Man sentenced in woman’s killing
A man convicted of murdering his teenage girlfriend’s mother and dumping her body in Newport Harbor was sentenced Friday to 25 years to life in prison.
Ian Westleigh Allen, 23, was convicted in September of first-degree murder in the killing of Barbara Mullenix, 56. His girlfriend at the time, Rachel Mullenix, 19, was found guilty of the murder in July and was also sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
A jury found that Allen and Rachel Mullenix killed Barbara Mullenix in 2006 at her Huntington Beach home because she disapproved of the couple’s relationship, prosecutors said.
Before the killing, Rachel Mullenix wrote a text message to Allen that said, “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.”
Allen and Rachel Mullenix were accused of stabbing the victim several times and dumping the body in the harbor. Barbara Mullenix’s body was discovered in the water the next day, rolled in a blanket, with a butter knife sticking out near one eye.
Allen and Rachel Mullenix fled California but were detained in Louisiana.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
