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ABINGDON, Va. — Twenty-seven years after a Florida woman was gunned down by a person wearing a clown costume, an Abingdon woman has been charged with first-degree murder in her death.

Sheila Keen-Warren, 54, was arrested without incident Tuesday at her Herron Circle residence near South Holston Lake by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Warren later married the victim’s husband, police said.

On May 26, 1990, Marlene Warren, 40, was at her residence in the Wellington Aero Club community in Palm Beach County, along with her son, Joseph Ahrens, and several of his friends. An airstrip runs through the community and many of the homes have hangars and private planes.

While finishing breakfast, around 10:45 a.m., they noticed a white Chrysler LeBaron pull into the driveway, Palm Beach County authorities said in a written statement. A person dressed as a clown, carrying two balloons and a bouquet of flowers, exited the vehicle and approached the front door, authorities said.

Marlene Warren answered the door and when the clown offered the items to her, witnesses said they heard a gunshot and the woman fell to the ground, authorities said. The person dressed as a clown calmly walked back to the LeBaron and drove away, witnesses told police.

Ahrens, who now lives in Iowa, was within feet of the shooting, family members said Tuesday.

Marlene Warren, who was shot in the face, was transported to Palm West Hospital, where she died two days later.

During the initial investigation, detectives said they identified then-Sheila Keen as a suspect, but never made an arrest.

Then, in 2014, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit reopened the homicide investigation. Witnesses were recontacted and additional DNA analysis was conducted, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities also learned that Sheila Keen married Michael Warren, Marlene Warren’s husband, in 2002. Michael Warren owned a West Palm Beach used car lot in 1990 and hired Sheila Keen to repossess cars.

As a result of the investigation, authorities said probable cause was established linking Keen-Warren to the shooting death. The case was presented to a Palm Beach County grand jury on Aug. 31 and a true bill was issued. Police then obtained a warrant, which was served Tuesday evening.

Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman said during a news conference Tuesday night that his office learned about the case about a month ago and assisted in the arrest. Keen-Warren has been living in Virginia for a number of years, he said.

Bill and Shirley Twing, Marlene Warren’s mother and stepfather, who live in Las Vegas, Nevada, were relieved Tuesday night when they learned an arrest had been made.

“It makes me pretty happy,” said 87-year-old Shirley Twing.

The Twings have been waiting nearly three decades for the arrest and Shirley Twing admitted she wasn’t sure it would happen.

“I gave up hope,” she said. “I’m glad they made an arrest.”

The woman described her daughter as a “beautiful, blond-haired girl.”

“She was always doing things,” Shirley Twing said. “She liked everybody and had a beautiful smile.”

The couple said they had hoped their daughter would come home before her death. She and her husband were having marital troubles, they said.

After the shooting, the couple discovered a business card at their front door, 75-year-old Bill Twing recalled. It was from the police, who had asked them to call.

Shirley Twing said she knew something was wrong.

They called Florida authorities and learned of the shooting. They flew to Florida, but their daughter died in the hospital.

Marlene Warren, who also has two sisters, lost a son in a car crash about two years before she died, Bill Twing said.

Keen-Warren and her husband recently sold the Purple Cow, a popular restaurant in Kingsport. The restaurant was licensed in her name, according to a records search. She has no criminal record locally.

Rocky and Brook Blevins said they were shocked to learn their neighbor was arrested Tuesday.

“She’s a great person,” Rocky Blevins said.

The couple has known the Warrens for about 15 years and visited their home on a number of occasions.

“We trust her with anything we’ve got,” Rocky Blevins said.

His wife added, “I trust her with my life.”

The couple said there haven’t been any signs that anything was ever wrong.

“It has to be a mistake,” Brook Blevins said.

The Warren residence, a large home with two large brick columns and no trespassing signs at the street, appeared to be empty late Tuesday.

Michael Warren has not been charged in connection with the homicide, Palm Beach County authorities said. The investigation is ongoing, Sgt. Richard McAfee said. He declined to provide additional details about the case.

Washington County Commonwealth’s Attorney Josh Cumbow said he expects Keen-Warren to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. today.

Keen-Warren is being held without bail at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon.

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