Tennessee

Virginia Woman Waives Extradition, Will be Returned to Florida After Arrest in 1990 Clown Murder Cold Case

Police reopened the homicide investigation in 2014, recontacting witnesses and conducting additional DNA analysis

A Virginia woman arrested Tuesday in a 27-year-old "Clown Murder" cold case in Palm Beach County will be returning to Florida to face charges.

Sheila Keen Warren waived her right to extradition during a court hearing Wednesday morning, meaning she will be sent back to face a first degree murder charge after she was recently indicted by a grand jury.

On May 26, 1990, Marlene Warren was killed outside her Wellington home. According to witness reports from NBC affiliate WPTV, a person dressed as a clown carrying a flower arrangement and two balloons pulled into Warren's driveway in a white Chrysler Le Baron.

Witnesses said they heard a gunshot and Warren fell to the ground as the clown calmly walked back to the vehicle and drove away. Marlene Warren sustained a gunshot wound to the face and was transported to an area Hospital, where she died two days later, the report said.

The initial investigation led detectives to identify Keen as a suspect, but no arrest was made at the time. In 2014, police reopened the homicide investigation. Witnesses were recontacted, and additional DNA analysis was conducted.

Officials later learned that Keen had married Marlene Warren's former husband, Michael Warren, in 2002. According to the report, the couple was living in Tennessee, where they operated a restaurant together.

An arrest warrant was obtained for Keen after the Aug. 31 grand jury indictment. Keen was located in Washington County, Va., and arrested without incident on Tuesday.

Detectives haven't said whether Michael Warren was involved in his former wife's death.

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