09,914 They looked back at me. I will never forget those eyes. 73 00:04:09,983 --> 00:04:13,552 You know, and, and, those are the eyes of the killer. 74 00:04:15,689 --> 00:04:19,791 [narrator] as the gunman drives away, joe quickly calls 911 75 00:04:19,860 --> 00:04:23,362 And alerts first responders that his mother needs aid. 76 00:04:24,765 --> 00:04:27,332 Fearing that the perpetrator will escape the scene, 77 00:04:27,401 --> 00:04:29,701 Joe quickly gives chase. 78 00:04:30,771 --> 00:04:31,936 [joe] they tried to keep me on the phone. 79 00:04:32,005 --> 00:04:33,538 I dropped it. 80 00:04:33,540 --> 00:04:36,875 I grabbed my mom's purse. I grabbed her keys. 81 00:04:36,943 --> 00:04:39,844 I just jumped in the car and floored it. 82 00:04:40,247 --> 00:04:41,780 I ran through red lights. 83 00:04:41,848 --> 00:04:45,383 The only thought I had in my mind was to run into this car. 84 00:04:45,452 --> 00:04:46,884 It's all I could think. 85 00:04:46,954 --> 00:04:49,487 But I couldn't catch up to the car. 86 00:04:49,556 --> 00:04:52,991 So I had to turn around. I raced home. 87 00:04:54,394 --> 00:04:58,063 [narrator] when joe arrives back home, he sees first responders. 88 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,367 [aleathea] when law enforcement first arrived, 89 00:05:02,435 --> 00:05:04,436 They discovered marlene warren, 90 00:05:04,504 --> 00:05:07,739 Who was laying in the entryway to the home. 91 00:05:07,808 --> 00:05:11,542 She had suffered a single gunshot wound to the mouth, 92 00:05:11,544 --> 00:05:14,313 And was transported to the emergency room 93 00:05:14,381 --> 00:05:16,915 To attempt to be saved. 94 00:05:21,121 --> 00:05:24,923 The big question was, who'd want to do this to this woman? 95 00:05:24,991 --> 00:05:26,624 And why? 96 00:05:26,693 --> 00:05:29,561 Marlene was well loved, well liked by everybody. 97 00:05:29,563 --> 00:05:31,362 She had no enemies. 98 00:05:32,365 --> 00:05:34,666 [joe] you would think that somebody coming to your door 99 00:05:34,735 --> 00:05:39,404 Like that are not gonna do you harm. 100 00:05:39,473 --> 00:05:43,241 You know, you don't even expect it. 101 00:05:43,310 --> 00:05:46,111 It was so heinous. 102 00:05:51,117 --> 00:05:53,618 [narrator] marlene mckinnon was the last person 103 00:05:53,620 --> 00:05:57,489 Anyone would expect to die in such a terrifying way. 104 00:05:58,291 --> 00:06:03,462 She was born in 1950 to a middle-class family in michigan. 105 00:06:03,530 --> 00:06:07,699 Marlene was a midwestern girl raised in a small town 106 00:06:07,768 --> 00:06:10,135 Outside of detroit. 107 00:06:10,203 --> 00:06:13,138 Lived for a long time on her grandfather's farm. 108 00:06:13,140 --> 00:06:15,072 She had a couple of sisters. 109 00:06:15,142 --> 00:06:19,277 And she lived, you know, sort of a happy, simple life there. 110 00:06:19,346 --> 00:06:21,613 By the time she was 18 years old, she was married, 111 00:06:21,681 --> 00:06:24,149 And she had two young boys. 112 00:06:24,217 --> 00:06:26,584 [joe] my mother met my father, 113 00:06:26,653 --> 00:06:29,521 John ahrens, when they were young. 114 00:06:29,589 --> 00:06:33,725 They were in the age of 14 to 16, you know. 115 00:06:33,793 --> 00:06:37,362 I remember my grandmother telling me stories that 116 00:06:37,430 --> 00:06:39,397 He would try to impress her. 117 00:06:39,466 --> 00:06:40,732 Then my brother, 118 00:06:40,801 --> 00:06:45,403 John arthur ahrens, was born in 1966. 119 00:06:45,472 --> 00:06:48,740 I was born in 1968. 120 00:06:51,578 --> 00:06:53,845 [narrator] soon after their son joe was born, 121 00:06:53,914 --> 00:06:56,981 Marlene's husband, john, was drafted into service 122 00:06:57,050 --> 00:06:59,518 And deployed to vietnam. 123 00:06:59,586 --> 00:07:02,954 Marlene was left to raise the boys by herself. 124 00:07:03,656 --> 00:07:04,856 [joe] she was a very good person. 125 00:07:04,925 --> 00:07:10,762 She was open-minded, and she distilled good things in us. 126 00:07:10,831 --> 00:07:14,465 I can remember times that we had to clean the house 127 00:07:14,535 --> 00:07:16,468 On the weekends, you know, and of course, 128 00:07:16,536 --> 00:07:18,036 Kids don't wanna do that. 129 00:07:18,104 --> 00:07:21,672 She'd put the radio on and have the feather duster, 130 00:07:21,674 --> 00:07:23,007 And you know, "hey, come on," you know, 131 00:07:23,076 --> 00:07:26,344 "if we get it done, we can go do fun things." 132 00:07:26,646 --> 00:07:29,614 [narrator] but when john returned home in 1970, 133 00:07:29,683 --> 00:07:31,983 Things were never the same. 134 00:07:33,519 --> 00:07:36,020 [joe] when he came back, he drank, 135 00:07:36,089 --> 00:07:39,758 And he just couldn't handle it. He was just out of control. 136 00:07:39,826 --> 00:07:42,660 And I didn't understand it then, but I do now. 137 00:07:42,729 --> 00:07:44,963 He couldn't be a family man anymore. 138 00:07:44,965 --> 00:07:49,133 And my mom knew it, you know, she had to protect us 139 00:07:49,202 --> 00:07:52,938 From the negative things that he was doing. 140 00:07:54,140 --> 00:07:57,241 [narrator] marlene decided to end the marriage, 141 00:07:57,310 --> 00:08:01,179 But within a year, she got a chance for a new start. 142 00:08:02,582 --> 00:08:05,550 [david] so, now she's a single mom of two boys 143 00:08:05,619 --> 00:08:09,087 And she meets michael warren. 144 00:08:09,155 --> 00:08:11,689 He was 18 years old, and marlene was 20. 145 00:08:11,758 --> 00:08:13,992 And they fell in love really quickly, 146 00:08:14,060 --> 00:08:16,895 And within a couple of years they were married. 147 00:08:17,764 --> 00:08:20,531 Mike came into the picture when I was around 148 00:08:20,533 --> 00:08:23,167 Four or five years old. 149 00:08:23,169 --> 00:08:28,506 I think what drew my mother, marlene, and mike 150 00:08:28,575 --> 00:08:30,442 Together was 151 00:08:30,510 --> 00:08:32,276 How inspiring he was. 152 00:08:32,278 --> 00:08:37,181 He was full of energy, you know, he was just a go-getter. 153 00:08:37,784 --> 00:08:38,850 [david] michael, even though he was young, 154 00:08:38,919 --> 00:08:41,185 Took on the role of father figure, basically, 155 00:08:41,254 --> 00:08:44,455 To marlene's two kids, john and joe. 156 00:08:45,258 --> 00:08:48,860 [joe] my mom seemed real happy. She, she was energized. 