| For Immediate Release Case # 06WF2607
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Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MAN FACES TRIAL FOR MURDERING GIRLFRIEND’S MOTHER AND DUMPING BODY IN NEWPORT HARBOR
* Co-defendant girlfriend convicted for murdering mother in July 2008
SANTA ANA – Opening statements begin tomorrow in the trial of a man charged with stabbing and murdering his girlfriend’s mother with his girlfriend and dumping the victim’s body in Newport Harbor. Ian Westleigh Allen, 23, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. He faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in prison if convicted. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Allen’s girlfriend, Rachael Scarlett Mullenix, 19, Huntington Beach, was convicted by a jury on July 17, 2008, of one felony count of murder for killing her mother. Mullenix faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life at her sentencing on Sep. 5, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-28, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On Sep. 13, 2006, with the help of Mullenix, Allen is accused of murdering Rachael Mullenix’s mother, Barbara Mullenix, at the Mullenix’s Huntington Beach home because the mother disapproved of the couple’s relationship and was concerned that her daughter was not spending enough time with the family. Before the murder, Rachel Mullenix wrote a text message to Allen stating, “We have only two options. Run or Tuesday. Or another option you apologize to my mom. You decide if you want to be with me.” The defendants are accused of murdering the victim by stabbing her several times and then dumping the victim’s body in the harbor. After the murder, Rachel Mullenix texted Allen “I love you. Am I going to see you soon? Are you in trouble? Can I call you?”
Barbara Mullenix’s body was discovered on Sep. 14, 2006 after the Newport Beach Police Department received a call about a body floating in the harbor at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. The victim was found in the water rolled in a blanket with a butter knife sticking out of her eye.
Allen is accused of fleeing the state with Mullenix in an effort to escape prosecution. On Sep. 15, 2006, detectives investigating the case issued a teletype to law enforcement across the U.S. with a description of Allen’s truck after learning that the defendants may be driving to the home of one of Rachael Mullenix’s friends in Florida.
On Sep. 17, 2006, detectives learned that Allen and Mullenix had been detained in Louisiana by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department. The defendants had been stopped on the highway after Louisiana law enforcement learned that the couple may be traveling through the state. The defendants were taken into custody and subsequently transported back to Orange County to face charges for the murder of Barbara Mullenix.
During Mullenix’s trial, she testified that she had no recollection of the butter knife stuck almost up to the handle in her deceased mother’s eye.