NEWPORT, Maine — The Newport couple involved in Maine’s first homicide of 2020 had filed for divorce in December 2019.
State police said Frederick Allen, 40, is charged with killing his wife, Anielka Allen, 37, inside their Newport home.
Officials were called to the home the couple shared since 2012, located on 16 North Street around 10 a.m. on Thursday after they received a 911 call. Police said this was a domestic violence homicide.
Neighbors said this is a huge surprise.
"I've never heard a disturbance from them. It was a big surprise," one neighbor said.
Defense attorney, Jeff Toothaker spent some time with the family after Frederick Allen's first appearance. He told NEWS CENTER Maine that they are "understanding."
"They're trying to figure this out but not angry like some I've dealt with in the past," he said.
"It's a difficult position to be in for the daughters and other members of the family," state prosecutor Lisa Bogue added.
According to court documents at Newport District Court, the couple filed for divorce on December 9th, citing irreconcilable marital differences. The divorce application states, "we have come to an agreement that we are unable to make our marriage work."
Then on Dec. 10, Anielka wrote to the court stating that she disagreed with the original agreement and asked for an expedited hearing on the case because Frederick had taken their children. It states, "I do not know where my kids are and unable to speak or see them."
But then on Dec. 16, Anielka, in a handwritten note to the court, wrote, “I, Anielka Allen would like to dismiss the pending divorce matter due to an agreement to attend marriage counseling to work the marriage out”.
Newport Police Chief Leonard Macdaid confirmed that his department had been called to the Allen home twice before. Once in 2010 for a family disturbance between Mr. and Mrs. Allen. And in 2013 they were called to a family disturbance between Frederick Allen and another family member. No charges were ever filed.
After his arrest Thursday afternoon, Allen was taken to the Penobscot County Jail. He is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday.
His wife’s body is at the State Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta, where an autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
This is the state's first homicide in 2020. Frederick Allen is being held without bail at the Penobscot County Jail until his bail hearing next month.