157 00:08:48,929 --> 00:08:51,029 They worked together well. 158 00:08:51,097 --> 00:08:53,899 And everything seemed to have a flow. 159 00:08:56,602 --> 00:08:58,603 [david] they took the family to florida 160 00:08:58,672 --> 00:09:02,373 And started their new life here. 161 00:09:02,375 --> 00:09:06,811 Michael started his car lot business, bargain motors. 162 00:09:06,813 --> 00:09:09,981 It was taking off. 163 00:09:12,385 --> 00:09:16,488 [narrator] with their newfound wealth came new opportunities. 164 00:09:16,556 --> 00:09:20,291 They started buying rental properties as investments. 165 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,795 [joe] she would manage those. 166 00:09:23,863 --> 00:09:26,531 And mike would do the car business. 167 00:09:26,599 --> 00:09:32,070 My family at that time was a very happy, growing family. 168 00:09:32,138 --> 00:09:34,706 [david] they were able to buy the property in the aero club, 169 00:09:34,774 --> 00:09:36,608 Which was brand new at the time. 170 00:09:36,676 --> 00:09:39,477 Very affluent, upscale community. 171 00:09:40,246 --> 00:09:43,814 At the time, mike had probably the nicest house there. 172 00:09:43,816 --> 00:09:46,150 [joe] we had a, a single-engine airplane, 173 00:09:46,152 --> 00:09:48,687 And we had the jacuzzi, and the hangar, 174 00:09:48,689 --> 00:09:51,356 And the two-car garage, you know. 175 00:09:52,692 --> 00:09:53,892 [narrator] for the warren family, 176 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:59,864 Life couldn't have been better, until tragedy struck in 1988. 177 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:05,537 I was around 18, 19, when my brother, john ahrens, 178 00:10:05,605 --> 00:10:09,140 Was picking up a car from the auction 179 00:10:09,209 --> 00:10:11,242 That he's never been to. 180 00:10:11,311 --> 00:10:14,546 The people that go there knew that there was not a stop sign 181 00:10:14,614 --> 00:10:18,750 In a place there should be one. And he did not know, 182 00:10:18,818 --> 00:10:22,721 And drove right out into traffic and got killed. 183 00:10:23,523 --> 00:10:27,358 A really pivotal moment in marlene's life was the death 184 00:10:27,427 --> 00:10:30,228 Of her oldest son, john. 185 00:10:30,296 --> 00:10:31,763 [joe] it hit her hard, 186 00:10:31,831 --> 00:10:34,698 And she knew she had to be strong for me. 187 00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:35,967 She would look in my eyes and say, 188 00:10:36,036 --> 00:10:38,970 "hey, I know you're hurt. I know you're lost, 189 00:10:39,038 --> 00:10:42,240 But we have to stick together, and we will get through this." 190 00:10:47,313 --> 00:10:50,815 [narrator] the family did their best to move on. 191 00:10:50,884 --> 00:10:52,984 [joe] my mom was trying to pull it all together, 192 00:10:53,052 --> 00:10:56,988 But mike, instead of getting closer, 193 00:10:57,057 --> 00:11:02,360 Got further apart. His business absorbed him. 194 00:11:02,428 --> 00:11:04,862 My mother would deal with things with love 195 00:11:04,931 --> 00:11:08,266 And positive affirmation, and she was trying everything, 196 00:11:08,334 --> 00:11:12,937 'cause she was a woman of, there is a solution for every problem. 197 00:11:13,774 --> 00:11:16,574 [narrator] but only two years after the death of a son, 198 00:11:16,643 --> 00:11:19,811 The family faces another tragedy. 199 00:11:22,248 --> 00:11:27,351 A bizarre shooting has left marlene warren clinging to life. 200 00:11:27,420 --> 00:11:30,188 [aleathea] it was so out of the ordinary. 201 00:11:30,256 --> 00:11:34,592 You know, something as benign as a clown would knock on the door. 202 00:11:34,661 --> 00:11:37,629 Just was such a tragic twist. 203 00:11:37,697 --> 00:11:42,434 [music] 204 00:11:42,502 --> 00:11:44,802 [joe] the cops, the detectives, and everything were there 205 00:11:44,871 --> 00:11:46,905 In every room in my house and, like, 206 00:11:46,907 --> 00:11:49,841 Searching through things. And I was just like, 207 00:11:49,909 --> 00:11:52,243 "what's going on, you know?" 208 00:11:52,312 --> 00:11:56,414 But they explained to me that they were securing the scene, 209 00:11:56,482 --> 00:11:59,317 And I would have to go downtown and talk to them. 210 00:12:00,420 --> 00:12:02,687 [narrator] investigators collect any evidence 211 00:12:02,756 --> 00:12:05,056 That might help them catch the gunman. 212 00:12:06,092 --> 00:12:07,759 [aleathea] forensically, there wasn't much left 213 00:12:07,827 --> 00:12:11,429 At the scene in terms of fingerprints or dna, 214 00:12:11,497 --> 00:12:14,498 Or any physical evidence such as that. 215 00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:18,369 The basket with the flowers and the balloon were collected 216 00:12:18,438 --> 00:12:22,173 And saved. But other than that, nothing else had been touched. 217 00:12:23,042 --> 00:12:24,943 [dave] for investigators, it was important that 218 00:12:25,011 --> 00:12:27,145 Nothing was stolen. This was not a robbery. 219 00:12:27,980 --> 00:12:30,748 This was an out of the way residential community. 220 00:12:30,817 --> 00:12:32,516 You had to know where you were going. 221 00:12:32,518 --> 00:12:33,718 You had to have a purpose. 222 00:12:33,786 --> 00:12:38,355 So that led police to think that this was something personal. 223 00:12:38,925 --> 00:12:40,759 Clearly, this is somebody that had a vengeance 224 00:12:40,827 --> 00:12:43,061 For marlene warren. 225 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:48,666 [narrator] coming up. 226 00:12:48,735 --> 00:12:50,868 As marlene clings to life, 227 00:12:50,937 --> 00:12:54,738 Investigators uncover a potential motive. 228 00:12:54,808 --> 00:12:57,208 Everyone in the company would see them 229 00:12:57,277 --> 00:13:00,344 Showing public displays of affection. 230 00:13:00,413 --> 00:13:02,347 [narrator] and a suspect emerges. 231 00:13:08,388 --> 00:13:10,054 There was a lot more to the story. 232 00:13:11,925 --> 00:13:15,326 [music] 233 00:13:19,365 --> 00:13:21,933 [music] 234 00:13:24,304 --> 00:13:26,204 [narrator] at a west palm beach hospital, 235 00:13:26,272 --> 00:13:28,306 Doctors are fighting to save the life 236 00:13:28,374 --> 00:13:31,075 Of 40-year-old marlene warren 237 00:13:31,144 --> 00:13:34,913 After she was shot by a gunman dressed as a clown. 