A Suffolk County judge has sentenced Jeremy Allen, 44, of East Quogue, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the torture and killing of his longtime friend, 43-year-old Christopher Hahn. The sentence followed a jury verdict that detailed hours of violence prosecutors said began after the two men wrapped up a night of drinking at a local bar.
In a press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, officials said Allen was convicted on January 21 of Murder in the First Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence after a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei. He was sentenced Thursday to life without parole. Assistant District Attorneys Elena Tomaro and Stuart Levy prosecuted the case, and detectives Michael Ronca and Matt Sagistano led the homicide investigation, according to the release.
How prosecutors say the attack unfolded
Evidence at trial outlined a night that began on Sept. 27, 2024, when Allen and Hahn left a bar after several hours and went back to Allen’s East Quogue home. Video and audio presented to jurors allegedly captured an initial beating lasting about 18 minutes shortly after midnight. Reporting by Daily Voice states that Allen then dragged a severely injured Hahn onto a rear deck, returned with a baseball bat, put a plastic bag over Hahn’s head, and later stabbed him in the neck 10 times. Those accounts say the violence stretched over several hours and ended with Hahn dying while Allen remained nearby.
Investigation and arrest
Prosecutors say that after the killing, Allen covered Hahn’s body with a blanket and tried to scrub blood from the house and rear deck before calling a handyman to help with the cleanup. The handyman instead fled the scene and contacted police after discovering the body, and officers arrested Allen at his home shortly after, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.
Conviction and legal notes
The jury returned its guilty verdict on Jan. 21. Murder in the First Degree is a Class A felony that can result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, while Tampering with Physical Evidence is a Class E felony. Court records and media coverage note that Allen was represented by attorney Colin Astarita and that the case was heard by Justice Timothy P. Mazzei. Long Island Guide and other outlets have detailed the trial schedule and key court dates.
Community reaction and what's next
District Attorney Ray Tierney denounced what he called the “deliberate cruelty” of the attack and said, “Christopher Hahn deserved better than to have his life violently taken by someone he once trusted,” in comments reported by Patch. Local reporting notes that Hahn’s family has not issued a public statement, and Allen’s defense attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.
