Mother, 2 sons[Colemans]dead in home, Columbia, ILL[5/19 Ftr.arrested]

[darcie]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/E3D3A51987E00AF8862575AD004CF008?OpenDocument

Major Case Squad investigating murders in Columbia, Ill.

*snipped*

Neighbors say the victims are a 37-year-old woman and her two sons, who are about 7 and 11 years old.
*snipped*

The woman's husband arrived home from work early today and was seen in his driveway, distraught and flailing his arms. Two police officers had to hold him back. Neighbors say the husband, who works security for Joyce Meyer Ministries, had received threatening letters targeting his family.

-----

Makes you wonder what this world is coming too. The case will probably have an interesting twist. The husband works for Joyce Meyer ministries (I have provided a link), and it was reported that she arrived at the scene today. There are cameras and the subdivision entrance/exit, but nothing has been reported about that yet. With the husband being the lone survivor, he will be getting lots of attention I am sure. It has been stated that he has received threats against his family by letters in the mailbox (unsure if they are mailed letters, or just found letters).



Link to Joyce Meyer Ministries

http://www.joycemeyer.org/

[darcie]

Another Link
(really nothing different reported)

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=174475

Link to pictures. Lots of pictures.

http://www.ksdk.com/life/community/gallerypublic.aspx?plckGalleryID=6762d6af-f71c-416d-800e-d8de391e9b27

[Kip]

This was in one of the articles linked above:


The home is owned by a man named Christopher E. Coleman. The home was put in his name only in December. Prior to that, Coleman and his wife, Sheri, were listed as owners. The couple bought the home in March of 2005.

I hope this guy didn't murder his wife and children, but if my husband put our home in his name only and I turned up dead, I hope people would be asking questions.

This case is already reminding me of another Illinois Christopher - Christopher Vaughn - who shot his wife and 3 kids and tried to make it look like a carjacking.

I have to wonder why anyone would be threatening the family of a guy who works security for a ministry.

[darcie]

Hi there Kip. I guess i feel like you do. And i would I have to say the threats to the family seem kind of odd. The mailbox situation. I dont know if the letters were actually mailed, or someone just put them in the mailbox.

The part I hate the most I think, is that MY thoughts go to the husband as being involved. How sad is that? It just seems to dang common anymore! It used to be that they killed their wives, now they kill their children also. Women are killing their children, some their husbands too. I don't want society to be accustomed to this. But it seems liek we are. It just makes my heart sad.

Anyway, I hope that he isn't involved whatsoever, and that he becomes the one who fights for justice, for his wife and children, in their death.


*snipped* From the st. Louis Post Disptach
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/E3D3A51987E00AF8862575AD004CF008?OpenDocument

At a press conference at the Columbia Police Department that began at 4:30 p.m., Major Case Squad deputy Commander Jeff Connor declined to discuss specifics about the murders. He did identify the three as Sheri Coleman, 31, and her two sons -- Garrett Coleman, 11, and Gavin Coleman, 9.

Connor did say that the Coleman family had contacted police in the past about "suspicious activity," but he refused to elaborate.

Neighbors say they were told the victims appeared to have been strangled.

----

There is a picture of the boys. They are darling. May they all rest in peace.

[Kip]

Hi there Kip. I guess i feel like you do. And i would I have to say the threats to the family seem kind of odd. The mailbox situation. I dont know if the letters were actually mailed, or someone just put them in the mailbox.

The part I hate the most I think, is that MY thoughts go to the husband as being involved....

Well, unfortunately, the statistics bear out your first thoughts. 9 times out of 10 it's going to be the husband, boyfriend, or ex. I hope this won't turn out that way, but it's hard to imagine who else would have anything to gain by killing that family.

The circumstances also remind me of another crime where the husband/father didn't do it. - it was in Florida. The dad was a UPS driver - separated from his wife. He called his girls before school as he did every morning. When no one answered, he went over and found his wife and two girls killed. Everyone thought he had done it, but there was no evidence to suggest that other than no sign of forced entry. About a year later. a woman escaped from someone who had bound and raped her. The cord she had been bound with was the same cord used on the mother and two girls. It turned out the guy had worked as a handyman for the family. If he hadn't tried to harm another woman and she escaped, there would still be a cloud hanging over that poor dad's head.

It will be interesting to see how Coleman reacts and what evidence there is.

[Kip]

http://www.bnd.com/100/story/756501.html

This story says Coleman came home, found the bodies, then went outside and was screaming and rolling around on the lawn and neighbors called police.

This sounds way over the top, IMO, more like acting than reacting. In the cases I'm recalling right now, the family member who found someone murdered called 911 right away -- sometimes from the home, sometimes going next door. Who wouldn't do that?! The killer might still be around and LE would have a better chance of finding them.

[GentleBreeze]

http://www.bnd.com/100/story/756501.html

This story says Coleman came home, found the bodies, then went outside and was screaming and rolling around on the lawn and neighbors called police.

This sounds way over the top, IMO, more like acting than reacting. In the cases I'm recalling right now, the family member who found someone murdered called 911 right away -- sometimes from the home, sometimes going next door. Who wouldn't do that?! The killer might still be around and LE would have a better chance of finding them.

I am not sure I put much suspicion into that. My husband's cousin came in and checked on his wife that was taking a nap last Saturday. He found her dead in their bed. She was 52 years old and they had been married 32 years. He ran outside of their home screaming and he passed out on the driveway and hit his head on the concrete requiring stitches because he was so overwhelmed with shock and grief.:sad:

I cannot imagine what I would do if I came home and found my spouse and children murdered and I don't want to imagine the horror it must have been.

imoo

[GentleBreeze]

Well, unfortunately, the statistics bear out your first thoughts. 9 times out of 10 it's going to be the husband, boyfriend, or ex. I hope this won't turn out that way, but it's hard to imagine who else would have anything to gain by killing that family.

The circumstances also remind me of another crime where the husband/father didn't do it. - it was in Florida. The dad was a UPS driver - separated from his wife. He called his girls before school as he did every morning. When no one answered, he went over and found his wife and two girls killed. Everyone thought he had done it, but there was no evidence to suggest that other than no sign of forced entry. About a year later. a woman escaped from someone who had bound and raped her. The cord she had been bound with was the same cord used on the mother and two girls. It turned out the guy had worked as a handyman for the family. If he hadn't tried to harm another woman and she escaped, there would still be a cloud hanging over that poor dad's head.

It will be interesting to see how Coleman reacts and what evidence there is.

Yes, it will be. It does seem like LE knew about the threats made to the family before this happened. Maybe that will give them some leads.

Here is the DOJ stats on homicides.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/relationship.htm

Spouses and family members made up about 15% of all victims.


About one-third of the victims were acquaintances of the assailant.


The victim/offender relationship was undetermined in over one-third of homicides.

Victim/Offender Relationship, 1976-2005

All homicides,
1976-2005

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 100.0% 594,276

Stranger 13.9% 82,428
Nonstranger
Spouse 7.0% 41,700
Other family 8.0% 47,358
Boyfriend/Girlfriend 3.8% 22,829
Other Acquaintance 32.1% 190,767
Relationship undetermined 35.2% 209,194

imo

[airportwoman]

The comments from that stltoday.com story are interesting to say the least. He's already guilty in so many people's minds.

:thumbdown:

We'll see what happens.

[greeneyes]

Such a sad tragedy, this really makes me sad,this world is getting worse and worse as time goes by,it scares me to think of what it will be like 10m more yrs from now!!!

[airportwoman]

Such a sad tragedy, this really makes me sad,this world is getting worse and worse as time goes by,it scares me to think of what it will be like 10m more yrs from now!!!

I don't know that it's happening more, just that we now have CNN and the Internet to let everyone worldwide know right when it happens.

[GentleBreeze]

The comments from that stltoday.com story are interesting to say the least. He's already guilty in so many people's minds.

:thumbdown:

We'll see what happens.

Yes, I am so hoping for all families involved that the husband had nothing to do with this.

I wonder if it could have been some religious extremist or anti-religious extremist, since it said the threats were about his job and maybe he had someone removed or they weren't allowed to come to the Ministry for some reason.

imo

[darcie]

This is the newest update from the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/4826560E9F97109B862575AE00105849?OpenDocument

*snipped*

A source close to the case said someone had scrawled a message on a wall inside. The law enforcement source also said that Christopher E. Coleman called police shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday, saying he had been at a gym in south St. Louis County and asking that they check on the welfare of his family. The source would not elaborate.

Jeff Connor, deputy commander of the Major Case Squad, said the Coleman family had called police in the past but declined to be very specific. "It was just some ... there was some interaction between an unknown individual and them that was suspicious in nature." He said it wasn't necessarily about a crime but that "they contacted police and wanted to document some incidents."

A neighbor, Michelle Kunzelman, said police knocked on her door and the doors of other neighbors last week and asked if anyone had seen anything unusual related to the Coleman's mailbox.

