LANSING?? Wade Allen, 39, of Sturgis, pleaded no contest in 45th Circuit Court 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, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today.?

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.

The St. Joseph County prosecutor referred the case to the Department of Attorney General through a request for a special prosecutor.?

Allen pleaded today to the following charges:?

• One Count of Second-Degree Homicide, a felony, punishable by up to life;?
• One Count of Attempted Dismemberment and Mutilation, a felony, punishable by?up to 5 years; and, ?
• One Count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Conduct Third Degree by Force/Coercion, a felony, punishable by up to 5 years.?

?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.? ?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.??

Allen will be sentenced at 1:45pm on March 3, 2023, before Judge Paul Stutesman.?

###?