Middletown Man Gets 30 Years for Frying Pan Murder

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FREEHOLD – A Middletown man convicted late last year of killing his wife in their family home was sentenced on Thursday to a 30-year state prison sentence without parole.
Patrick Allen, 47, was sentenced in state Superior Court for the Nov. 18, 2011 murder of his 44-year-old wife Kimberly Allen. Patrick Allen was convicted on Dec. 4, 2014 on charges of first degree murder, third degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth degree tampering with physical evidence and third degree hindering apprehension
Authorities said police discovered Kimberly’s body in the kitchen of the family home located on West Front Street, in Middletown’s Lincroft section. The Middlesex County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and concluded the victim’s death was caused by homicidal violence, including asphyxia from strangulation andblunt impact injuries to the head. Investigators found a frying pan next to the body, believing Patrick Allen had struck the victim with it.
Police had found Patrick Allen home with fresh scratches to his face and body and acknowledged in a statement to Middletown police and detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office he had had an argument with his wife earlier in the day, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Authorities said Patrick Allen told police he had left the home after the fight with his wife to cool down and returned to find the body, claiming an unknown killer was responsible. Police, however did not find any evidence of a forced entry orthat any items were stolen.
Investigators discovered Patrick Allen was over $600,000 in debt and the family home was about to be put in foreclosure. Patrick kept the dire financial situation hidden from his wife, even going so far as intercepting the mail, authorities said.
— By John Burton