[USACQ]

Kip,

There are some other things in that article that seem incorrect, like noting the wife as having been a Marine... she was a K9 handler in the USAF. The inaccuracy there may cast doubt on the rest of the article, compared to the others we've seen so far.

Come on people, while it is worthwhile to consider whether he is a suspect, not every murder is the dad either.

You have no idea how you'd react if you found your family that way. As a Marine if he found a family member dead, after rushing to them, he'd probably immediately clear the house for intruders... find the other family members.... he might call 911 or might just rush outside in a flood of emotion. You can't use any behaviors to say he's guilty. The only thing that would be suspicious is if he didn't care at all and thats not the case.

As a Marine, he must be so wishing that he was there to protect them.

Praying for him -

[airportwoman]

This story was updated just a few minutes ago.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/4826560E9F97109B862575AE00105849?OpenDocument#tp_n ewCommentAnchor

This just doesn't sound good. :sad:

[Kip]

Hi, USACQ. Those are just my first impressions of this case based on very meager info that may or may not turn out to be correct.

I agree that people respond to tragedy with a wide range of emotions -- some people shut down completely, others become hysterical. But within those behaviors, some people's responses just seem "off." The mother of the missing child Tori Stafford is a good example of that. She may or may not have anything to do with Tori's disappearance, but people are suspicious of her because her responses just don't ring true. On the other hand, from the first time I heard the 911 call from the father of Haleigh Cummings, I was fairly certain that he has nothing to do with her disappearance.

We know next to nothing about this case so far, but there are several small red flags that, IMO, point to staging. I would truly like to find out that Coleman did not do this to his family. Let's hope the killer left evidence so LE can find him.

[GentleBreeze]

Hi, USACQ. Those are just my first impressions of this case based on very meager info that may or may not turn out to be correct.

I agree that people respond to tragedy with a wide range of emotions -- some people shut down completely, others become hysterical. But within those behaviors, some people's responses just seem "off." The mother of the missing child Tori Stafford is a good example of that. She may or may not have anything to do with Tori's disappearance, but people are suspicious of her because her responses just don't ring true. On the other hand, from the first time I heard the 911 call from the father of Haleigh Cummings, I was fairly certain that he has nothing to do with her disappearance.

We know next to nothing about this case so far, but there are several small red flags that, IMO, point to staging. I would truly like to find out that Coleman did not do this to his family. Let's hope the killer left evidence so LE can find him.

I think that is what LE is trying to determine. If it was staging then the case will fall pretty quickly, however; if it was some crazy kook out there targeting this family then they should be able to ascertain that pretty quickly as well, imo.

Since sources are saying that something was written on an inside wall in the home it will not take long for them to compare the husband/father's handwriting to what was written.

If it is not him then it is someone that knew he would be away from the home.

imoo

[GentleBreeze]

This story was updated just a few minutes ago.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/4826560E9F97109B862575AE00105849?OpenDocument#tp_n ewCommentAnchor

This just doesn't sound good. :sad:

Oh my, it is so hard not to find that suspicious.:sad:

imo

[USACQ]

good points Kip -

And I agree, if this was staged they'll smell it pretty quickly.

The article mentioned that Chris was at a Gym in the morning... that definately narrows the window when this could have plausibly occurred. Lets say the gym opens at 5 or 6 am, that would mean say two hours.

The killers would have had to know Chris' habits or have been watching the house.

I wonder why he called LE that morning? Maybe he called to check on his wife and got no answer...

[freejason]

good points Kip -

And I agree, if this was staged they'll smell it pretty quickly.

The article mentioned that Chris was at a Gym in the morning... that definately narrows the window when this could have plausibly occurred. Lets say the gym opens at 5 or 6 am, that would mean say two hours.

The killers would have had to know Chris' habits or have been watching the house.

I wonder why he called LE that morning? Maybe he called to check on his wife and got no answer...

I'm afraid we may have a "Jeffrey MacDonald" here......why would he call the police because his wife didn't answer the phone at 7:00 AM.......he could just drive home and check, if he was that worried. This doesn't smell right.

[Kip]

I'm afraid we may have a "Jeffrey MacDonald" here......why would he call the police because his wife didn't answer the phone at 7:00 AM.......he could just drive home and check, if he was that worried. This doesn't smell right.

I thought of Jeffrey MacDonald too when I read about the writing on the wall. Other than the Manson murders (upon which MacDonald modeled his staged scene), the cases I can recall with writing left, the writing was either done as staging or to cast blame on someone else.

I agree that it doesn't make sense for Coleman to not check on his wife himself if she didn't answer the phone at 7. Heck, she could have been in the shower or taking out the trash or making a quick trip to the store for milk or lunch supplies. If he so worried about his family's safety that he'd panic if they didn't answer the phone, he never should have left them alone.

[darcie]

I assumed Chris was at work, all night, then went to the gym. I then thought it was odd to call the polie for a well being check. But according to the article he didn't work that night. So that in itself is odd, unless he was out of town? I don't know, I'm just scrambling for an obvious answer, instead of the one that keeps popping in my mind.

MOO

[Leanne Weich]

I thought of Jeffrey MacDonald too when I read about the writing on the wall. Other than the Manson murders (upon which MacDonald modeled his staged scene), the cases I can recall with writing left, the writing was either done as staging or to cast blame on someone else.

I agree that it doesn't make sense for Coleman to not check on his wife himself if she didn't answer the phone at 7. Heck, she could have been in the shower or taking out the trash or making a quick trip to the store for milk or lunch supplies. If he so worried about his family's safety that he'd panic if they didn't answer the phone, he never should have left them alone.

ITA. Sounds like daddy dearest was trying to establish an alibi, imo. I very much doubt the previous calls to LE to document incidents were anything more than BS to give credence to some unknown intruder fortuitously happening upon mom and kids when dad was out. JMHO.

[airportwoman]

I don't remember any graffiti being associated with the MacDonald case, just an Esquire magazine with an article about the Manson family.

I once read a true-crime book that had a story about a woman who was in financial trouble and vandalized her own home in an attempt to get insurance money. She had spray-painted obscenities all over her house, including the phrase "F ME" (spelled out, of course) and THAT'S when I knew she did it herself. No vandal would write that.

Plus, this family was strangled. That takes a long time and is considered a very personal method.

:crying:

[desmom]

good points Kip -

And I agree, if this was staged they'll smell it pretty quickly.

The article mentioned that Chris was at a Gym in the morning... that definately narrows the window when this could have plausibly occurred. Lets say the gym opens at 5 or 6 am, that would mean say two hours.

The killers would have had to know Chris' habits or have been watching the house.

I wonder why he called LE that morning? Maybe he called to check on his wife and got no answer...


A lot of Gold's Gyms are open 24 hours. There are also the 24 hour clubs that require a member key card like Snap Fitness and 24 hour Fitness.

I think the member key card places would have a record of when a card is swiped. Do other guys, like Gold's, require sign in?

[Kip]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/4C72FACA6EE931F9862575AF001243B2?OpenDocument

This story says Coleman told LE he left for the gym about 5:30 am and that what was written on the wall was "I told you this would happen."

If Coleman didn't kill his family, the killer is not too bright, IMO. Coleman usually works nights. But instead of breaking into the house and committing the murders under the cover of darkness on one of the many nights Coleman was working, this killer instead chooses a day when Coleman hasn't worked that night and breaks in sometime after 5:30 am. (Sunrise is about 5:57 am.) Risky, IMO. The killer would be leaving around sunrise or later. Some people are up at that hour.

The message on the wall still smacks of staging to me. The message communicated by the deaths would be clear and more potent than any words scrawled on a wall.

I wonder if there was any sign of forced entry.

[darcie]

This is such a sad case. A family shattered in minutes. It is interesting the way informaion is slowly trickling out. The report of a camera at the entrance/exit of the subdivision, now a camera on the mailbox? I still dont understand if the threatening letters were actually mailed or just placed in the mail box, AND if there has been one received since the camera was placed. I tend to believe that they must not be delivered by the Postal service because there would be no reason for the camera.

I'd like to know what the threatening letters stated. It was reported earlier that they were just threats against the family. Why not kill them all? And why strangling. It had to be one powerful man to be able to accost three subjects and strangle them without bringing attention to the other victims, without time for at least one of them to escape. I wonder if there was any signs of a struggle?

I pray for this family........

MOO

[darcie]

The autopsies have been completed, yet no cause of death given yet. They are being reallllllly tight lipped

http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/year-26490-columbia-old.html

*snipped*
Autopsies are done, but neither Monroe County Coroner Julie Gummersheimer nor Connor would discuss causes of death.

"We're not ready to release anything on the manner of death," Connor said.

[Kip]

[snipped] And why strangling. It had to be one powerful man to be able to accost three subjects and strangle them without bringing attention to the other victims, without time for at least one of them to escape. I wonder if there was any signs of a struggle?

