Accused Marshfield Wife Killer Sent To Bridgewater State Hospital

PLYMOUTH, MA — The Rockland man accused of killing his wife appeared in Plymouth District Court Wednesday afternoon.

Allen Warner, 47, pleaded not guilty to murder and was ordered held without bail. The arraignment came following a request for a mental health evaluation, which resulted in a doctor's recommendation that he be sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for at least 20 days, a request that was granted.

While at the hospital, Warner will undergo a competency evaluation.

As a police report was read in court, Allen Warner, wearing a black shirt, at times looked down while sometimes looking up at the proceedings.

Shana Warner, Allen Warner's wife, was found Monday evening in her vehicle shortly after she called 911, saying she was being pursued. The first 911 call at 5:51 p.m. reported suspicious activity on School Street in Marshfield, according to a police report read in court. The caller stated that a man, later identified as Allen Warner, jumped into a car and took off. A second 911 call at 5:59 p.m. reported that a gray vehicle drove off a road and a man fled into the woods. The final call came from Shana Warner, who indicated that she was in her vehicle, her ex-husband entered the car and she didn't know where she was.

In the background of the call, multiple screams could be heard. When police found the car on Route 3A, they found no one in the vehicle but Shana Warner was found on the ground a few feet away. She was pronounced dead less than hour later at South Shore Hospital.

One witness told police that he saw Allen Warner approach Shana Warner's car before hearing a large bang which was a gun shot. The witness began to follow the vehicle, which was being driven erratically. Another witness said she heard a women yell, "help, help help." She said she saw Shana Warner walk away from Allen Warner's vehicle before she was struck and dragged a short distance.

Shana Warner's body had wounds, lacerations, bruises, abrasions and several cuts. The medical examiner who performed an autopsy on her body found an exit wound from a bullet, an entrance wound with small fragments of a bullet, and multiple stab wounds.

Investigators at the crime scene found red/brown liquor on the ground, the car, a nearby rock and a gray flip phone.

The next day, police responded to a report of a hit and run in the drive-through of a Dunkin' Donuts in Whitman. Video of the crash showed that a flatbed truck from T&K Asphalt Services was involved in the crash and left the scene. When the officer went to the business to inquire about the truck, Warner drove by and was placed under arrest, Cruz said.

The death is a continuation of what was a pattern of violence towards Shana Warner from her estranged husband. Her current boyfriend that when she would drive to Abinton to visit her mother, she would drive around Rockland to avoid Allen Warner.

The victim's daughter said her mother filed for divorce in April but had concerns that Allen Warner would commit suicide. She also said she hasn't seen her father in two years.

The victim's son said he was aware of an incident where Allen Warner grabbed Shana Warner by the neck about three years ago.

Allen Warner's mother told police that she had a strained relationship with her son and that he beat her up 15 years ago in an unreported incident.

Warner is due back in court Oct. 15.

Below is the video from the arraignment. Please note that it contains graphic details.

Reporting from Mike Carraggi was used in this story.

Image via Marshfield State Police