Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120
PLYMOUTH – A Rockland man has been sent to State Prison for life for the murder of his estranged wife, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz and Marshfield Police Chief Phillip Tavares announced today.
Last Friday, after a 7-day trial, Allen Warner, 51, of Rockland, was found guilty of one count of Murder and other charges in the 2018 death of 48 year-old Shana Warner. Today, at sentencing, Plymouth Superior Court Judge Mark Hallal sentenced Allen Warner to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole.
“On September 24, 2018, for approximately 15 minutes, Shana Warner was under attack, left to die alone of the side of the road as her assailant, Allen Warner fled,” DA Cruz said. “Route 3A was shutdown, Marshfield High School was in lockdown, and State Police and Marshfield Police embarked on an exhaustive, statewide investigation, ultimately leading to Allen Warner’s arrest. At trial, Ms. Warner’s devastated family endured days of gruesome evidence, and listened to her voice for the last time as she called 911 for help. Today, at sentencing, they remembered Shana as a loving daughter, mother and sister, whose spirit held their family together. Shana Warner’s death was not in vain, and I hope that her family can find some solace knowing that justice has been done.”
Marshfield Police Chief Phillip Tavares said, “We offer our condolences to Shana’s family, and I am hopeful that today’s sentencing brings some measure of peace to her family. It is clear in all of the evidence that was presented during the trial and uncovered during the investigation that the defendant spent significant time and effort in planning this horrific, extreme murder. What Mr. Warner failed to prepare for was the dedication and effort put forth by so many police officers and prosecutors. He thought he was going to get away with this heinous crime, but he was wrong.”
At approximately 5:51 pm on September 24, 2018, Marshfield Police received two calls reporting that a motor vehicle was off the road and a carjacking or domestic violence incident was occurring in the vicinity of 758 Main Street, Route 3A. The third call, a 911 call, to Marshfield Police, was made by Shana Warner. She reported to police that her ex-husband had jumped in the car and that she was very hurt. Police responded to the area and located Shana Warner suffering from life-threatening injuries. She was transported to South Shore Hospital where she was pronounced dead of her injuries.
As a result of the investigation, information was developed indicating that the victim’s estranged husband, Allen Warner, was a person of interest and a BOLO was issued by Massachusetts State Police for Warner and the vehicle that he was traveling in.
The following day, at approximately 12:30 pm, Whitman Police were alerted to a hit and run with property damage at a business in town. Witnesses reported seeing Allen Warner driving a ramp truck from a local business. Whitman Police responded to the business and while there, Allen drove into the business with the ramp truck. Allen Warner was placed under arrest without incident.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Warner died of blunt force injuries and that she was stabbed six times and shot with a firearm once.
At sentencing today, Allen Warner was sentenced to serve an additional 10 years in State Prison to be served from and after his life prison sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jessica Elumba and Kathleen Kramer and was investigated by State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and Marshfield Police.