I pray for this family........

MOO

Strangling is relatively quiet. Gunshots can awaken other family members and alert them, and leave gunshot residue and blood evidence on the killer. But strangling takes longer. If the boys had awakened while the killer was strangling the mother, the situation could have easily gotten out of control for the killer.

Without cause of death being released, we don't even know for sure the family was strangled. LE's search of neighborhood trash cans found a pair of bloody scrubs pants.

Since Chris Coleman normally worked nights and travelled a lot, I was wondering how someone targeting the family would know that when Chris left the house at 5:30 in the morning, that he would be gone for any length of time. Chris could have just been making a quick run to the store for milk or coffee.

[Kip]

Just thinking... I wonder why this thread got moved from the Current Crimes board to the Family Violence board when there is no hard evidence that this is a family violence case. (I didn't even know this board existed - so many sad cases here.)

[USACQ]

Can't locate the original thread that was started...

Link to Story at PrivateOfficer

http://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/family-of-joyce-meyers-security-agent-murdered-wwwprivateofficercom/

[Kip]

The thread is here:

http://boards.insessiontrials.com/showthread.php?t=353038

The original one started on this board, then got moved to the Family Violence board (puzzling when at the moment there's no evidence that it's a family violence case).

[USACQ]

Mods:

No evidence exists as of this writing that the Columbia murders were Family Violence... please consider relocating the current thread back to this forum.

[USACQ]

Since Chris Coleman normally worked nights and travelled a lot, I was wondering how someone targeting the family would know that when Chris left the house at 5:30 in the morning, that he would be gone for any length of time. Chris could have just been making a quick run to the store for milk or coffee.

Good point... unless they knew that he worked out regularly or followed a schedule. They could have been watching the family enough to know that he worked out on days off... or knew his schedule. If not, they perhaps took a gamble. Hmmm.

[KittyMom]

http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/year-26490-columbia-old.html

Leveque said she took her trash out and checked her mail about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, just hours before the bodies were found. "I never saw anything," the 47-year-old said.


hmmm...this will help LE narrow down the time line. I certainly hope the husband didn't do this, but nowadays who knows. :sad:

[lune3]

Another thing that bothers me is the risk that the mom would be awake at that time. With Coleman leaving at 5:30 am, there's no way a killer could determine if Sheri was a light sleeper and may have been up.
Just seems so risky to me. Plus the fact that neighbours may have been up during that timeline, getting their newspaper or going off to work, could have heard something or seen a strange car in the neighbourhood.

Can the gym corroborate that Coleman was there the whole period?

Also wonder whether the autopsy can determine time of death was before 5:30am.

[KittyMom]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/14D56762E44A4059862575AF001DE3A4?OpenDocument

Details about slain Columbia, Ill., family emerge, but clues don't

Their guard must have been up, given unspecified recent threats serious enough for them to notify police and aim a camera on the house at the mailbox.

If there is nothing on that camera then this guy is sunk.

Neighbors said detectives told them that Sheri Coleman, 31, and sons Garett, 11, and Gavin, 9, were strangled in the home at 2854 Robert Drive.


Could it have been a stalker? :confused:

[lune3]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/14D56762E44A4059862575AF001DE3A4?OpenDocument

Details about slain Columbia, Ill., family emerge, but clues don't



If there is nothing on that camera then this guy is sunk.



Could it have been a stalker? :confused:

And if there is no strange car shown on the community entrance/exit camera between 5:30 and 7, then how does one suppose a killer got in there?

I wonder if another reason the autopsy results are being withheld is because time of death was determined to be before 5:30 am.

[Roux]

Just thinking... I wonder why this thread got moved from the Current Crimes board to the Family Violence board when there is no hard evidence that this is a family violence case. (I didn't even know this board existed - so many sad cases here.)

I've never come to this thread but found my way here thanks to your posts under Current Crimes. I only heard about this case this morning on Fox and wanted to learn more.

It isn't clear to me, has he said when he last saw his family? Did he claim to see them sleeping before he left for the gym? As for the threats in the mailbox, that put me in mind of Mark Jensen.

[KittyMom]

And if there is no strange car shown on the community entrance/exit camera between 5:30 and 7, then how does one suppose a killer got in there?

I wonder if another reason the autopsy results are being withheld is because time of death was determined to be before 5:30 am.

I was thinking that the only way he'd be able to alter the TOD would be to have the a/c running really cold to alter body temp. Even then, that might not work in such a short period of time. Especially if he readjusted the thermostat before leaving.

I also noticed the company they owned is no longer in good standing because a report was not filed at the end of the year. I'm thinking money troubles will be revealed.

[Kip]

Another thing that bothers me is the risk that the mom would be awake at that time. With Coleman leaving at 5:30 am, there's no way a killer could determine if Sheri was a light sleeper and may have been up.
Just seems so risky to me. Plus the fact that neighbours may have been up during that timeline, getting their newspaper or going off to work, could have heard something or seen a strange car in the neighbourhood.

Can the gym corroborate that Coleman was there the whole period?

Good point -- with Chris getting up, it would be a huge assumption for a potential killer to make that Cheri was sleeping soundly.

I woke up at 5:30 am this morning and noted it was fairly light outside even though sunrise isn't until 6:07 here (sunrise at the Coleman's is a little earlier). There wasn't any need for me to turn on lights at that hour.

Most gyms have some sort of sign-in system and I would imagine that most have surveillance. LE would also be able to tell the location from which Chris made the phone call. Whether or not Chris was involved, I think he was at the gym when he said he was.

[KittyMom]

Good point -- with Chris getting up, it would be a huge assumption for a potential killer to make that Cheri was sleeping soundly.

I woke up at 5:30 am this morning and noted it was fairly light outside even though sunrise isn't until 6:07 here (sunrise at the Coleman's is a little earlier). There wasn't any need for me to turn on lights at that hour.

Most gyms have some sort of sign-in system and I would imagine that most have surveillance. LE would also be able to tell the location from which Chris made the phone call. Whether or not Chris was involved, I think he was at the gym when he said he was.

I agree. He was at the gym during the time he said he was. I hope there were others there that can speak to his state of mind and appearance.

[KittyMom]

http://www.classmates.com/directory/public/memberprofile/list.htm?regId=144645501

This looks like the dad here...

[Kip]

http://www.classmates.com/directory/public/memberprofile/list.htm?regId=144645501

This looks like the dad here...

Good find. I wonder what else he says about himself there (but not enough to register to find out).

[cog1]

I wanted to share this guestbook I found for Sheri. I hope this ok? There are alot of thier friends posting out there who sware the husband could never do this.

I hope that is true in this case!

http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookID=6189174858580&page=2

[dgfred]

Very interesting case, looking forward to more info.

[KittyMom]

http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10322820

Visitation Friday for murdered mother, boys


Funeral is set for Saturday.

[USACQ]

A bit more detailed info at this link:

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=174609&catid=3

- Chris Coleman phoned police from the gym because he could not reach his wife, which was unusual

- LE is focusing on the fact that there had been threats made against the family

- There is a security camera installed in front of the house, they don't specify by who (hopefully that will net some leads!)

from the article:

"The family was found murdered early Tuesday morning. Investigators have now clarified, it was not the husband who found them.

Major Case Squad deputy commander Major Jeff Connor said, "He contacted police. They went to the house and found the victims." NewsChannel 5 asked, "Why did he ask police to check on his family?" Connor answered, "He wasn't able to make contact with his wife and that was unusual."

Major Connor also clarified the husband was at a Gold's Gym and not at work as previously reported.
"I can tell you he didn't work that night," Connor said.

Husband Chris Coleman works as security for Joyce Meyer Ministries. The family recently received threatening notes in their mailbox related to his job.
"There have been some issues of threats to this family. That's what we're going to look into. that's one of the key points in this investigation right now," Connor said.

Investigators would not say if there was forced entry, who installed the surveillance camera in the front of the house or anything that was related to evidence. "

[USACQ]

Painted inside the house were the words:

"I told you this would happen"

http://individual.com/story.php?story=100740367

[USACQ]

http://www.ksdk.com/genthumb/genthumb.ashx?e=3&h=240&w=320&i=/assetpool/images/090506060553

Family Photo

[cog1]

From the article linked above, http://individual.com/story.php?story=100740367

In January 2008, the couple formed a business called Executive Innovations, specializing in video surveillance. A spokesman for the Illinois secretary of state's office said the corporation was no longer in good standing because no annual report had been filed by year's end.

I would say "they or he" installed the camera since that was thier new business.

[cog1]

I posted this over at the other thread and thought I would bring it over here. Some beautiful pic's of the family and some of Sheri on a trip to Cambodia.

I wanted to share this guestbook I found for Sheri. I hope this ok? There are alot of thier friends posting out there who sware the husband could never do this.

