High-Profile Murder That Shocked Palm Beach County Comes to Controversial Close
In a dramatic conclusion to one of Florida’s most bizarre criminal cases, Sheila Keen-Warren, 61, walked free from prison Saturday after serving time for a murder that captivated the nation’s attention—killing her future husband’s wife while disguised as a clown.
On a seemingly ordinary day in 1990, what appeared to be a cheerful clown bearing balloons arrived at Marlene Warren’s Wellington home. Warren’s son, Joseph Ahrens, witnessed what happened next. As his mother opened the door, the clown presented the balloons. Warren’s last words were “How nice” before the mysterious visitor pulled out a gun and shot her in the face, fleeing the scene immediately after.
27-year hunt for justice
The case remained unsolved for nearly three decades until 2017, when investigators said advances in DNA technology provided new evidence linking Keen-Warren to the murder. The breakthrough came from evidence found in the alleged getaway car—a white Chrysler convertible reported stolen from Michael Warren’s car lot a month before the shooting.
The investigation trail
Detectives pieced together compelling circumstantial evidence:
- Local costume shop employees identified Keen-Warren as the purchaser of a clown suit days before the murder
- A distinctive silver balloon reading “You’re the Greatest” was traced to a single Publix supermarket near Keen-Warren’s residence
- Orange, hair-like fibers discovered in the abandoned getaway car became crucial evidence
At the time of the murder, Keen-Warren worked for Michael Warren, the victim’s husband, at his used car lot. Despite witnesses claiming they were having an affair, both denied any romantic involvement. However, in what many viewed as a shocking twist, the pair married in 2002 and relocated to Abingdon, Virginia, where they operated a restaurant.
Legal resolution and controversies
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg stated Saturday: “Sheila Keen-Warren will always be an admitted convicted murderer and will wear that stain every day for the rest of her life.”
However, her attorney, Greg Rosenfeld, maintains her innocence, stating: “As we’ve stated from the beginning, she did not commit this crime.” The defense team has consistently challenged the DNA evidence, claiming it was weak and inconclusive.
Family suspicions
The case carries additional weight due to statements made by Marlene Warren before her death. According to family members who spoke to The Palm Beach Post in 2000, she had expressed fears about her husband and told her mother, “If anything happens to me, Mike done it.” Despite these claims, Michael Warren has never been charged and continues to deny any involvement in his first wife’s murder.
A plea deal’s aftermath
Keen-Warren’s release comes 18 months after accepting a plea deal for second-degree murder, just before her trial was set to begin. The agreement, influenced by Florida’s 1990 laws allowing substantial credit for good behavior, effectively ended one of the state’s most enigmatic criminal cases, though questions still linger about the full truth behind the deadly clown encounter.
The case remains a stark reminder of how even the most seemingly outlandish crimes can have very real, tragic consequences while highlighting the complexities of pursuing justice across decades of technological and legal evolution.