By DENISE A. RAYMO

Staff Writer

CONSTABLE — Jack Allen Jr. struck his aunt, Mary Allen, three times in the forehead with a heavy glass pitcher as she lay on the couch watching TV.

He could still hear her breathing during the 20 minutes it took him to rummage through her Powers Road home, looking for money and valuables.

Allen found $70 in cash, grabbed his aunt’s car and drove to the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, where he played blackjack for a half-hour.

From there, he headed south to the Utica-Rome area, where he used the rest of the stolen money to buy crack and smoked it with friends.

His aunt’s body was found when family members became concerned when they could not contact her or find her car.

Allen was arrested following a 24-hour international manhunt that saw him wanted for additional charges of robbery and burglary in Oneida County.

He pleaded guilty Tuesday in Franklin County Court to second-degree murder and fourth-degree grand larceny.

He is expected to be sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison on Friday, March 21, by Acting County Court Judge Kathleen Rogers.

Mary’s sister, Sarah Manor of Constable, said the family accepted the plea agreement and wants the community to remember what a special woman she was.

Her eyes were rimmed in red from crying as she stood in the office of District Attorney Derek Champagne to share her sorrow.

“We’re satisfied with the outcome and the plea he made. My sister can rest now. She will not be forgotten.

“The man who did this to her will be put away, but we will still miss her dearly,” Manor said. “We will never forget her, and we will make sure she is never forgotten.”