Judge delays hearing in murder case

A motion hearing for Wade Allen, a Sturgis resident accused of murdering and dismembering his girlfriend in May 2019, was continued Wednesday.

St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman said the delay, which could stretch into early August, is necessary for him to review transcripts from the previous two hearings involving Allen’s case.

The case against the 35-year-old Allen has hit a snag over an issue regarding whether Sturgis officers who first encountered the crime scene used proper constitutional procedure during a search of Allen’s apartment. Whether evidence was seized legally is also at issue.

Stutesman ruled during a proceeding earlier this year that police, in fact, did not follow proper procedures.

But a delay in his receiving briefs from defense attorney David Marvin before a June deadline resulted in Stutesman’s ultimate decision to continue proceedings. He noted it typically takes about 14 days to receive transcripts but in this case, they could be in hand by the end of next week.

Stutesman in February said authorities in effect coerced Allen to let them search his North Maple Street apartment. Officers found two coolers containing dismembered remains of 42-year-old Kelly-Jien Warner-Miller.