238 00:13:35,916 --> 00:13:37,715 [david] the bullet went into her face 239 00:13:37,783 --> 00:13:38,883 Through the back of her mouth 240 00:13:38,952 --> 00:13:41,585 And lodged in the back of her neck, in her vertebrae. 241 00:13:41,587 --> 00:13:43,454 Marlene's injuries were so severe that she had to be placed 242 00:13:43,523 --> 00:13:45,889 On life support. 243 00:13:45,891 --> 00:13:50,027 I called mike that day when he was on the way to the racetrack 244 00:13:50,096 --> 00:13:51,429 And I told him, 245 00:13:51,497 --> 00:13:55,099 "mom just got shot, and you need to come home." 246 00:13:55,168 --> 00:13:58,269 And uh, he said he was on his way. 247 00:14:01,607 --> 00:14:03,107 [narrator] when she comes out of surgery, 248 00:14:03,176 --> 00:14:05,676 Her family is by her side. 249 00:14:06,546 --> 00:14:09,947 I remember talking to a doctor, and she told me that 250 00:14:10,016 --> 00:14:15,919 They had my mom stable, but she was not breathing on her own. 251 00:14:15,921 --> 00:14:18,456 It was a pretty serious situation. 252 00:14:20,426 --> 00:14:24,929 They were able to recover the projectile from her neck area, 253 00:14:24,997 --> 00:14:29,133 But she never regained consciousness. 254 00:14:29,135 --> 00:14:33,137 I knew she wasn't coming back, you know. 255 00:14:33,206 --> 00:14:37,241 Um, my grandmother had to make that decision. 256 00:14:37,243 --> 00:14:39,009 They gave her all the information. 257 00:14:39,079 --> 00:14:41,545 They weren't telling me anything. 258 00:14:41,614 --> 00:14:45,483 My grandmother said, "hey, they're not getting 259 00:14:45,551 --> 00:14:50,087 Any responses, any pulse, anything. 260 00:14:50,156 --> 00:14:52,156 We're gonna have to let her go." 261 00:14:53,993 --> 00:14:55,159 [david] marlene's family made the decision 262 00:14:55,228 --> 00:14:58,896 To take her off life support. And she died that day at age 40. 263 00:14:59,699 --> 00:15:02,634 [joe] and that was the hardest day of my life. 264 00:15:02,702 --> 00:15:04,435 Hardest day of my life. 265 00:15:11,144 --> 00:15:14,144 [narrator] marlene's loved ones are devastated, 266 00:15:14,146 --> 00:15:16,414 But they're also determined to help police 267 00:15:16,482 --> 00:15:19,250 Catch whoever killed her. 268 00:15:19,318 --> 00:15:22,420 Her son, joe, and his friend, who witnessed the attack, 269 00:15:22,488 --> 00:15:25,456 Are the first to speak with investigators. 270 00:15:25,525 --> 00:15:27,725 [aleathea] each of the young people were interviewed 271 00:15:27,793 --> 00:15:31,462 With regard to what the clown looked like, male or female, 272 00:15:31,531 --> 00:15:36,500 Height, weight, the color of the costume itself, 273 00:15:36,502 --> 00:15:38,402 Whether there was a wig, or a mask, 274 00:15:38,404 --> 00:15:40,804 Or paint for the face. 275 00:15:41,541 --> 00:15:45,443 I was looking at every detail that I could look at. 276 00:15:45,511 --> 00:15:49,413 The car was all white. It was a lebaron. 277 00:15:49,482 --> 00:15:53,317 It had a maroon or reddish interior for the carpet. 278 00:15:53,319 --> 00:15:56,320 It stuck out like a sore thumb. 279 00:15:56,388 --> 00:16:00,057 It would be hard to say how tall the clown was 280 00:16:00,126 --> 00:16:01,659 Because of the hair. 281 00:16:01,728 --> 00:16:05,296 That put another six inches on the person, so, 282 00:16:05,364 --> 00:16:08,799 With that said, probably about 5'9. 283 00:16:08,801 --> 00:16:13,437 The face looked like a mask because it was so smooth. 284 00:16:13,439 --> 00:16:16,173 It looked like a china doll. 285 00:16:16,242 --> 00:16:20,444 The gloves, it seemed like the hand was big. 286 00:16:20,446 --> 00:16:22,313 That's all I could see. 287 00:16:22,315 --> 00:16:24,047 Their first impression was that it was a male 288 00:16:24,049 --> 00:16:26,650 Because of the height. 289 00:16:26,719 --> 00:16:30,821 They were wearing combat boots instead of clown shoes. 290 00:16:30,823 --> 00:16:32,490 It looked like the person 291 00:16:32,558 --> 00:16:33,824 Intended to make a quick getaway. 292 00:16:33,826 --> 00:16:38,462 That's why this person was not wearing the floppy clown shoes. 293 00:16:38,464 --> 00:16:40,698 So this took planning. 294 00:16:44,570 --> 00:16:46,804 [narrator] detectives immediately issue an alert 295 00:16:46,873 --> 00:16:49,273 For the white lebaron. 296 00:16:49,341 --> 00:16:51,776 They then ask marlene's husband, michael, 297 00:16:51,778 --> 00:16:54,645 To accompany them to the station for questioning. 298 00:16:55,915 --> 00:16:57,481 [dave] law enforcement's going to immediately look 299 00:16:57,550 --> 00:17:00,184 At the spouse, especially when nothing was taken, 300 00:17:00,252 --> 00:17:01,985 When there was no robbery. 301 00:17:01,987 --> 00:17:05,623 And so, naturally, they would look at michael warren. 302 00:17:05,691 --> 00:17:07,291 Michael had an air-tight alibi. 303 00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:12,229 He was in a car with his friends on the way to a racetrack 304 00:17:12,298 --> 00:17:15,800 When he got the call that his wife had been shot in the head. 305 00:17:20,506 --> 00:17:22,573 [aleathea] the people he was in the car with confirmed 306 00:17:22,642 --> 00:17:25,176 That he was with them at the time of the shooting. 307 00:17:51,771 --> 00:17:56,340 Michael warren volunteered that they had some rental properties 308 00:17:56,409 --> 00:17:59,043 That marlene would largely be responsible for 309 00:17:59,111 --> 00:18:00,511 Collecting the rents. 310 00:18:13,626 --> 00:18:16,627 [aleathea] they were respectful, but they made notes 311 00:18:16,696 --> 00:18:20,631 About his behavior, and they did note that he was grieving, 312 00:18:20,633 --> 00:18:22,934 And that discussion ended. 313 00:18:28,173 --> 00:18:31,142 [narrator] when detectives speak with marlene's son, joe, 314 00:18:31,210 --> 00:18:32,843 He shares a different perspective 315 00:18:32,845 --> 00:18:35,480 On her work-client relationships. 316 00:18:37,049 --> 00:18:39,182 [joe] I remember when she would go collect rent, 317 00:18:39,184 --> 00:18:40,584 And I'd go with her. 318 00:18:40,653 --> 00:18:43,654 If they didn't pay, she would work with them. 319 00:18:43,723 --> 00:18:45,589 She was never rude to any one of them, 320 00:18:45,591 --> 00:18:47,691 Even though they were rude to her. 321 00:18:47,693 --> 00:18:50,294 She was always understanding. 