I hope that is true in this case!

http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.as...4858580&page=2

[LILMANMAX]

I pray the husband is not involved. Surely he would not use the gym as an alibi and not be there. :unsure:

Such a waste of life of a beautiful family. :sad:

[dgfred]

According to some news channels the husband has retained a lawyer after extensive questioning by LE.

I wonder if it was a regular thing for him to go to the gym in the early morning and how often he did this.

Not much seemed to have happened when they reported harassment.

Something just doesn't sound right here. Strangling seems so personal,
seems a killer would use other methods. Should be a DNA goldmine in there house if an intruder strangled all three. Don't (didn't) they have any idea of who was doing the threatening? Hmmmmmmmm.

[Keegan]

The police are not asking for help in finding a suspect. They want for anyone that knew the family to call them. Father has lawyered up.

We know where this is going.......

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/4C72FACA6EE931F9862575AF001243B2?OpenDocument

[Musterion]

Just thinking... I wonder why this thread got moved from the Current Crimes board to the Family Violence board when there is no hard evidence that this is a family violence case. (I didn't even know this board existed - so many sad cases here.)

Hi Kip,

I'm wondering the same thing as well.

IMO.
M.

[lune3]

Hi Kip,

I'm wondering the same thing as well.

IMO.
M.

There's another thread in "Current Crimes". It seems that Coleman has retained a lawyer after he was questioned by LE. Not only that but apparently LE is not asking the public's help in looking for a suspect.

[Musterion]

"I can confirm there was some police interaction prior to this, but we're not going to get into any specifics about that. I don't want people to think that's the only thing we're looking at."

http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-columbia-triple-murder-050509,0,3088197.story

"An anonymous law enforcement source said the words, "I told you this would happen," were found painted on a wall in the family's home.

Neighbors of the family told the Post-Dispatch the family had been receiving threats in the mail prior to the killings. Details regarding the letters, the meaning of the painted message and the causes of death in the homicides were not reported."

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/07/Few-clues-in-killing-of-Illinois-family/UPI-68171241712214/

Based on this information, I would say that LE should have copies or the originals of any threatening correspondence to this family.

I would think that LE has the potential for solving the case quickly through handwriting analysis or fingerprints on the letters.

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

There's another thread in "Current Crimes". It seems that Coleman has retained a lawyer after he was questioned by LE. Not only that but apparently LE is not asking the public's help in looking for a suspect.

Thanks lune3,

Could you point me in the direction of this info?

IMO.
M.

[GentleBreeze]

Investigation Into Columbia Triple Murder Broadens
Family's Former Home In Missouri Now Being Looked Over By Cops:confused:


Major Case Squad detectives continued a search of the property Wednesday night. But the home on Robert Drive in Columbia is not the only home under surveillance. A home where the Coleman family lived three years ago in south St. Louis County was also under watch by an armed guard. That home, when the Colemans lived in it, was owned by Joyce Meier Ministries. That is Christopher Coleman's employer. He worked as a security guard.

Neighbors in the Coleman's old neighborhood have fond memories of the family. "Really nice people," says Mike Houska. "They would cut the grass for the people next door here."

Houska couldn't understand why the Coleman's old home was being watched.

http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-triple-murder-9p-050609,0,4426293.story

[KittyMom]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/4C72FACA6EE931F9862575AF001243B2?OpenDocument

Police say they're making progress in Columbia murder case

Police are asking for anyone who knew the Coleman family to contact the Major Case Squad at 618-281-5151. He then said that police are not asking for the public's help in looking for suspect.


This is just strange. "anyone who knew" the family???

About 10 detectives in five police cars arrived at the home, put on rubber gloves and went inside to search.

And, detectives returned to Interstate 255 and are searching the grassy area along the highway from the Columbia exit to the Jefferson Barracks Bridge. On Wednesday night, detectives spent hours sifting for clues along the highway along Interstate 255/I-270 from the bridge to Gravois Road.

The interstate would be the most common route used to drive from the Coleman home to south St. Louis County.


Sounds like they may be looking for a weapon. :(

[KittyMom]

Investigation Into Columbia Triple Murder Broadens
Family's Former Home In Missouri Now Being Looked Over By Cops:confused:


Major Case Squad detectives continued a search of the property Wednesday night. But the home on Robert Drive in Columbia is not the only home under surveillance. A home where the Coleman family lived three years ago in south St. Louis County was also under watch by an armed guard. That home, when the Colemans lived in it, was owned by Joyce Meier Ministries. That is Christopher Coleman's employer. He worked as a security guard.

Neighbors in the Coleman's old neighborhood have fond memories of the family. "Really nice people," says Mike Houska. "They would cut the grass for the people next door here."

Houska couldn't understand why the Coleman's old home was being watched.

http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-triple-murder-9p-050609,0,4426293.story

This is really strange.

[KittyMom]

http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/05/07/monroe/news/doc4a01f80f46de0585021823.txt

Besides these findings, the Major Case Squad is still asking for community assistance in solving the case.

"We need the public’s help," Major Case Squad Deputy Commander Jeff Connor said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. "Right now, we don’t have a suspect in custody."


At one time LE was asking the community for help.

[GentleBreeze]

The police are not asking for help in finding a suspect. They want for anyone that knew the family to call them. Father has lawyered up.

We know where this is going.......

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/4C72FACA6EE931F9862575AF001243B2?OpenDocument


That is one thing I really cant stand about the media. Who can you trust when one says one thing and one another.

http://www.bnd.com/news/crime/story/759136.html

Connor renewed his request for help from the public.

"We are still asking for the public's help," Connor said. "If anybody saw or heard anything unusual in the Columbia area, or if anybody knows the Coleman family and feels they may have information important to this investigation, please call the Columbia Police Department."

imo

[GentleBreeze]

http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-triple-murder-9p-050609,0,4426293.story

Investigation Into Columbia Triple Murder Broadens

[GentleBreeze]

They still are, Kitty.

http://www.bnd.com/news/crime/story/759136.html

Thursday, May. 07, 2009
Police ask for help solving triple murder in Columbia

Connor renewed his request for help from the public.

"We are still asking for the public's help," Connor said. "If anybody saw or heard anything unusual in the Columbia area, or if anybody knows the Coleman family and feels they may have information important to this investigation, please call the Columbia Police Department."

*******************************

I think that some of the media is omitting important things said by LE to make it more sensational. I have read several articles that says that LE is appealing for the public's help if they saw anything strange in that neighborhood or knows anything about the family.

Also does anyone know what media channel said that Coleman has lawyered up?

tia

imo

[airportwoman]

I posted this over at the other thread and thought I would bring it over here. Some beautiful pic's of the family and some of Sheri on a trip to Cambodia.

I wanted to share this guestbook I found for Sheri. I hope this ok? There are alot of thier friends posting out there who sware the husband could never do this.

I hope that is true in this case!

http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.as...4858580&page=2

This guestbook has been taken down.

[Keegan]

Neighbors report hearing loud screaming and fighting about 3 am Tuesday.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=174609&catid=3

[GentleBreeze]

This guestbook has been taken down.

Oh my goodness surely on the guestbook some did not make this about a possilbe murder suspect.

Guestbooks are a time to remember the victims and express heartfelt words. I hope someone did not come in to ruin that. I just hate to see that happen on Guestbooks.:sad:

There will be a time for the other if they find out that the husband/father was involved.

imo

[desmom]

Another thing that bothers me is the risk that the mom would be awake at that time. With Coleman leaving at 5:30 am, there's no way a killer could determine if Sheri was a light sleeper and may have been up.
Just seems so risky to me. Plus the fact that neighbours may have been up during that timeline, getting their newspaper or going off to work, could have heard something or seen a strange car in the neighbourhood.

Can the gym corroborate that Coleman was there the whole period?

Also wonder whether the autopsy can determine time of death was before 5:30am.

At 5:30 a.m. around here there are quite a few people on the streets doing their morning walks/jogs and taking their dogs for their morning walks (unless it is pouring down rain) or people leaving for work.

http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KMOSTLOU11&month=5&day=5&year=2009 reports no rain for that day.

[GentleBreeze]

Neighbors report hearing loud screaming and fighting about 3 am Tuesday.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=174609&catid=3

Well by the sound of it.........it will not be long before they pick up Coleman.

Why in the world would he do something like this? So horrible.

Did anyone say they were having marital difficulties? I recall something about financial difficulties. Did he have large insurance policies on them, I wonder?

I had so wished that the father/husband wasn't involved but he isn't looking good at all.

imo

[cog1]

Oh my goodness surely on the guestbook some did not make this about a possilbe murder suspect.

Guestbooks are a time to remember the victims and express heartfelt words. I hope someone did not come in to ruin that. I just hate to see that happen on Guestbooks.:sad:

There will be a time for the other if they find out that the husband/father was involved.

imo

Hi GentleBreeze,

Everything that I read was about remembering her and the family. I saw nothing negative at all. The pictures were stunning and they all looked happy.

