Sturgis Man Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Murder, Attempted Dismemberment, Criminal Sexual Conduct

LANSING – Wade Allen, 39, of Sturgis, was sentenced yesterday in 45th Circuit Court after pleading no contest to charges in connection to the murder and mutilation of his girlfriend, as well as the sexual assault of a fellow inmate once in custody, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.    

Allen is sentenced to 39-60 years imprisonment for Second-Degree Homicide, 2-5 years for Attempted Dismemberment and Mutilation, and 38 months to 5 years for Attempted Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct that he will serve consecutive to the murder sentence. His sentencing includes restitution for the victim's burial expenses, recovery of courts costs of prosecution, associated fines, and lifetime registration with the state’s sex offender registry.  

Allen was arrested on May 22, 2019, after Sturgis police officers responded to a tip regarding the murder and dismemberment of Allen’s girlfriend. In searching Allen’s apartment, officers located the mutilated remains of Allen’s girlfriend being stored in two coolers. 

While in jail, Allen spoke to his cellmates about having strangled his girlfriend to the point of death. After finding out that the cellmates had passed this information onto the authorities, Allen sexually assaulted one of the inmates when they were re-housed together. 

“I am grateful to the Sturgis Department of Public Safety, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office who spent countless hours on this case,” said Nessel at the time of Allen’s plea acceptance in January. “No sentence will be enough to overcome the grief of the victim’s family, or the anguish suffered by the victims, but hopefully today’s plea will allow the healing process to begin.” 

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