322 00:18:50,763 --> 00:18:54,097 You can just rule that out that some angry tenant 323 00:18:54,099 --> 00:18:58,001 Would have had the motivation to commit murder in her own home 324 00:18:58,003 --> 00:19:01,639 Dressed up as a clown. It, it didn't make any sense. 325 00:19:05,911 --> 00:19:08,745 [narrator] before wrapping up joe's interview, 326 00:19:08,815 --> 00:19:12,015 Detectives wonder if anything in michael's life 327 00:19:12,085 --> 00:19:14,452 Could have led to this. 328 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,621 [joe] when the detective started questioning me, 329 00:19:17,690 --> 00:19:21,959 I was subconsciously protecting mike. 330 00:19:22,027 --> 00:19:24,762 He was my father, and I didn't know for sure 331 00:19:24,830 --> 00:19:26,497 That he had anything to do with it. 332 00:19:26,565 --> 00:19:31,068 But I wouldn't say anything bad about the man. 333 00:19:31,604 --> 00:19:34,305 I told them michael warren's business was to 334 00:19:34,373 --> 00:19:36,640 Sell and rent cars. 335 00:19:36,709 --> 00:19:40,043 And he was, uh, getting really good at it. 336 00:19:40,045 --> 00:19:44,115 He could influence people in ways that no one could. 337 00:19:44,317 --> 00:19:47,951 Michael warren had a shady past. 338 00:19:48,021 --> 00:19:51,722 He would display misleading advertisements to try to confuse 339 00:19:51,791 --> 00:19:54,792 His rental car company with the more established brand. 340 00:19:58,998 --> 00:20:00,664 [aleathea] it'd been documented that he was 341 00:20:00,733 --> 00:20:03,934 Rolling back odometers to get a higher price for a car 342 00:20:04,003 --> 00:20:07,537 That had higher mileage than what he was proclaiming. 343 00:20:08,207 --> 00:20:11,008 That was an ongoing investigation. 344 00:20:11,444 --> 00:20:14,077 [david] so investigators wondered if maybe there was, 345 00:20:14,079 --> 00:20:17,548 Uh, a bad business deal or, uh, or a client of his 346 00:20:17,616 --> 00:20:20,318 Who may have had a grudge against him. 347 00:20:25,291 --> 00:20:28,592 [narrator] detectives find out michael's business practices 348 00:20:28,594 --> 00:20:31,762 Weren't the only dishonest things taking place 349 00:20:31,831 --> 00:20:33,564 At the car lot. 350 00:20:34,466 --> 00:20:36,934 [joe] he's always had an excuse. 351 00:20:37,002 --> 00:20:38,836 One or two o'clock in the morning, he would say, 352 00:20:38,904 --> 00:20:43,106 "oh, I have to repossess these cars." 353 00:20:43,576 --> 00:20:44,842 [don] you know, when your husband don't 354 00:20:44,910 --> 00:20:47,110 Come home until 3:00, 4:00 in the morning, 355 00:20:47,180 --> 00:20:49,380 You throw up a red flag. 356 00:20:49,448 --> 00:20:50,681 And she's told other people that she thought 357 00:20:50,750 --> 00:20:52,582 Mike was having an affair. 358 00:20:53,319 --> 00:20:55,986 [joe] after my brother died, I noticed he was living 359 00:20:56,055 --> 00:20:57,721 Two different lives. 360 00:20:57,723 --> 00:21:01,825 A week or two before, my mom approached me. 361 00:21:01,827 --> 00:21:04,595 She said, "me and your father are arguing," 362 00:21:04,663 --> 00:21:07,831 And she was very upset, and I'd never seen her that way. 363 00:21:07,900 --> 00:21:10,468 "joey, I've come to the conclusion that your dad 364 00:21:10,536 --> 00:21:13,470 Doesn't love me anymore." 365 00:21:13,539 --> 00:21:16,740 She said, "if anything ever happens to me, 366 00:21:16,809 --> 00:21:19,844 Know that he had something to do with it." 367 00:21:21,146 --> 00:21:24,382 [music] 368 00:21:28,253 --> 00:21:30,955 [music] 369 00:21:33,826 --> 00:21:35,826 [narrator] after learning about michael warren's 370 00:21:35,895 --> 00:21:39,763 Unscrupulous behavior, investigators pay a visit 371 00:21:39,765 --> 00:21:43,200 To his car lot to find out if any of it played a part 372 00:21:43,269 --> 00:21:45,303 In his wife's murder. 373 00:21:45,638 --> 00:21:47,170 [dave] he wasn't the person who pulled the trigger. 374 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,506 But was he involved in some way? 375 00:21:49,575 --> 00:21:52,609 That's what police wanted to know. 376 00:21:52,678 --> 00:21:55,579 [narrator] when police reinterview michael's co-workers 377 00:21:55,648 --> 00:21:59,783 They confirm a potential motive at play. 378 00:21:59,785 --> 00:22:02,052 I was around mike for a long, long time, every day, 379 00:22:02,121 --> 00:22:03,687 Day and night. 380 00:22:03,689 --> 00:22:06,090 And I knew that mike was having an affair. 381 00:22:08,994 --> 00:22:12,830 The employees at bargain motors, to a person, they all said 382 00:22:12,898 --> 00:22:15,065 That it was well known that michael warren 383 00:22:15,134 --> 00:22:17,668 And one of the employees, sheila keen, 384 00:22:17,736 --> 00:22:19,603 Were having an affair. 385 00:22:19,605 --> 00:22:21,839 And it had been going on for some time. 386 00:22:25,911 --> 00:22:28,846 The employees at a bargain motor 387 00:22:28,914 --> 00:22:32,683 All described sheila keen as a tomboy. 388 00:22:32,751 --> 00:22:35,853 She would often wear combat boots 389 00:22:35,921 --> 00:22:38,789 And would dress in a manly fashion. 390 00:22:40,025 --> 00:22:44,228 Not too many people at the business spoke fondly of her. 391 00:22:45,631 --> 00:22:47,698 [narrator] given the multiple reports of sheila 392 00:22:47,766 --> 00:22:49,700 And michael's entanglement, 393 00:22:49,768 --> 00:22:53,904 Police must look into who sheila keen really is. 394 00:22:57,943 --> 00:23:01,111 Twenty six-year-old sheila was from a small town on the shore 395 00:23:01,113 --> 00:23:04,815 Of lake okeechobee, in southern florida. 396 00:23:04,884 --> 00:23:08,251 It's a farming community right on the edge of the everglades. 397 00:23:08,321 --> 00:23:13,591 She was pretty, tall, long shiny brown hair. 398 00:23:14,459 --> 00:23:17,194 And she was also really tough. 399 00:23:17,196 --> 00:23:20,831 Rambunctious, always full of energy. 400 00:23:23,602 --> 00:23:26,437 She had married a man named richard keen 401 00:23:26,505 --> 00:23:30,341 Sometime in the late '80s. He went by the nickname spud. 402 00:23:30,409 --> 00:23:31,975 And he was a repo man. 403 00:23:32,044 --> 00:23:36,613 And sheila, being the fearless woman that she was, 404 00:23:36,682 --> 00:23:40,050 Started doing repo work with him. 405 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:42,552 That's how she got connected to michael. 