Rockland man convicted of murdering his estranged wife

A Plymouth County jury has convicted a Rockland man on a charge that he murdered his estranged wife, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz and Marshfield Police Chief Phillip Tavares jointly announced today.

After a 7-day trial in Plymouth Superior Court, today, a jury found Allen Warner, 51, of Rockland, guilty in the murder of 48-year-old Shana Warner. The defendant was also found guilty of one count each of Kidnapping, Possession of a Rifle, Possession of a Loaded Firearm, Possession of Ammunition, Theft of a Motor Vehicle, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Property Damage. Allen Warner will be sentenced in Plymouth Superior Court on Monday at 9:30 a.m.

At approximately 5:51 p.m. 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 the female victim, Shana Warner. She reported to police that her ex-husband had jumped in the car and 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 at 6:43 p.m.

Interviews on scene indicated that the perpetrator, later determined through the investigation to be Allen Warner, may have fled into the woods. A perimeter was set up and numerous state, local and federal agencies, K9 and Massachusetts State Police Air Wing responded to support the effort to locate the suspect.

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 on that evening for Warner and the vehicle he was traveling in, a 2013 gray Toyota Corolla.

The following day, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Whitman Police were alerted to a hit and run with property damage at a business. 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. Warner was placed under arrest without incident.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Shana Warner died of blunt force injuries and that she was stabbed six times and shot with a firearm once.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jessica Elumba and Kathleen Kramer, and was investigated by Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and Marshfield Police.