Van Allen pleads guilty
to girlfriend’s death

Sentencing to take place later this year
BY PAM STEVENS | EDITOR In April 2007, Clella Colson, 41, was strangled to death by her estranged boyfriend inside her home on 117th Ave. NE in Lake Stevens.

On Tuesday, July 8, Terry Van Allen, 46, appeared before a judge and said that he did not mean to kill his girlfriend, Colson, whom he said was assaulting his son. He explained that he was only trying to protect his son from her.

Van Allen was originally charged with first degree manslaughter, but pled to the lesser charge of second degree manslaughter and violating his no contact order, after reaching an agreement with Prosecutors.

He will be sentenced on Sept. 11, and is expected to receive a five year prison term for the crime. He is currently free and will remain so until sentencing.

Van Allen strangled Colson in front of his son. When Lake Stevens Police arrived on the scene, they were told that that woman was unconscious. However, paramedics found the woman dead when they arrived.

Police searched the residence and found Van Allen hiding out in a travel trailer on the property.

This was not the first time police had responded to domestic violence calls between Colson and Van Allen.

Colson leaves behind a 16-year-old son.

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