| For Immediate Release Case # 06WF2607
July 17, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
TEENAGE GIRL CONVICTED OF MURDERING
MOTHER WITH BOYFRIEND AND DUMPING
BODY IN NEWPORT HARBOR
*Co-defendant boyfriend charged with murder to be tried in August 2008
SANTA ANA – A teenage girl was convicted today of stabbing and murdering her mother with her boyfriend and dumping the victim’s body in Newport Harbor. Rachael Scarlett Mullenix, 19, Huntington Beach, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of murder and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The defendant was 17 years old at the time of the murder and was charged as an adult. She is expected to be sentenced Sep. 5, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-28, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Ian Westleigh Allen, 23, Huntington Beach, Mullenix’s boyfriend at the time of the murder, 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. He is expected to begin trial on Aug. 4, 2008, in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On Sept. 13, 2006, Mullenix murdered her mother, Barbara Mullenix, at their Huntington Beach home because her mother disapproved of the Rachael Mullenix’s relationship with Allen 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.” Rachel Mullenix murdered the victim by stabbing her dozens of times and then dumped the victim’s body in the harbor. Allen is accused of committing these acts with Rachael Mullenix. 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 and Mullenix fled the state in an effort to escape prosecution. On Sep. 15, 2006, detectives investigating the case issued a teletype to law enforcement across the United States 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.