406 00:23:42,554 --> 00:23:46,523 Richard keen was doing work for michael repossessing cars 407 00:23:46,592 --> 00:23:49,160 And one day brought his wife, sheila, along. 408 00:23:49,228 --> 00:23:52,396 She jumps out of his tow truck and onto the car lot, 409 00:23:52,464 --> 00:23:54,198 And right into michael's life. 410 00:23:58,137 --> 00:24:00,670 Eventually her husband stops working with michael, 411 00:24:00,740 --> 00:24:03,574 Moves on to other things, but sheila stays on board. 412 00:24:03,642 --> 00:24:07,978 And she starts doing more repo work for michael. 413 00:24:08,047 --> 00:24:10,413 And other people who worked on the lot 414 00:24:10,483 --> 00:24:13,550 Really started to notice that she and michael were spending 415 00:24:13,619 --> 00:24:15,853 More and more time together. 416 00:24:16,121 --> 00:24:20,323 They began a open and obvious affair. 417 00:24:20,393 --> 00:24:23,927 I mean, they really didn't take great pains to conceal it. 418 00:24:23,996 --> 00:24:27,097 Everyone in the company would see them 419 00:24:27,166 --> 00:24:30,100 Showing public displays of affection. 420 00:24:30,169 --> 00:24:34,037 It was no secret that he was-- he was a player. 421 00:24:34,039 --> 00:24:35,506 They'd leave the doors wide open. 422 00:24:35,574 --> 00:24:36,907 There was no hiding it. 423 00:24:39,211 --> 00:24:41,011 [narrator] according to his employees, 424 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,847 Michael seemed to be in it for the sex, 425 00:24:43,849 --> 00:24:46,283 But sheila wanted something more. 426 00:24:46,986 --> 00:24:50,487 [aleathea] they described that sheila's behavior 427 00:24:50,555 --> 00:24:54,992 Had begun escalating in terms of 428 00:24:55,060 --> 00:24:58,528 Her possessiveness of michael. 429 00:24:58,598 --> 00:25:02,699 [don] I think it started off as fun, having sex and stuff. 430 00:25:02,768 --> 00:25:03,634 And then she realized, 431 00:25:03,702 --> 00:25:06,103 "oh, I can make a good life here if I can get her-- 432 00:25:06,171 --> 00:25:08,605 Get marlene out of the picture and have him to myself." 433 00:25:09,542 --> 00:25:11,574 [dave] she and her husband, richard, eventually, 434 00:25:11,576 --> 00:25:12,976 They got divorced. 435 00:25:13,045 --> 00:25:16,479 Sheila would openly say that life would be better 436 00:25:16,481 --> 00:25:18,682 If marlene warren wasn't alive. 437 00:25:21,953 --> 00:25:23,486 [narrator] when detectives confront michael 438 00:25:23,556 --> 00:25:27,725 About the affair, he claims it was a misunderstanding. 439 00:25:28,727 --> 00:25:29,993 He admitted that others had thought 440 00:25:30,062 --> 00:25:33,230 They were having an affair, but he denied it. 441 00:25:34,399 --> 00:25:37,000 [dave] michael told law enforcement that 442 00:25:37,002 --> 00:25:40,771 His relationship with his wife of 20 years was strong. 443 00:25:40,773 --> 00:25:44,174 There was no problems. Nothing was awry. 444 00:25:45,311 --> 00:25:48,011 [narrator] compared to witness testimonies, 445 00:25:48,013 --> 00:25:51,515 Police find michael's version of events unlikely. 446 00:25:52,117 --> 00:25:53,350 Their suspicions are really strong that 447 00:25:53,419 --> 00:25:56,319 There was this affair going on. 448 00:25:56,321 --> 00:25:57,821 So they question sheila. 449 00:26:35,094 --> 00:26:37,260 [aleathea] in following up with that, they, obviously, 450 00:26:37,329 --> 00:26:41,564 Also asked her where had she been the day before 451 00:26:41,566 --> 00:26:44,034 At the time of the homicide. 452 00:26:44,103 --> 00:26:47,237 [david] she didn't have a really strong alibi for that day. 453 00:26:47,306 --> 00:26:49,106 She said that the morning of the shooting, 454 00:26:49,174 --> 00:26:51,475 She was out repossessing cars. 455 00:26:51,543 --> 00:26:53,210 But she didn't really have any proof of that. 456 00:26:56,481 --> 00:26:58,081 [narrator] the description of the shooter given by 457 00:26:58,150 --> 00:27:01,618 Marlene's son indicated it was a man, 458 00:27:01,687 --> 00:27:03,086 But looking at sheila, 459 00:27:03,155 --> 00:27:05,889 Detectives wonder if he was mistaken. 460 00:27:15,467 --> 00:27:17,834 [narrator] sheila agrees to provide a hair sample 461 00:27:17,903 --> 00:27:20,937 Should any evidence surface to rule her out, 462 00:27:21,006 --> 00:27:23,273 But her cooperation stops there. 463 00:27:42,995 --> 00:27:46,797 At this point. There wasn't enough to make an arrest. 464 00:27:47,199 --> 00:27:50,133 There was nothing to forensically be able to say that 465 00:27:50,202 --> 00:27:52,302 Sheila keen is the person that 466 00:27:52,371 --> 00:27:54,538 Went to the door dressed as a clown. 467 00:27:59,778 --> 00:28:01,612 [narrator] detectives hope the unique items 468 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:03,246 Left at the crime scene 469 00:28:03,315 --> 00:28:06,984 Might provide the connection they're looking for. 470 00:28:07,052 --> 00:28:11,288 [dave] there were flowers in a basket and a balloon. 471 00:28:11,356 --> 00:28:14,291 It was important to trace those items back 472 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:16,259 To the store where they were purchased. 473 00:28:16,328 --> 00:28:18,395 And that could lead them to the killer. 474 00:28:19,965 --> 00:28:22,165 [aleathea] they ultimately discovered that a local 475 00:28:22,234 --> 00:28:27,904 Nearby publix sold that exact style of basket and balloons, 476 00:28:27,973 --> 00:28:29,373 And flowers. 477 00:28:30,675 --> 00:28:33,844 [david] a couple of employees there told police, 478 00:28:33,912 --> 00:28:38,581 "yeah, we sold a woman that same memorial day bouquet of flowers 479 00:28:38,651 --> 00:28:40,584 And two foil balloons." 480 00:28:41,987 --> 00:28:44,121 [narrator] unfortunately, the store doesn't have 481 00:28:44,189 --> 00:28:47,924 Surveillance cameras and the woman paid in cash. 482 00:28:47,993 --> 00:28:50,594 But investigators are undeterred. 483 00:28:52,097 --> 00:28:53,564 [aleathea] the sheriff's department 484 00:28:53,632 --> 00:28:57,467 Went to all of the local businesses that may have 485 00:28:57,469 --> 00:29:01,271 Offered such a costume for sale or rent. 486 00:29:04,609 --> 00:29:07,210 They find a clown shop on south dixie highway 487 00:29:07,212 --> 00:29:08,778 In west palm beach. 