NJ Man Found Guilty In Frying Pan Murder Case

FREEHOLD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Monmouth County jury has convicted a Middletown man of killing his wife with a frying pan.

The panel received the case late Wednesday morning and found 47-year-old Patrick Allen guilty of murder in the 2011 slaying of his wife, Kimberly, after resuming deliberations on Thursday.

Prosecutors say the former securities salesman was trying to hide the family's financial difficulties from his wife, including the fact that they were about to lose their home to foreclosure. They say an argument ensued when his wife learned of the situation and he struck her with the frying pan and strangled her.

Allen's attorney argued his client was about to come into some money that would have held off the foreclosure.

The defense also said Allen left the house following a dispute and returned to find her on the floor before calling 911.

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