EPISODE · Jan 28, 2026 · 13 MIN
The Girlfriend in the Cooler: The Wade Allen Case
from 10 Minute Murder | Bingeable True Crime Stories · host Joe
The Girlfriend in the Cooler: The Wade Allen CaseWade Allen strangled and dismembered his girlfriend Kelly Jean Warner in May 2019 in Sturgis, Michigan. Police discovered her mutilated remains stored in two coolers inside Allen's apartment after an anonymous tip. The 39-year-old pleaded no contest to second-degree homicide, attempted dismemberment, and attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct. While incarcerated at St. Joseph County Jail, Allen sexually assaulted a cellmate who had reported his murder confession to authorities. A judge sentenced Allen to 39-60 years for murder with consecutive sentences for assault, effectively ensuring he'll likely die in prison.This is the story of a woman whose transient lifestyle made her disappearance almost invisible, and a man whose brain might have been wired for violence. Kelly Jean Warner, 43, lived a life that didn't fit neatly into society's boxes. When she vanished in spring 2019, there were no immediate alarm bells because people like Kelly sometimes go weeks without contact. That silence became her killer's greatest advantage. But her sister Lisa refused to let Kelly disappear quietly, and that persistence helped crack open one of the most disturbing murder cases in Michigan's recent history. We're going to talk about what happens when someone's lifestyle makes them vulnerable, when a psychopath moves through a small town undetected, and how a catastrophic failure in the jail system allowed a murderer to victimize someone all over again.#WadeAllen #KellyJeanWarner #KellyWarner #TrueCrime #Michigan #Sturgis #Murder🔔 Subscribe for True Crime Cases multiple times a weekNever miss a story. Subscribe to 10 Minute Murder for bite-sized true crime episodes delivered fresh every week.Get a weekly email from me about the upcoming cases and more: 10minutemurder.com/newsletter📱 Follow for Behind-the-Scenes Content Get exclusive case updates, research photos, and sneak peeks of upcoming episodes:Instagram: @10minutemurder on IGFacebook: 10 Minute Murder on FBTikTok: 10 Minute Murder on TikTok💬 Have a Case Suggestion? Know a fascinating case that deserves coverage? I love listener suggestions and feature the best ones in upcoming episodes. Email: [email protected] Website: 10minutemurder.com ⭐ Help Grow the True Crime CommunityRate & Review: Leave a 5-star review to help other true crime fans discover the showShare: Send this episode to fellow true crime enthusiastsJoin the Discussion: Tag us in your episode reactions on social media🎧 Want Even More True Crime? If you love the brief and bingeable vibe, check out my other podcast: 10 Minute Mystery - same bingeable storytelling, different cases. Search "10 Minute Mystery" wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for being part of the 10 Minute Murder community. Let's make 2025 the ultimate year for bite-sized true crime storytelling. 🖤Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/10-minute-murder-bingeable-true-crime-stories--4603604/support.
What this episode covers
The Girlfriend in the Cooler: The Wade Allen CaseWade Allen strangled and dismembered his girlfriend Kelly Jean Warner in May 2019 in Sturgis, Michigan. Police discovered her mutilated remains stored in two coolers inside Allen's apartment after an anonymous tip. The 39-year-old pleaded no contest to second-degree homicide, attempted dismemberment, and attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct. While incarcerated at St. Joseph County Jail, Allen sexually assaulted a cellmate who had reported his murder confession to authorities. A judge sentenced Allen to 39-60 years for murder with consecutive sentences for assault, effectively ensuring he'll likely die in prison.This is the story of a woman whose transient lifestyle made her disappearance almost invisible, and a man whose brain might have been wired for violence. Kelly Jean Warner, 43, lived a life that didn't fit neatly into society's boxes. When she vanished in spring 2019, there were no immediate alarm bells because people like Kelly sometimes go weeks without contact. That silence became her killer's greatest advantage. But her sister Lisa refused to let Kelly disappear quietly, and that persistence helped crack open one of the most disturbing murder cases in Michigan's recent history. We're going to talk about what happens when someone's lifestyle makes them vulnerable, when a psychopath moves through a small town undetected, and how a catastrophic failure in the jail system allowed a murderer to victimize someone all over again.#WadeAllen #KellyJeanWarner #KellyWarner #TrueCrime #Michigan #Sturgis #Murder🔔 Subscribe for True Crime Cases multiple times a weekNever miss a story. Subscribe to 10 Minute Murder for bite-sized true crime episodes delivered fresh every week.Get a weekly email from me about the upcoming cases and more: 10minutemurder.com/newsletter📱 Follow for Behind-the-Scenes Content Get exclusive case updates, research photos, and sneak peeks of upcoming episodes:Instagram: @10minutemurder on IGFacebook: 10 Minute Murder on FBTikTok: 10 Minute Murder on TikTok💬 Have a Case Suggestion? Know a fascinating case that deserves coverage? I love listener suggestions and feature the best ones in upcoming episodes. Email: [email protected] Website: 10minutemurder.com ⭐ Help Grow the True Crime CommunityRate & Review: Leave a 5-star review to help other true crime fans discover the showShare: Send this episode to fellow true crime enthusiastsJoin the Discussion: Tag us in your episode reactions on social media🎧 Want Even More True Crime? If you love the brief and bingeable vibe, check out my other podcast: 10 Minute Mystery - same bingeable storytelling, different cases. Search "10...
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The Girlfriend in the Cooler: The Wade Allen Case
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