488 00:29:08,780 --> 00:29:13,216 And the owner of the costume shop told officers that, 489 00:29:13,285 --> 00:29:16,853 A few days earlier, a woman had called the shop 490 00:29:16,922 --> 00:29:19,289 And asked, "do you sell clown suits?" 491 00:29:19,358 --> 00:29:22,259 And they did. So, the woman said, 492 00:29:22,327 --> 00:29:26,396 "well, I wanna buy one. Can I come in?" 493 00:29:26,932 --> 00:29:28,031 She needed the colorful jumpsuit. 494 00:29:28,100 --> 00:29:29,799 She needed the orange wig. 495 00:29:29,801 --> 00:29:33,236 She needed plenty of face makeup to completely conceal the face. 496 00:29:33,305 --> 00:29:35,372 But she did not need the clown shoes. 497 00:29:37,909 --> 00:29:41,744 They said it was a woman with long hair, dark eyes, 498 00:29:41,746 --> 00:29:43,546 And manly features, 499 00:29:43,615 --> 00:29:47,417 The same description that joe gave to law enforcement. 500 00:29:49,354 --> 00:29:51,054 Law enforcement brought the photo lineup 501 00:29:51,123 --> 00:29:53,056 To the costume store employees. 502 00:29:53,125 --> 00:29:54,391 They showed it to three employees. 503 00:29:54,459 --> 00:29:57,494 Two of them specifically identified sheila keen 504 00:29:57,562 --> 00:30:00,497 As the individual who bought the clown costume. 505 00:30:03,635 --> 00:30:05,202 [narrator] coming up. 506 00:30:05,270 --> 00:30:10,273 Mounting evidence points to a killer driven by jealousy. 507 00:30:10,342 --> 00:30:14,944 Police found fibers from a wig, a clown wig. 508 00:30:14,946 --> 00:30:17,080 And they also found human hair. 509 00:30:17,650 --> 00:30:21,518 [narrator] but will it be enough to bring the killer to justice? 510 00:30:21,587 --> 00:30:26,990 He said, "I don't care if it takes 25 years. 511 00:30:27,058 --> 00:30:28,592 We're gonna find out who killed your mother." 512 00:30:31,096 --> 00:30:34,431 [music] 513 00:30:38,403 --> 00:30:41,171 [music] 514 00:30:43,408 --> 00:30:45,842 [narrator] less than a week into their investigation, 515 00:30:45,911 --> 00:30:47,710 Police in wellington, florida 516 00:30:47,712 --> 00:30:50,781 Have a suspect for the murder of marlene warren. 517 00:30:51,850 --> 00:30:55,552 They've potentially connected 26-year-old sheila keen 518 00:30:55,620 --> 00:30:58,388 To the clown costume worn by the gunman. 519 00:30:58,457 --> 00:31:02,525 And on may 30th, another piece of evidence emerges. 520 00:31:03,462 --> 00:31:06,563 All of the witnesses described a white chrysler lebaron 521 00:31:06,631 --> 00:31:09,766 That the clown arrived and left in. 522 00:31:09,835 --> 00:31:12,202 [aleathea] four days after the homicide happened, 523 00:31:12,270 --> 00:31:16,406 A white chrysler lebaron was located abandoned 524 00:31:16,475 --> 00:31:19,509 In a nearby winn-dixie parking lot. 525 00:31:21,946 --> 00:31:24,881 [narrator] when investigators run the vin number on the car, 526 00:31:24,950 --> 00:31:28,351 They discover it's been reported stolen. 527 00:31:28,420 --> 00:31:31,454 Payless car rental agency indicated that 528 00:31:31,456 --> 00:31:35,091 That car had been rented by this husband and wife 529 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:38,895 From up north and not been returned to them. 530 00:31:38,964 --> 00:31:44,167 It was learned that the wife looked in the yellow pages, 531 00:31:44,236 --> 00:31:46,669 Thought she was calling payless, 532 00:31:46,671 --> 00:31:49,105 Where they had rented the car from, 533 00:31:49,174 --> 00:31:55,211 But she fell for a deceptive ad, and she called a bargain motors. 534 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:59,416 There was an ongoing dispute between a bargain motors 535 00:31:59,484 --> 00:32:02,452 And payless, where cars would get returned 536 00:32:02,521 --> 00:32:06,356 To a bargain motors in error and they would keep them. 537 00:32:06,425 --> 00:32:09,760 So as a result of that deceptive advertising, 538 00:32:09,828 --> 00:32:12,429 A bargain motors was able to siphon off business 539 00:32:12,497 --> 00:32:14,997 From payless. 540 00:32:14,999 --> 00:32:17,967 [narrator] the couple reported that they last saw the vehicle 541 00:32:17,969 --> 00:32:21,471 When they thought they dropped it off with payless. 542 00:32:21,540 --> 00:32:23,006 But bargain motors told 'em to 543 00:32:23,008 --> 00:32:26,209 Leave the vehicle outside our gate. 544 00:32:27,679 --> 00:32:30,047 [narrator] now, with the car recovered, 545 00:32:30,115 --> 00:32:33,516 Police have a direct link between marlene's murder 546 00:32:33,518 --> 00:32:37,087 And bargain motors, sheila's workplace. 547 00:32:37,155 --> 00:32:40,724 Within that car was some important evidence. 548 00:32:40,792 --> 00:32:46,229 Police found fibers from a wig, a clown wig. 549 00:32:46,298 --> 00:32:49,699 And they also found human hair. 550 00:32:49,768 --> 00:32:52,935 [narrator] unfortunately, police are unable to verify 551 00:32:53,005 --> 00:32:55,739 The hair belongs to sheila. 552 00:32:55,807 --> 00:32:58,375 [dave] at the time, there was no dna testing. 553 00:32:58,443 --> 00:33:01,711 And so, they couldn't be conclusive. 554 00:33:01,980 --> 00:33:04,947 Prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence 555 00:33:05,017 --> 00:33:06,950 To pick her up for the charge. 556 00:33:07,686 --> 00:33:10,186 [david] investigators have no new leads to go on. 557 00:33:10,255 --> 00:33:13,824 The investigation into marlene's murder has gone cold. 558 00:33:17,696 --> 00:33:20,597 [narrator] but police aren't ready to give up just yet. 559 00:33:22,567 --> 00:33:25,635 Law enforcement had already been looking at michael warren's 560 00:33:25,704 --> 00:33:28,438 Business practices with the bargain motors. 561 00:33:30,342 --> 00:33:33,076 [david] four months after marlene died, 562 00:33:33,144 --> 00:33:35,244 Investigators moved on michael's car lot, 563 00:33:35,246 --> 00:33:36,713 And they raided it. 564 00:33:36,781 --> 00:33:38,915 They looked through all the files and all the boxes. 565 00:33:40,051 --> 00:33:42,151 [narrator] the raid doesn't turn up any new evidence 566 00:33:42,153 --> 00:33:44,587 Related to marlene's murder, 567 00:33:44,589 --> 00:33:48,691 But it does prove michael had been committing fraud. 