By James Kukstis [email protected]

Posted Sep 26, 2018 at 2:15 PM
Updated Oct 1, 2018 at 3:19 PM

Allen Warner, who prosecutors say stabbed and shot his estranged wife, will be held without bail in Bridgewater State Hospital for 20-days to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Police say Warner, 47, killed his wife in Marshfield on Monday night, Sept. 24 before being arrested after crashing a truck he stole from T&K Asphalt in Whitman into large flower pots at a Dunkin’ Donuts the next day. Police identified Warner while investigating that hit and run.

Warner was charged Wednesday in the death of his wife, Shana Warner, 48, who died Monday after being brutally murdered and left abandoned in a crashed car on Route 3A in Marshfield, police say.

Judge James Sullivan of Plymouth District Court ordered Warner to Bridgewater State Hospital at his arraignment, during which Dr. Daniel Richard told the court that during a brief evaluation of Warner requested by the defense, the defendant demonstrated an “impaired mental state”.

Richard said Warner struggled to stay awake during the evaluation and complained that he “could not think straight.”

During the arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Elumba outlined details of the gruesome attack. The Medical Examiner’s report showed gunshot and stab wounds, as well as bruises throughout the victim’s body, which was found a few feet from her vehicle.

Elumba also said Warner had cut his hair and shaved his beard in between the Monday attack and the Tuesday arrest.

Court records show Shana Warner filed for divorce three times since 2011, most recently this year. Shana Warner’s boyfriend, John Tallent, who had been dating her for five months and lived with her in Marshfield, said she was afraid of her husband. There was no restraining order on file for Allen Warner in Plymouth or Hingham district courts or Plymouth County Probate Court.

Mary Whitfill contributed to this report.