Preacher convicted of premeditated murder after staging wife’s death as suicide

Stephen Allwine, a member of the United Church of God, was found guilty of premeditated murder after a jury convicted him in Washington County. The conviction, delivered in February 2018, carries a mandatory life prison sentence, which will be determined on Friday. Allwine was accused of fatally shooting his wife, Amy Allwine, and staging her death to appear as a suicide.

Amy Allwine, 43, was discovered shot in the head in her Cottage Grove home in November 2016. Prosecutors claimed Allwine drugged his wife before shooting her in a hallway and then moved her body to the bedroom. They argued that the lack of blood spatter on the bed and nightstand, along with the placement of the gun on her left elbow despite her being right-handed, indicated the scene was staged.

The prosecution alleged that Allwine was engaged in an affair and, due to his membership in the United Church of God, which discourages divorce, attempted to hire a stranger through the dark web to kill his wife. Allwine reportedly spent thousands of dollars in bitcoin on the arrangement, though the hired individual allegedly defrauded him of the funds.

Defense attorney Kevin DeVore contended that the prosecution lacked critical evidence, including fingerprints, eyewitness accounts, DNA, or a confession, to establish a direct link between Allwine and the crime. The case highlighted the absence of concrete proof to support the prosecution’s claims.

Amy Allwine’s parents and siblings issued a statement following the verdict, expressing profound grief and loss. They described their inability to find words to convey their sorrow, emphasizing their love for Amy and their commitment to healing and grieving privately. The family’s statement underscored the personal and emotional impact of the tragedy, reflecting the broader human cost of such crimes.

The case raises questions about the intersection of personal relationships, moral choices, and the legal system’s ability to seek justice. As Micah 6:8 reminds us, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God, the pursuit of truth and accountability remains a vital part of societal responsibility.

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