I don't understand unless someone posted something negative but couldn't they just delete that and bann the person from posting?

Sad.:sad:

[USACQ]

the husband is looking really good to me as a suspect. He calls LE 1 1/2 hour later after he leaves the home? A failed business venture, not in good standing and a short stint as a marine? Where of course, most marines are taught how to murder. Being a killing machine, I have to look at him and he is looking really good right now.

LE is looking for anyone who knew this couple? Ah, it's like mary winkler all over again reading this case.

Bugout -

I must take exception to something you posted...

Marines are not "taught how to murder". In the military we are taught how to fight combatants. The military has a broad spectrum of people in it, but I must say this:

During my time there I have seen and known more spectacularly honorable people than I can count. Responsible husbands and fathers who are warriors that protect this nation. People who can hold their infant, cook breakfast, and by afternoon lead men into battle exceptionally well. Men who know the value of life and of risk and who would die for their country and loved ones just because it was their duty.

To add "Marine" to this list of things that make you think he did it is, in my mind, a slap. You see a ton of cases where people were strangled by some reprobate, and they didn't have to be ex military to do it.

Respectfully,
Casey

[USACQ]

Recent story - great photos of family on the video

http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/22241308/murder-mystery.htm

[Leanne Weich]

Those little guys were just too beautiful for words. I will never be able to fathom how anyone can kill a child.

[Kip]

Well by the sound of it.........it will not be long before they pick up Coleman.

Why in the world would he do something like this? So horrible.

Did anyone say they were having marital difficulties? I recall something about financial difficulties. Did he have large insurance policies on them, I wonder?

I had so wished that the father/husband wasn't involved but he isn't looking good at all.

imo

Take this with a HUGE grain of salt, but in one of the comments after the news story, someone says the father had a girlfriend in Florida.

I was wondering if the father had a girlfriend because when the wife and kids are killed, it seems like so often it's because the guy wants to leave his old life behind and has a new woman waiting.

[Kip]

Bugout -

I must take exception to something you posted...

Marines are not "taught how to murder". In the military we are taught how to fight combatants. The military has a broad spectrum of people in it, but I must say this:

During my time there I have seen and known more spectacularly honorable people than I can count. Responsible husbands and fathers who are warriors that protect this nation. People who can hold their infant, cook breakfast, and by afternoon lead men into battle exceptionally well. Men who know the value of life and of risk and who would die for their country and loved ones just because it was their duty.

To add "Marine" to this list of things that make you think he did it is, in my mind, a slap. You see a ton of cases where people were strangled by some reprobate, and they didn't have to be ex military to do it.

Respectfully,
Casey

Well said. I totally agree.

There are "bad apples" in all segments of society. There have been plenty of doctors and clergy who have murdered their spouses (or others).

IMO, the military is one segment of society in which honor still means something.

[darcie]

Newest update out of a Belleville newspaper.

*snipped*

The woman, Sheri Coleman, removed her name Oct. 6 from the deed of the house, located at 2854 Robert Drive, according to Monroe County recorder of deed's records. She signed before a notary. Whether the action was related to debt-managment was unavailable. Coleman and her husband, Chris Coleman, 32, led a church-based personal finance class from their home earlier this year.

---
I'm sure there are legal reasons for removing a name from a house. Maybe if they planned on filing bankruptcy? I don't know I am sure there are some logical reasons. Right? lol, i can't think of any right now, but I am sure there are some.

---
*also snipped*
Police do not have anyone in custody, Connor said. He would not comment Thursday about whether investigators have interviewed Chris Coleman since their initial interview Tuesday, or elaborate on evidence or suspects.

http://www.bnd.com/news/crime/story/760589.html

[cog1]

Is this thread staying here or what? I'm confused as the one under family violence was closed.
:confused:

I'm bad! Under current crimes closed. STill confused.

[desmom]

Squad gets more time to solve Columbia killings
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/ED3CCEFB2B01D74B862575B000121A77?OpenDocument

[darcie]

Geeez...where have I been? I didn't know they searched a lake on friday. Must be looking for something special. Spray paint cans?
Was the message in spray paint? They have been searching along the highways, trash cans in the neighborhood.


http://www.bnd.com/
*snipped*
Major Case Squad will extend probe of triple slayings
The Major Case Squad will extend into next week its investigation of the slayings of a Columbia mother and her two sons, and detectives spent Friday searching a lake behind the family's house.

[Musterion]

Very strange.

"Sheri Coleman's mother and brother live in the Chicago area. In a court petition filed Friday, Sheri Coleman's brother said that Chris Coleman had agreed to the memorial service in the Chicago area, but later changed his mind."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/57806AD1E2A2140E862575B1006DE54D?OpenDocument

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10334965

"Maj. Jeff Connor is a deputy commander of the major case squad of greater St. Louis. He says detectives in scuba gear searched a lake behind the home on Friday."

[Musterion]

Why would there be discord among Sheri's family and her husband enough to have several memorials and disagreement about burial?

http://www.bnd.com/372/story/762070.html

IMO.
M.

[carolm]

I pray I am wrong but I think he strangled them and then went to the gym and called police to find their bodies......... Who would not drive home and check themselves unless they were out of town......

[airportwoman]

Why would there be discord among Sheri's family and her husband enough to have several memorials and disagreement about burial?

http://www.bnd.com/372/story/762070.html

IMO.
M.

I suspect there were huge problems going back to the day they met, and after he's arrested, people will start talking.

MHO.

[Musterion]

I pray I am wrong but I think he strangled them and then went to the gym and called police to find their bodies......... Who would not drive home and check themselves unless they were out of town......

That's what it sounds like to me, Carolm. :( I pray we are wrong, too.

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

I suspect there were huge problems going back to the day they met, and after he's arrested, people will start talking.

MHO.

I think you're right. How incredibly sad. Two beautiful children and a beautiful, young woman with so much life left to live.

Praying for her family and his, too.

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

"Chris Coleman, 32, who works security for televangelist Joyce Meyer in Jefferson County, has hired well-known Clayton criminal defense attorneys Arthur Margulis and his son, William."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/74A63CA512CC24EA862575B2000C3636?OpenDocument

"The affidavit also stated that the family learned of the deaths from police in LaGrange Park, where Sheri Coleman's mother, Angela DeCicco, lives. Chris Coleman did not call his Chicago in-laws until about 11 a.m. Thursday, the affidavit said." :(

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

The Coleman's church with a statement about the murders.

http://www.destinychurch.org/

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

Odd?

"A private funeral was held at Christopher Coleman’s father’s church, Grace Church Ministries, in Chester on Saturday morning. The parking lot was filled. A blonde woman wearing black stood alone on a hill near the church." (italics mine)

http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:5AmAArzPy9UJ:www.bnd.com/100/story/762070.html+bnd+news+coleman+woman+in+black&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari

[carolm]

I would like to know who the blonde women standing alone is????

[Musterion]

I would like to know who the blonde women standing alone is????

Why in the world would they report that? For effect? I just find that so....odd......

IMO
M.

[Kip]

Odd?

"A private funeral was held at Christopher Coleman’s father’s church, Grace Church Ministries, in Chester on Saturday morning. The parking lot was filled. A blonde woman wearing black stood alone on a hill near the church." (italics mine)

http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:5AmAArzPy9UJ:www.bnd.com/100/story/762070.html+bnd+news+coleman+woman+in+black&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari

I found that bit of info odd too.

[Musterion]

Nothing new really.

"Margulis said he has "been in constant contact with police" regarding the case but that investigators hadn't given him any information regarding Coleman's status."

http://www.kplr11.com/sns-ap-il--threedead-illinois,0,6656008.story

IMO
M.

[Musterion]

"COLUMBIA, IL (KTVI - FOX2now.com) - Funerals have been held for a southern Illinois woman and her sons who were found murdered in their home. Columbia resident Sheri Coleman and her sons, Garett and Gavin, were remembered on Saturday. A public service is scheduled for Sunday night at a Columbia park and another family service is set for Monday in the Chicago area."

http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-columbia-illinois-muders-funerals-051009,0,6960870.story

[Musterion]

I found that bit of info odd too.

If it was for visual effect I might understand, but they have to know that it would cause a lot of people to question!?!

IMO.
M.

[USACQ]

Mods:

This thread is a current crime - y'all keep moving it to family violence.

Unless Mr. Coleman is arrested, shouldn't this remain a current crime thread?

[darcie]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/48657375458EC43F862575B30011DEF9?OpenDocument

Community mourns slain family at vigil

[carolm]

:rose::rose::rose:

[darcie]

I have not seen this yet reported in the news, but according to Topix, Chris Coleman did not show up at the Candle Light Memorial held last night.

