A Kearney woman accused of shooting and killing her husband has been issued an arrest warrant following a grand jury indictment for involuntary manslaughter.
Melissa I. Hoffner-Allen, 48, from Kearney, has been indicted by a grand jury for involuntary manslaughter in the 2nd degree, according to the Circuit Court records filed on Tuesday, Feb. 11, in Clay County, Missouri.
Originally, Allen faced charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action when she was arrested in June by the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.
Law enforcement officials arrested Hoffner-Allen after discovering that the firearm used in the shooting had been given to him as a recent gift by the deceased.
If Hoffner-Allen is found guilty of the involuntary manslaughter charge, she could potentially be sentenced to a maximum of 4 years in prison and be fined $10,000. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, a warrant was issued for her arrest with a bond of $100,000. As of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, she has not been taken into custody.
After being granted bail during court proceedings in 2024, she was given permission to visit her family in Texas during the holiday season. No additional details have been made available.