568 00:33:49,494 --> 00:33:53,496 In 1992, he was formally charged with the evidence 569 00:33:53,565 --> 00:33:56,166 That they gathered from that raid. 570 00:33:57,002 --> 00:34:00,069 In 1994, michael warren was sentenced to eight years 571 00:34:00,139 --> 00:34:04,141 In prison for the racketeering and the odometer fraud. 572 00:34:05,376 --> 00:34:08,511 [david] he's released from jail in 1997. 573 00:34:08,580 --> 00:34:11,148 And he's no longer considered a suspect in the murder. 574 00:34:11,583 --> 00:34:13,850 So this story sort of drops out of the media. 575 00:34:18,056 --> 00:34:21,324 When he got out, I talked to him one time on the phone, 576 00:34:21,393 --> 00:34:22,793 And it was out of nowhere. 577 00:34:22,861 --> 00:34:25,094 I guess he just got released. 578 00:34:25,096 --> 00:34:28,231 That was the last time I talked to him for over three decades. 579 00:34:31,803 --> 00:34:33,803 [narrator] after serving his sentence, 580 00:34:33,805 --> 00:34:37,007 Michael moves to virginia to make a fresh start. 581 00:34:37,075 --> 00:34:42,545 And sources tell investigators he has a new wife named debbie. 582 00:34:42,547 --> 00:34:43,780 [aleathea] they were living together in a beautiful 583 00:34:43,849 --> 00:34:45,448 Big house in virginia. 584 00:34:45,517 --> 00:34:48,885 Because michael warren was not charged with 585 00:34:48,953 --> 00:34:52,622 Marlene warren's death, he was able to be the beneficiary 586 00:34:52,691 --> 00:34:56,259 Of the $53,000 life insurance policy. 587 00:34:59,097 --> 00:35:03,132 [joe] he left me like a bag of trash after all this. 588 00:35:03,134 --> 00:35:06,969 I had abandonment issues, post-traumatic stress disorder. 589 00:35:06,971 --> 00:35:09,439 I had depression. 590 00:35:09,441 --> 00:35:12,375 After a few years, um, I figured that they're not 591 00:35:12,444 --> 00:35:15,712 Gonna find this person overnight. 592 00:35:15,780 --> 00:35:19,249 I started practicing on becoming a, a builder. 593 00:35:19,317 --> 00:35:21,284 You know, after, after this thing happened, 594 00:35:21,353 --> 00:35:22,852 I didn't know what I was gonna do. 595 00:35:22,921 --> 00:35:25,522 And I had to do it one thing at a time. 596 00:35:28,493 --> 00:35:30,727 [narrator] in florida, marlene's loved ones 597 00:35:30,795 --> 00:35:33,897 Spend the next 17 years clinging to hopes 598 00:35:33,965 --> 00:35:37,534 That her killer will eventually be brought to justice. 599 00:35:40,238 --> 00:35:42,605 I was waiting for closure. 600 00:35:42,607 --> 00:35:45,241 I would call every year to the detective's office, 601 00:35:45,310 --> 00:35:46,543 And detective williams, he said, 602 00:35:46,611 --> 00:35:49,946 "joe, I'm gonna tell you something." 603 00:35:50,015 --> 00:35:55,085 He said, "I don't care if it takes 25 years, 604 00:35:55,153 --> 00:35:58,421 We're gonna find out who killed your mother. I promise you." 605 00:35:58,490 --> 00:36:01,958 And you know what? They did. 606 00:36:02,026 --> 00:36:06,329 [music] 607 00:36:06,398 --> 00:36:10,033 [david] in 2014, a grant comes in related 608 00:36:10,101 --> 00:36:12,068 To cold case investigations. 609 00:36:12,137 --> 00:36:16,038 And palm beach county uses some of that money to take a new look 610 00:36:16,108 --> 00:36:18,909 At the murder of marlene warren. 611 00:36:18,977 --> 00:36:22,445 They start reexamining some of the evidence, 612 00:36:22,447 --> 00:36:25,982 Including the balloons that the clown delivered, 613 00:36:26,050 --> 00:36:29,051 And find a long brown hair on one of the ribbons 614 00:36:29,053 --> 00:36:32,021 That hadn't been discovered in the original examination. 615 00:36:33,025 --> 00:36:36,258 Detective paige mccann sent off a lot of the trace evidence, 616 00:36:36,260 --> 00:36:39,028 Including hairs, fibers, 617 00:36:39,030 --> 00:36:42,899 To the fbi for mitochondrial dna testing. 618 00:36:44,469 --> 00:36:46,336 With the new science, they had the opportunity 619 00:36:46,404 --> 00:36:49,139 To open up a brand-new lead in the case. 620 00:36:49,207 --> 00:36:53,476 They had samples from sheila that they could compare 621 00:36:53,545 --> 00:36:56,078 With samples that were found in the lebaron 622 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:58,381 And on the balloon ribbons. 623 00:37:02,587 --> 00:37:05,688 [narrator] while awaiting results of the dna analysis, 624 00:37:05,757 --> 00:37:10,293 Investigators discover sheila has also remarried. 625 00:37:10,695 --> 00:37:12,729 When investigators looked up the marriage license, 626 00:37:12,797 --> 00:37:15,365 They realize that the person michael was married to 627 00:37:15,433 --> 00:37:19,201 Who supposedly was named debbie was not debbie. 628 00:37:19,203 --> 00:37:21,638 It was sheila keen-warren. 629 00:37:21,706 --> 00:37:24,607 Sheila keen had bleached her hair blonde 630 00:37:24,609 --> 00:37:26,943 And was now going by the name debbie. 631 00:37:28,312 --> 00:37:30,513 [joe] I found out they were married, 632 00:37:30,582 --> 00:37:33,983 And that just put the puzzle together for me. 633 00:37:34,819 --> 00:37:36,719 [dave] I believe sheila keen murdered marlene warren 634 00:37:36,788 --> 00:37:39,622 Because she wanted marlene warren's life. 635 00:37:39,691 --> 00:37:41,524 This is the act of a sociopath. 636 00:37:41,526 --> 00:37:42,392 This is the act of a cold-blooded killer 637 00:37:42,460 --> 00:37:45,928 Who thinks they can take away someone's life, 638 00:37:45,997 --> 00:37:48,598 And not look back, and just move away. 639 00:37:48,666 --> 00:37:53,036 And try to deceive everyone for the next 27 years. 640 00:37:59,310 --> 00:38:02,545 [music] 641 00:38:06,250 --> 00:38:08,785 [music] 642 00:38:12,123 --> 00:38:14,524 [narrator] nearly three decades after the murder of 643 00:38:14,592 --> 00:38:18,495 Marlene warren, investigators have discovered evidence 644 00:38:18,563 --> 00:38:21,364 That could breathe new life into a case 645 00:38:21,433 --> 00:38:24,634 That left a quiet florida community in shock. 646 00:38:25,703 --> 00:38:27,603 This case has received a lot of attention 647 00:38:27,672 --> 00:38:29,472 Because it combined a lot of different things. 648 00:38:29,540 --> 00:38:32,508 You've got evil clown that you would only see in the movies. 649 00:38:32,577 --> 00:38:36,179 You've got sex and you've got violence. 