Of course some Topix posters are finding this circustmance, and with the lawyering up... not a plus in the public eye for Chris Coleman.


http://www.topix.com/forum/city/columbia-il/T6EF1LUHNDSA0L3RI/p6

[GentleBreeze]

"Chris Coleman, 32, who works security for televangelist Joyce Meyer in Jefferson County, has hired well-known Clayton criminal defense attorneys Arthur Margulis and his son, William."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/74A63CA512CC24EA862575B2000C3636?OpenDocument

"The affidavit also stated that the family learned of the deaths from police in LaGrange Park, where Sheri Coleman's mother, Angela DeCicco, lives. Chris Coleman did not call his Chicago in-laws until about 11 a.m. Thursday, the affidavit said." :(

IMO.
M.

I think that Sheri's family is going to go to a Judge in their hometown seeking an injunction so that Sheri, Garrett and Gavin wont be returned to Chris Coleman's hometown for burial.

May ask for a delay.......hoping by that time he will be arrested for the crime if he is guilty.

I think why Chris changed his mind was he knew once their bodies left that jurisdiction Sheri's family could legally delay them being transported back.

imo

[carolm]

anyone want to bet the blonde woman standing alone is a girlfriend?

I bet that LE was there too...

[Musterion]

I think that Sheri's family is going to go to a Judge in their hometown seeking an injunction so that Sheri, Garrett and Gavin wont be returned to Chris Coleman's hometown for burial.

May ask for a delay.......hoping by that time he will be arrested for the crime if he is guilty.

I think why Chris changed his mind was he knew once their bodies left that jurisdiction Sheri's family could legally delay them being transported back.

imo

Aww, that makes sense.

Sheri's family has to deal with her and the boys' murder and, from how it looks to me, it seems that they might believe Chris had something to do with it, IMO, that must be such horrible compounded grief and anger.

Praying for both families today.

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

Mods:

This thread is a current crime - y'all keep moving it to family violence.

Unless Mr. Coleman is arrested, shouldn't this remain a current crime thread?

Hi USACQ!

You might have to PM or email Coldwater.

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

"(Pastor) Stern said he spoke to Sheri's husband, Chris Coleman, at the funeral Saturday. Stern said Coleman is "torn up and broken" over his wife's and sons' deaths, but Stern did not say exactly what he said to Coleman.
"We didn't talk (about) anything directly," Stern said. "It was just kind of in a back room. It was just a real somber tone. Everyone just kind of bracing themselves for the next 30 to 60 minutes of a funeral nobody wants to go to."

http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/763849.html

IMO.
M.

[KittyMom]

If I were Sheri's family there is no way I'd let them be buried in his hometown. Now way.

[KittyMom]

http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10338580

More services for slain wife, 2 sons

Associated Press - May 11, 2009 8:54 AM ET
Their funeral was on Saturday, with their burial in Chester delayed so that their bodies could be driven for a second funeral near Chicago, where many of Sheri Coleman's relatives live.

[KittyMom]

Let's hope that if he has something to do with this, his preacher daddy will get him to confess.

[KittyMom]

http://images.stltoday.com/stltoday/resources/murd625may9.jpg

Looks like LE was very thorough in checking the home.

[GentleBreeze]

If I were Sheri's family there is no way I'd let them be buried in his hometown. Now way.

I think that is the problem, Kitty. Especially since LE has not even named a suspect or arrested anyone.

If he is not the one that did this to his family then he certainly deserves to have them buried close to him where he chooses, just like any other husband/father or mother/wife would have the same right.

I still feel that Sheri's family will try to stall the transport back. Even if it is not successful it will give LE time to possibly arrest who did these crimes.

I could be wrong though and the bodies may go back to be interned in his hometown and Sheri's family won't try to stop it.

imo

[Kip]

anyone want to bet the blonde woman standing alone is a girlfriend?

I bet that LE was there too...

Girlfriend - that was my first thought - then I thought surely they couldn't be that stupid - but we've seen people do dumber things that that, so who knows.

I know LE was there - they always are.

[carolm]

Kip

I hope LE can get her to spill her guts who would want to be with a man that could do that to his family...... and I know not guilty until proven......

Carol

[USACQ]

Many have made the case that it could be Chris Coleman. Just for the sake of throwing this around though, is it still possible that it was someone else?

Yep.

Some arguments:

1.) Security cameras didn't show any strange cars coming into or out of the neighborhood?

- Could have been someone IN the neighborhood. What about someone accessing the house from the rear on foot?


2.) Chris was "only" gone two and a half hours - why would the perp do this then?

- It only takes about 10-15 seconds to choke a person unconscious. VERY plausible. What if the perp(s) wanted to make it look like HE did it?


3.) Chris didn't call the wife's family but did call his employer... the wife's family was told of the event by LE that morning at 11am.

- Remember, his employer is also like a pastor. Who do you reach out to when you are crushed? Hard to say. Why not call the family? Well, was he still being questioned at that time?


4.) Why would Chris leave his family alone if he was worried about them?

- Nonsensical argument. He has to leave them EVERY night to go to work, and they've been living with the threats for a while, right? So what would be the big deal about working out in the morning you'd think.


5.) Why would Chris call LE if he was worried about them, and why not go check himself?

- We all know our family well. I have a time that my wife and I call each other every morning just to touch and say hi, even if Im on the road. What if Chris and his wife did that every morning at 6:45? He can't reach her, he calls again, to no avail. Worried, he calls LE and then leaves for home himself. He arrives just after they do. Very plausible.

__

Not blindly defending anyone here... but I also want to be sure to consider ALL sides and not just blindly convict someone. What if this one WASN'T the dad?

[Kip]

[snipped]


5.) Why would Chris call LE if he was worried about them, and why not go check himself?

- We all know our family well. I have a time that my wife and I call each other every morning just to touch and say hi, even if Im on the road. What if Chris and his wife did that every morning at 6:45? He can't reach her, he calls again, to no avail. Worried, he calls LE and then leaves for home himself. He arrives just after they do. Very plausible.

__

Not blindly defending anyone here... but I also want to be sure to consider ALL sides and not just blindly convict someone. What if this one WASN'T the dad?

It would be interesting to know if Chris did call more than once. Sheri could have been in the shower, in the garage looking for something in the car, etc. If he only called once, I'd say that his calling was a bigger red flag than I initially thought.

If my husband didn't answer the phone when I expected him to, I'd call multiple times. If I was really worried and far from home, I'd call a neighbor to check on him.

And, I still say that if Chris was so worried about his family's safety that an unanswered phone call would lead to the assumption that his family had been harmed that Chris either should have either been there to protect them (even if that meant taking time off from work) or sent them to live with friends or family elsewhere.

[USACQ]

Terrific points Kip! Well said - one call alone could be a huge red flag -

[Musterion]

"Chris Coleman arrived voluntarily at the Columbia, Illinois Police Station earlier today to be printed. Connor tells KMOX no one has been ruled out in the murders of Sheri Coleman and her sons Gerett and Gavin."

The article says that the house was released back to Chris Coleman this afternoon.

http://www.kmox.com/pages/4374746.php?contentType=4&contentId=3980026

Also, "Connor says they're continuing to follow up on leads. He says forensic evidence sent to labs is being give priority. He tells KMOX he believes officials are closer to an arrest but wouldn't say if they're focusing on a single or multiple suspects."

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

Many have made the case that it could be Chris Coleman. Just for the sake of throwing this around though, is it still possible that it was someone else?

Yep.

Some arguments:

1.) Security cameras didn't show any strange cars coming into or out of the neighborhood?

- Could have been someone IN the neighborhood. What about someone accessing the house from the rear on foot?


2.) Chris was "only" gone two and a half hours - why would the perp do this then?

- It only takes about 10-15 seconds to choke a person unconscious. VERY plausible. What if the perp(s) wanted to make it look like HE did it?


3.) Chris didn't call the wife's family but did call his employer... the wife's family was told of the event by LE that morning at 11am.

- Remember, his employer is also like a pastor. Who do you reach out to when you are crushed? Hard to say. Why not call the family? Well, was he still being questioned at that time?


4.) Why would Chris leave his family alone if he was worried about them?

- Nonsensical argument. He has to leave them EVERY night to go to work, and they've been living with the threats for a while, right? So what would be the big deal about working out in the morning you'd think.


5.) Why would Chris call LE if he was worried about them, and why not go check himself?

- We all know our family well. I have a time that my wife and I call each other every morning just to touch and say hi, even if Im on the road. What if Chris and his wife did that every morning at 6:45? He can't reach her, he calls again, to no avail. Worried, he calls LE and then leaves for home himself. He arrives just after they do. Very plausible.

__

Not blindly defending anyone here... but I also want to be sure to consider ALL sides and not just blindly convict someone. What if this one WASN'T the dad?

Really good, USACQ. We don't know the whole context of events that have led up to the murders.

Excellent post.

IMO.
M.

[KittyMom]

http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/05/11/monroe/news/doc4a047ac76d496789770143.txt

Trying hard not to be angry, Stern said he wanted people to show their emotions.

