Murder suspect's trash bag is evidence - MyCentralJersey.com

The Middletown man accused of murdering his wife during an argument handed at least one bag containing evidence to the crew of a garbage truck before leaving home but returning later to report that he discovered his spouse dead, according to authorities.

Patrick F. Allen, 44, accused of killing his wife, Kimberly, on Nov. 19, remained in the Monmouth County jail in Freehold Township Friday in lieu of $ 1.5 million bail with no options to post 10 percent to secure his release, as set by state Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci Jr.

After disposing of the trash bag, Allen left his home on West Front Street and returned 50 minutes later to call police, saying he found his wife dead, according to authorities.

Investigators detained a trash truck operated by Central Jersey Waste and Recycling of Ewing near the home a few hours after Allen called police and were able to recover at least one bag containing personal items and evidence from the Allen home, a source said.

Kimberly Allen, the mother of two boys, died as a result of blunt force trauma to her head and asphyxiation, Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Marc LeMieux, director of the county major crimes unit, said at Allen's initial court appearance Monday.

"Patrick Allen killed his wife of 20 years during a financial dispute. He was the only person at home with her and he is the only person who could have killed her," LeMieux said in court.

Allen faces a prison term of 30 years to life if convicted of murdering his wife inside their home in the Lincroft section.

Allen's attorney, John Charles Allen of New Brunswick, a first cousin of the defendant, said his client denies any wrongdoing, that he found his wife dead and that he was being cooperative in the investigation.

"He returned home and called police, and not only did he return home but he also volunteered the information that he and his wife had an argument," John Allen said.

"If he was being evasive, he would have left and never come back," the lawyer added.

Prosecutors have declined to discuss, outside of the courtroom, the circumstances surrounding the homicide beyond their assertions that the murder occurred as part of a argument about finances.

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A check of financial records show that Patrick and Kimberly Allen held two mortgages totaling $ 625,000 on their home on West Front Street, and that Patrick Allen individually owed nearly $ 25,000 in credit card debt that was being levied against his property and a bank account following three court judgments handed down earlier this year.

Records held at the Monmouth County Clerk's Office reveal the Allens financed $ 352,800 when they initially purchased the lot upon which they built a 3,184-square-foot home. They also show that by 2006, the Allens had refinanced the mortgage on the home three different times, taking out increasing amounts until the final $ 455,000 mortgage was obtained in 2006.

In addition to the mortgages, three additional home equity lines of credit were taken out during a six-year period beginning with a $ 45,000 secondary loan the Allens secured 18 months after the initial purchase, up to the outstanding $ 160,000 in the form of a 15-year second mortgage was obtained in 2005.

The two mortgages put the couple into debt totaling $ 615,000, but a source said the couple was also about $ 19,000 behind in their mortgage payments. A check with the township tax collector reveals the couple's 2011 property tax bill totaling $ 13,662 was paid and up-to-date as of the quarterly payment of $ 3,544 due Nov. 1.

Court records also reveal Patrick Allen was in default on four credit card accounts, owing nearly $ 25,000, and was having the statements for the accounts and all legal documents connected to the accounts sent to a Newman Springs Road suite address that is a mail box at the Lincroft UPS Store.

In March, a court in Monmouth County imposed a levy against Patrick Allen's TD Bank account in Freehold for $ 6,059 to satisfy the debt owed on two credit card accounts with Chase Bankcard Services Inc., but the debt remains uncollected. All correspondence for the transaction with Chase and the courts was directed to the address at the UPS Store just minutes away from the Allens' West Front Street home.

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In July, the court placed a lien on the property of Patrick Allen in the amount of $ 6,566 to satisfy debt owed on an American Express Centurion bank card that he held since April 28, 2000. Late fees and surcharges totaling $ 12,131 were charged off, or dismissed, under the judgment. Again all correspondence was directed to the suite address.

In August, using the UPS box address, the court issued a judgment against Patrick Allen totaling $ 12,156 for debt owed on a Merck Employees Federal Credit Union MasterCard he held since 1998.

The debt on the four credit card accounts, rounded to the dollar, totaled $ 24,780 plus any subsequent interest levied since the judgments, which continued to go uncollected.

"None of this is unusual in this day and age," John Allen said of his client's financial situation.

Patrick Allen was placed on suicide watch in the jail, but his lawyer said there is no need for the solitary confinement that he characterizes as hampering his efforts to properly discuss the case with the defendant.

Patrick Allen was employed as a wholesaler with ATEL Securities Corporation, a financial services company headquartered in San Francisco. The company's chief executive, Dean Cash, declined to comment but confirmed Allen has been placed on unpaid administrative leave for personal reasons.

Allen also was a partner since 2003 at AMRK Ventures LLC, investment company specializing in real estate, alternatives and family investment, according to his biography on LinkedIn.

Kimberly Allen was employed as a sales representative for Country Curtains in Shrewsbury for the past six months, and she was an active member of nearby St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church.

Kimberly Allen was an active supporter of various school functions, such as educational and athletic fundraisers. She was a 1989 graduate of Rutgers' Douglass College, with a bachelor's degree in English.

Surviving are two sons, Matthew J. Allen, and Ryan P. Allen of Middletown; her parents, Frank and Eileen Torchy of Easton-Palmer Township, Pa.; a sister, Barbara J., wife of Brian F. Stauff;, of Easton, Pa.

John Allen said on Monday that Matthew and Ryan are with relatives and "they are a primary concern, of course," with both sides of the family.

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