650 00:38:36,714 --> 00:38:38,682 So you can see why people are so interested in this. 651 00:38:39,884 --> 00:38:41,584 [gunshot] 652 00:38:42,520 --> 00:38:44,787 [narrator] advances in dna technology 653 00:38:44,789 --> 00:38:47,957 Allow forensic specialists to conduct a more thorough 654 00:38:48,026 --> 00:38:52,228 Analysis of the hair found in the getaway vehicle. 655 00:38:52,297 --> 00:38:55,898 And what they find is chilling. 656 00:38:55,967 --> 00:38:59,568 [aleathea] it was able to be forensically determined 657 00:38:59,638 --> 00:39:01,004 That hair was sheila keen's. 658 00:39:02,807 --> 00:39:05,541 So now you've tied sheila keen-warren 659 00:39:05,610 --> 00:39:07,143 To the chrysler lebaron. 660 00:39:07,211 --> 00:39:11,147 You have tied her to the clown costume. 661 00:39:11,215 --> 00:39:15,518 You've tied her to the balloons and the flowers. 662 00:39:15,587 --> 00:39:17,553 So you have means, motive and opportunity. 663 00:39:17,622 --> 00:39:19,956 And now you have dna. 664 00:39:23,094 --> 00:39:25,361 [narrator] it's enough for detectives to finally 665 00:39:25,430 --> 00:39:28,698 Obtain a warrant for sheila's arrest. 666 00:39:28,766 --> 00:39:31,834 We were contacted by the west palm beach, 667 00:39:31,903 --> 00:39:34,370 Florida sheriff's office in regards to the possibility 668 00:39:34,439 --> 00:39:37,840 Of a lady that was residing in our county by the name of, 669 00:39:37,842 --> 00:39:40,576 Uh, sheila keen-warren. 670 00:39:41,045 --> 00:39:43,179 When we were ready to effect the arrest, 671 00:39:43,247 --> 00:39:47,283 Which I believe was, was on September 27, 2017, 672 00:39:47,351 --> 00:39:50,419 She and her husband, michael, were out of town. 673 00:39:50,421 --> 00:39:53,989 We were able to ascertain information that they were 674 00:39:54,059 --> 00:39:56,626 Somewhere around the roanoke area. 675 00:39:56,694 --> 00:39:58,260 They pulled her over and they put her 676 00:39:58,262 --> 00:39:59,729 In the back of a cruiser, 677 00:39:59,731 --> 00:40:02,732 And she doesn't ask why she's arrested. 678 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:04,834 It's like she knew. 679 00:40:08,272 --> 00:40:09,672 [narrator] since there is no evidence 680 00:40:09,741 --> 00:40:13,075 Of michael's involvement, he is free to go. 681 00:40:13,144 --> 00:40:17,614 But sheila is immediately taken in for further questioning. 682 00:40:40,438 --> 00:40:45,674 [music] 683 00:40:45,676 --> 00:40:47,776 [narrator] with sheila behind bars, 684 00:40:47,778 --> 00:40:50,880 Prosecutors must now build out their case. 685 00:40:52,116 --> 00:40:56,286 Science can be very tricky and it's not always 100%. 686 00:40:56,354 --> 00:40:58,855 Cold cases are hard enough to prosecute as is. 687 00:40:58,923 --> 00:41:01,457 Because memories fade. Evidence spoils. 688 00:41:01,525 --> 00:41:03,659 A lot of it is, it's not just that dna is found, 689 00:41:03,728 --> 00:41:05,495 You've got to tie it together. 690 00:41:05,563 --> 00:41:09,799 Are the witnesses still alive? Can they testify on the stand? 691 00:41:11,669 --> 00:41:15,972 [narrator] sheila is extradited back to florida to stand trial. 692 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:20,209 But by 2020, a series of covid-related delays 693 00:41:20,278 --> 00:41:23,545 Take a toll on the state's case against her. 694 00:41:23,547 --> 00:41:26,348 Law enforcement officers who we depended on to introduce 695 00:41:26,418 --> 00:41:30,253 The evidence at trial, one by one, they became unavailable. 696 00:41:34,692 --> 00:41:36,759 [narrator] amid mounting concerns, 697 00:41:36,828 --> 00:41:39,695 Prosecutors decide to forgo the trial 698 00:41:39,764 --> 00:41:43,433 And offer sheila a plea deal in 2023. 699 00:41:44,235 --> 00:41:45,367 [aleathea] the agreement that was reached was that 700 00:41:45,369 --> 00:41:49,171 Sheila would admit to having killed marlene warren, 701 00:41:49,240 --> 00:41:51,908 And in exchange, she would be sentenced 702 00:41:51,976 --> 00:41:54,744 To 12 years in the department of corrections. 703 00:41:54,812 --> 00:41:56,779 [narrator] sheila accepts the deal, 704 00:41:56,848 --> 00:42:00,350 But neither side is happy with the outcome. 705 00:42:00,418 --> 00:42:03,185 [greg] sheila keen-warren did not plead to this crime 706 00:42:03,254 --> 00:42:04,987 Because she committed this crime. 707 00:42:05,056 --> 00:42:08,290 The state offered her this sweetheart deal 708 00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:10,660 Because the state knew that nobody in their right mind 709 00:42:10,728 --> 00:42:12,128 Would turn it down. 710 00:42:14,098 --> 00:42:14,931 [dave] it's one of the most frustrating things 711 00:42:14,999 --> 00:42:17,867 As a prosecutor, to know that someone committed 712 00:42:17,935 --> 00:42:21,638 The most heinous crime of all and one day will walk free. 713 00:42:23,074 --> 00:42:26,375 But the fact that we're able to get some measure of justice 714 00:42:26,377 --> 00:42:31,314 For joseph and for his mother, marlene warren, is a victory. 715 00:42:36,921 --> 00:42:39,021 [joe] a few years later, when I came out of my shock, 716 00:42:39,090 --> 00:42:42,558 I looked at a bunch of pictures of her. 717 00:42:42,626 --> 00:42:44,426 The eyes. They were, they were-- 718 00:42:44,428 --> 00:42:48,030 There was no doubt after that picture, none. 719 00:42:48,099 --> 00:42:50,934 I saw the eyes of the killer that did it. 720 00:42:55,639 --> 00:42:57,573 [narrator] for marlene's loved ones, 721 00:42:57,641 --> 00:42:59,975 Life will never be the same. 722 00:43:00,512 --> 00:43:03,645 It impacted everybody in our family and still does. 723 00:43:03,647 --> 00:43:05,315 Some are still shut down like I was, 724 00:43:05,383 --> 00:43:08,818 And I try to help 'em, and it's a process, you know? 725 00:43:08,886 --> 00:43:11,787 It's a slow process. 726 00:43:11,856 --> 00:43:15,457 My mom is going to be remembered in this world because of 727 00:43:15,459 --> 00:43:20,730 What I do and how I do it. Love one another, you know, 728 00:43:20,798 --> 00:43:24,834 Care about one another. If I can do it... 729 00:43:24,902 --> 00:43:28,204 From what I've been through, I believe everybody can do it. 730 00:43:28,272 --> 00:43:32,041 [music] 731 00:43:33,478 --> 00:43:39,282 [music]