ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A Sturgis man was sentenced to decades in prison last week on Thursday, June 1, after pleading no contest to charges in connection to the murder and mutilation of his girlfriend, as well as the sexual assault of a fellow inmate once in custody.
The Michigan Attorney General’s Office announced on Friday, June 2 that 39-year-old Wade Allen was sentenced to 39 to 60 years for Second-Degree Homicide, 2 to 5 years for Attempted Dismemberment and Mutilation, and 38 months to 5 years for Attempted Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct.
The sentencing in 45th District Court included restitution for the victim’s burial expenses, recovery of courts costs of prosecution, associated fines, and lifetime registration with the state’s sex offender registry.
Allen was arrested on May 22nd 2019, after Sturgis police officers responded to a tip regarding the murder and dismemberment of his girlfriend. In searching Allen’s apartment, officers located the mutilated remains of Allen’s girlfriend being stored in two coolers.
While in jail, Allen spoke to his cellmates about having strangled his girlfriend to the point of death. After finding out that the cellmates had passed this information onto the authorities, Allen sexually assaulted one of the inmates when they were re-housed together.
“I am grateful to the Sturgis Department of Public Safety, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office who spent countless hours on this case,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. “No sentence will be enough to overcome the grief of the victim’s family, or the anguish suffered by the victims, but hopefully today’s plea will allow the healing process to begin.”
