The American woman in the “killer clown” case of 1990 was released from prison

A woman who pleaded guilty to murdering her husband’s ex-wife in Florida in 1990 has been released from prison.

Sheila Keane-Warren, 61, spent 18 months in prison for her involvement in the infamous “killer clown” case.

Last year, Keene-Warren agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder. Authorities say she shot and killed Marlene Warren while wearing a clown costume more than 30 years ago.

After years of mystery and intrigue surrounding the murder, investigators tied Keene-Warren to the case and arrested her in 2017, although she maintains her innocence.

In 2023, Keene-Warren was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Her release was not unexpected – Florida law offered her early release for good behavior.

“Sheila Keen-Warren will always be a convicted murderer and will carry that stain every day for the rest of her life,” Palm Beach County State’s Attorney Dave Aronberg said in a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday.

Kenn-Warren took the plea deal because she would have been released quickly or face life in prison if the case had gone to trial, Greg Rosenfeld, Kenn-Warren’s attorney, told The Associated Press.

“We are very pleased that Ms. Keene-Warren is being released from prison and is returning to her family,” Mr. Rosenfeld told the news outlet. “As we have stated from the beginning, she did not commit this crime.”

The victim’s son, Joseph Ahrens, told authorities that the doorbell rang at their family home and his mother answered the door to a man in a clown costume. The person handed her some balloons and then shot her in the face.

Authorities said Keene-Warren had been having an affair with the victim’s husband, but it wasn’t until improved DNA testing linked Keene-Warren to the crime.

In 2002, Keene-Warren married Michael Warren.