Debt Collector's Testimony May Be Critical in Murder Trial

A New Jersey man currently on trial for murdering his wife with a frying pan consistently referred to his wife as his ex-wife, in contrast to what he was telling her, and was deep in debt according to testimony provided yesterday by a debt collector who was working on the man’s account.

Patrick Allen is accused of killing his wife of 20 years, Kimberly, in 2011. His trial is currently underway in New Jersey Superior Court.

According to the Asbury Park Press, the jury Tuesday heard testimony from a debt collector that contradicted statements given by Allen and a letter he wrote to his wife before her murder.

Allen apparently hid hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt from his wife. Prosecutors say that the revelation of the debt is what precipitated the murder.

A debt collection agent that had been in contact with Allen was called to testify. She said that Allen took unusual steps to prevent his wife, who he referred to as his “ex-wife” although the two never divorced, from finding out about his debt.

Allen instructed the collection agency to future notices to a rented box at a UPS store, take his wife’s name off the account, and gave a different phone number on which to reach him.

Not only did the collection agency testify in court, it provided recordings of calls to back up its claims. The jury heard seven of the recordings Tuesday.

Along with testimony given by a family member, the debt collector’s statements showed a pattern of lying about debt to his wife. Financial strain had crept into their marriage before the murder and the prosecution is using that as a part of its case.

It’s certainly a tragic and extraordinary example, but cases like this should remind the ARM industry that they become part of consumers’ lives when they are working to resolve an account. And the public should know that debt collectors take that responsibility seriously.