“I encourage you guys to mourn well,” Stern said. “I know this ticks me off because some will say evil is here in Columbia, but evil never wins the war. Five years from now we will look back and realize God was with us through the whole thing.”


hmmm...interesting words by Sheri's pastor. :glare:

[Musterion]

"Major Jeff Connor, deputy commander of the Major Case Squad, said: "He just came to give us some fingerprints. We are not prepared to say anybody is a suspect. We're still working on it. We feel confident we are going to solve this crime. We don't want to rush it."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/721F7AC65B144CD7862575B400082AB8?OpenDocument

IMO, when information is expressed in this way by LE, "we feel confident that we are going to solve this crime", it means that the likely suspect is the likely suspect. :(

M.

[Musterion]

"THE FOLLOWING WAS AN ACTUAL COMMENT POSTED:Phat Stacks May 5, 2009 1:27pm CST"Husband has been dating a girl from St. Petersburg named Tara Lintz". Uh-oh! If true that can't be good for family harmony. I'm sure Chris's family will weigh in.I don't know where Mr Stacks got the info but this is where, I heard it first. The following morning (May 6, 2009), a local news channel reported that the MCS was out-of-town, interviewing a person known to Chris Coleman. They did not mention name, location, or gender of this person."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/74A63CA512CC24EA862575B2000C3636?OpenDocument#tp_n ewCommentAnchor

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/05/11/monroe/news/doc4a047ac76d496789770143.txt



hmmm...interesting words by Sheri's pastor. :glare:

It is an interesting choice of words, K.

Why do you think he phrased this way?

IMO.
M.

[LILMANMAX]

I hate to always look at the spouse or last person with the victims but something is really troubling here. I have a feeling there will be an arrest soon. JMO

[USACQ]

I think the pastors words are encouraging... I think that there are probably a lot of people in the congregation who are scared, or sad, or angry. There are a whole flood of emotions when this happens close to home.

The pastor is probably dealing with a ton of "oh, there's evil here in the area" concerns. They are realizing that there is evil in the world, and the pastor is redirecting their focus on God.

If I hold my head a little sideways, and squint, I might think there is hidden meaning in it but... I really don't think so. To see hidden meaning, you'd have to be grasping at straws a bit, and be convinced that he did it anyway.

If I do a "Dragnet" "just the facts" - I remain equally open to all options in this case. Could it be the husband? Plausibly, yes. Could it be someone else? Plausibly, yes. I actually am still leaning towards the "someone else" in this one.

[USACQ]

In addition to the below - since they're getting Chris' fingerprints, perhaps they also have some other prints in the house...

I wonder if the girlfriend story is valid.

Anyone hearing anything about how Chris and the in-laws are getting along lately, any pings there?

Lets work this problem board members! :) We can go over and watch Oprah if we want emotional arguments without fact: "... I can just FEEL that the husband did it! See? He has a goatee!!"


Many have made the case that it could be Chris Coleman. Just for the sake of throwing this around though, is it still possible that it was someone else?

Yep.

Some arguments:

1.) Security cameras didn't show any strange cars coming into or out of the neighborhood?

- Could have been someone IN the neighborhood. What about someone accessing the house from the rear on foot?


2.) Chris was "only" gone two and a half hours - why would the perp do this then?

- It only takes about 10-15 seconds to choke a person unconscious. VERY plausible. What if the perp(s) wanted to make it look like HE did it?


3.) Chris didn't call the wife's family but did call his employer... the wife's family was told of the event by LE that morning at 11am.

- Remember, his employer is also like a pastor. Who do you reach out to when you are crushed? Hard to say. Why not call the family? Well, was he still being questioned at that time?


4.) Why would Chris leave his family alone if he was worried about them?

- Nonsensical argument. He has to leave them EVERY night to go to work, and they've been living with the threats for a while, right? So what would be the big deal about working out in the morning you'd think.


5.) Why would Chris call LE if he was worried about them, and why not go check himself?

- We all know our family well. I have a time that my wife and I call each other every morning just to touch and say hi, even if Im on the road. What if Chris and his wife did that every morning at 6:45? He can't reach her, he calls again, to no avail. Worried, he calls LE and then leaves for home himself. He arrives just after they do. Very plausible.

__

Not blindly defending anyone here... but I also want to be sure to consider ALL sides and not just blindly convict someone. What if this one WASN'T the dad?

[darcie]

This entire case is just *odd*. Everything/body is being kept pretty tight lipped. I find it odd that Chris Coleman did NOT attend the Chicago funeral services. Fights within the *in law family* could be why he didn't attend, but I just know that if it was my family being laid out, I would be there. Fight or no fight. Geez...it's his family. He should have been there, and it will be interesting to see if he is present when the bodies are returned, and presumably buried.

The LE haven't named Chris Coleman as a suspect, but they sure as heck haven't ruled him out. They haven't warned neighbors of prowlers, etc. They haven't put out any information on suspicious cars coming and or leaving the subdivision caught on the camera. They haven't said a heck of a lot, and it makes it almost more susuposicous because they have been so quiet. Their list of suspects must be very very short, and very very close to the family.

Just moo.

[GentleBreeze]

This entire case is just *odd*. Everything/body is being kept pretty tight lipped. I find it odd that Chris Coleman did NOT attend the Chicago funeral services. Fights within the *in law family* could be why he didn't attend, but I just know that if it was my family being laid out, I would be there. Fight or no fight. Geez...it's his family. He should have been there, and it will be interesting to see if he is present when the bodies are returned, and presumably buried.

The LE haven't named Chris Coleman as a suspect, but they sure as heck haven't ruled him out. They haven't warned neighbors of prowlers, etc. They haven't put out any information on suspicious cars coming and or leaving the subdivision caught on the camera. They haven't said a heck of a lot, and it makes it almost more susuposicous because they have been so quiet. Their list of suspects must be very very short, and very very close to the family.

Just moo.

I don't think there is any need to warn the neighbors. I believe LE believes that this particular family was targeted. Now was it the one who had supposedly threatened the family or was it Chris? I guess we will have to wait and see.

Hopefully, soon they will have their answer and make an arrest in this case.

imoo

[Kip]

From what I've picked up reading some of the St Louis boards (which, of course, may or may not be true), it's looking to me like the rumors of a girlfriend may be true. People have even put a name out there.

A couple of people claiming to be Sheri's relatives posted. They said that they didn't receive much notice of the services for Sheri and all family members couldn't have made it there, so they asked to have their own. Chris at first said yes, then changed his mind.

[cog1]

From what I've picked up reading some of the St Louis boards (which, of course, may or may not be true), it's looking to me like the rumors of a girlfriend may be true. People have even put a name out there.

A couple of people claiming to be Sheri's relatives posted. They said that they didn't receive much notice of the services for Sheri and all family members couldn't have made it there, so they asked to have their own. Chris at first said yes, then changed his mind.

Kip, can you PM me a link to those boards?

TIA!

[Breakingnews]

Few things I ran across...

It's already been reported that a business, Executive Innovations, he established in 1-2008 is no longer active. He also has another company on record in MO (still active), Qucom LLC, "Sale of Internet Training Tools". So Chris is interested in running his own business and making money. Sheri's name is taken off the home deed 6 or so months ago (appx the time the mysterious threats began). Also he and Sheri were holding the financial planning classes thru their church website...so were they practicing what they preached? Were they strapped for cash?

House Cleaning / House KeepingReply to: chrisnsheri77@yahoo.com [?] Date: 2008-09-30, 11:01AM CDT. We offer a variety of house cleaning services in the Columbia, Waterloo, Dupo area. ...
stlouis.craigslist.org/hss/860966413.html - Similar pages

Someone is also doing Internet cleanup. The youtube video on Sheri's acct (of the deer being strangled) disappears and Chris's myspace. Odd.

Wink Link that still Chris' myspace still apears on:
http://wink.com/p/Chris-w:D4A5E410

As far as a GF, wouldn't surprise me. The wink link can be used to search the name that has been mentioned and Sheri-Chris appear on her friend's lists.

So as I see it, it's possible that this religious man didn't see divorce as an option in his head. He'd look bad in the eyes of his church, family and friends if he left them. Another warped, selfish man that eliminates what he perceives as an obstacle to his happiness and desires, thinking everyone will feel sorry for him.

[cog1]

Few things I ran across...

It's already been reported that a business, Executive Innovations, he established in 1-2008 is no longer active. He also has another company on record in MO (still active), Qucom LLC, "Sale of Internet Training Tools". So Chris is interested in running his own business and making money. Sheri's name is taken off the home deed 6 or so months ago (appx the time the mysterious threats began). Also he and Sheri were holding the financial planning classes thru their church website...so were they practicing what they preached? Were they strapped for cash?

House Cleaning / House KeepingReply to: chrisnsheri77@yahoo.com [?] Date: 2008-09-30, 11:01AM CDT. We offer a variety of house cleaning services in the Columbia, Waterloo, Dupo area. ...
stlouis.craigslist.org/hss/860966413.html - Similar pages

Someone is also doing Internet cleanup. The youtube video on Sheri's acct (of the deer being strangled) disappears and Chris's myspace. Odd.

