In the early morning hours of October 25, 2023, the life of 31-year-old Michelle Golden was tragically cut short in a violent act of domestic violence at her Gilbert, Arizona, townhouse. Responding to a shooting call shortly before 6:00 AM, police officers made a grim discovery. Inside the home, they found Michelle deceased, having been shot 13 times.
The horror of the situation was compounded by the fact that her four children, ranging in age from eight to eleven, were present in the residence at the time of the killing. Officers were able to safely retrieve the children from the home.
The suspect, identified as Michelle's 30-year-old boyfriend, Preston Joseph Allen, had fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. The investigation revealed a history of domestic abuse, with Michelle having previously filed a restraining order against Allen. In a particularly chilling detail, it was discovered that after killing Michelle, Allen entered one of the children's bedrooms and fired multiple shots at the bed where one of the children was hiding. The child managed to escape physical injury by moving around to avoid the bullets.
A manhunt for Allen ensued, and he was located and taken into custody later that morning in the nearby city of Mesa. He was subsequently booked on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated assault. In May 2024, Preston Allen pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. A third count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was dismissed as part of the plea agreement. For his crimes, he was sentenced to 38 years in prison. The case left a lasting impact on the community and highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic violence, leaving four children to cope with the trauma of their mother's murder.