Wink Link that still Chris' myspace still apears on:
http://wink.com/p/Chris-w:D4A5E410

As far as a GF, wouldn't surprise me. The wink link can be used to search the name that has been mentioned and Sheri-Chris appear on her friend's lists.

So as I see it, it's possible that this religious man didn't see divorce as an option in his head. He'd look bad in the eyes of his church, family and friends if he left them. Another warped, selfish man that eliminates what he perceives as an obstacle to his happiness and desires, thinking everyone will feel sorry for him.

ANd in the article above it says the police went to Fl. to question a friend right? And this person who name has been mentioned lives in Fl.

HMMM

[USACQ]

As far as suspicious cars entering or leaving the subdivision... if the person / people threatening the family were sharp enough to know the family's patterns.... and to get things into and out of the mailbox...

They were certainly sharp enough to not just drive up to the house, kill the family, and then leave. MOO. They would be on foot and use a rear entrance.

Have the police said anything or has anyone seen info on whether a door was broken into?

If Chris was covering up something and just wanted to make it LOOK like an assailant did it, might he break in his own back door? He certainly wouldn't want a "locked house" scenario. Then again, evidence of forced entry really points at an outsider -

On the other hand, if you were a bad guy trying to ruin Chris, wouldnt you want to make this LOOK like he did it? There are smart, sick people out there. In that case, you'd WANT to have no evidence of break in.

What's to say the Colemans were always careful, but on this one day there was a rear window left unlocked?

[cog1]

As far as suspicious cars entering or leaving the subdivision... if the person / people threatening the family were sharp enough to know the family's patterns.... and to get things into and out of the mailbox...

They were certainly sharp enough to not just drive up to the house, kill the family, and then leave. MOO. They would be on foot and use a rear entrance.

Have the police said anything or has anyone seen info on whether a door was broken into?

If Chris was covering up something and just wanted to make it LOOK like an assailant did it, wouldn't he break in his own back door? He certainly wouldn't want a "locked house" scenario.

There is a pic posted on one of these pages that shows the LE at the back of the house, with the crime scene tape duct taped to the windows and back door. Appears they were looking for prints. I'll try to find it and post for you. Might tell you something.

On the other hand, if you were a bad guy trying to ruin Chris, wouldnt you want to make this LOOK like he did it? There are smart, sick people out there. In that case, you'd WANT to have no evidence of break in.

What's to say the Colemans were always careful, but on this one day there was a rear window left unlocked?

There is a pic posted on one of these pages that shows the LE at the back of the house, with the crime scene tape duct taped to the windows and back door. Appears they were looking for prints. I'll try to find it and post for you. Might tell you something.

[USACQ]

Great catch Cog1 - I'd bet they are looking at that as a point of entry...

[cog1]

As far as suspicious cars entering or leaving the subdivision... if the person / people threatening the family were sharp enough to know the family's patterns.... and to get things into and out of the mailbox...

They were certainly sharp enough to not just drive up to the house, kill the family, and then leave. MOO. They would be on foot and use a rear entrance.

Have the police said anything or has anyone seen info on whether a door was broken into?

If Chris was covering up something and just wanted to make it LOOK like an assailant did it, might he break in his own back door? He certainly wouldn't want a "locked house" scenario. Then again, evidence of forced entry really points at an outsider -

On the other hand, if you were a bad guy trying to ruin Chris, wouldnt you want to make this LOOK like he did it? There are smart, sick people out there. In that case, you'd WANT to have no evidence of break in.

What's to say the Colemans were always careful, but on this one day there was a rear window left unlocked?


This was posted by KittyMom. http://images.stltoday.com/stltoday/resources/murd625may9.jpg

[Breakingnews]

Here's a good pic of the house and it's surroundings. You'd have to be invisible or lucky to not been seen breaking in the backdoor once it became light.

Pic #2
http://stltoday.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=23560820&event=746843&CategoryID=38578&picnum=31&move=B#Image

[carolm]

if it was someone that had a problem with the mom or dad they would have left the boys alone boys that age can sleep through a earth quake

[Kip]

if it was someone that had a problem with the mom or dad they would have left the boys alone boys that age can sleep through a earth quake

Good point. I know there are some, but I can't think of a case off the top of my head where someone wanting to hurt an individual kills the children rather than the individual himself.

That's very often true about kids sleeping through. My kids were like that. I had to call 911 for my husband one night. The kids were about 9, 12, and 16. Our bedrooms were all in the same part of the house - wood floors. I figured the EMTs clunking down the hall would awaken at least one child, but they all slept through it.

[USACQ]

Well, two possibilities though:

First, if you really, really wanted to get to Chris, why not kill the whole family?

Second, you could run the scenario that the killer went after the wife first... but remember, she was an MP wasn't she? A fight or scuffle wakes up the kids, or at the very least she gets out some noise.

[cog1]

Great catch Cog1 - I'd bet they are looking at that as a point of entry...


TY but I'm just checking out links. LOL

The sliding door is open in that pic. So, do you think that is how they found it? Which could mean someone "left" it open or maybe there are pry marks on it etc? They are studying that window pretty good so wonder what they found if anything?

[cog1]

Well, two possibilities though:

First, if you really, really wanted to get to Chris, why not kill the whole family?

Second, you could run the scenario that the killer went after the wife first... but remember, she was an MP wasn't she? A fight or scuffle wakes up the kids, or at the very least she gets out some noise.


Question, is there any more info on the neighbor who heard screaming at 3 a.m.?

That is strange to me since the first news breaking all the neighbors said they didn't hear or see anything. Then that comes out. Course, maybe that neighbor left early in the a.m. and wasn't there when the LE showed up?

[KittyMom]

In addition to the below - since they're getting Chris' fingerprints, perhaps they also have some other prints in the house...

I wonder if the girlfriend story is valid.

Anyone hearing anything about how Chris and the in-laws are getting along lately, any pings there?

Lets work this problem board members! :) We can go over and watch Oprah if we want emotional arguments without fact: "... I can just FEEL that the husband did it! See? He has a goatee!!"

Might I suggest that you engage your iggy for those posts that you deem unworthy of reading. That would save your fingers from typing comparisons to talk show hosts.

[KittyMom]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/74A63CA512CC24EA862575B2000C3636?OpenDocument#tp_n ewCommentAnchor

Sources close to the case said investigators traveled to Florida last week to interview a woman said to be a friend of Sheri Coleman's.

In reading through links I found this. Interesting that the woman in FL is said to be a friend of Sheri's.

[USACQ]

(USACQ) <--- looks at KittyMom, then stops, drops and rolls....

Sorry if I offended with the Oprah reference - I was trying to be funny but maybe failed on that one.

This board is one of my favorites because its pretty logical and analytical...

I was trying to inspire / challenge a review of any theories where the husband DIDN'T do it. Certainly open to all possible theories though!

[USACQ]

COG - that's a great point, the accuracy of that witness is very key...

[KittyMom]

It is an interesting choice of words, K.

Why do you think he phrased this way?

IMO.
M.

“I encourage you guys to mourn well,” Stern said. “I know this ticks me off because some will say evil is here in Columbia, but evil never wins the war. Five years from now we will look back and realize God was with us through the whole thing.”


If it were an unknown murderer, you'd think the prevailing emotion would be terror. Fear that there were a bad guy out there wondering around and no one knew what he looked like. IMO, anger would be a result of having a monster in your midst who fooled you on a daily basis. That anger would be not only at the bad guy that you know but also anger at yourself for failing to see the person for what he/she really was.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[KittyMom]

http://www.fortmilltimes.com/124/story/561746.html

The victims' bodies were to be returned Tuesday to southwestern Illinois for burial in Chester.



Looks like Sheri and her boys will be buried in Chris' hometown afterall.

[cog1]

COG - that's a great point, the accuracy of that witness is very key...


It stands out because that was the one and only mention of it. Could be good reason. LE may have said, do not tell any details of this. We want to solve this case and this is evidence we will need to submit if it goes to trial or when I should say.

Or, they deemed it hogwash and have no other eye witness accounts? No one heard a thing?

You just never really know what to beleive. I am just curious. :sad:

Things are very quiet which is good but kinda strange. Wonder if they found the paint can's or other evidence yet?

[KittyMom]

http://media.bnd.com/smedia/2009/05/06/16/397-Coleman_Family_picture.embedded.prod_affiliate.98. jpg

What cute little guys. I'll bet they kept their mom hopping.

[cog1]

http://media.bnd.com/smedia/2009/05/06/16/397-Coleman_Family_picture.embedded.prod_affiliate.98. jpg

What cute little guys. I'll bet they kept their mom hopping.


They sure are and they are such a beautiful family!

[KittyMom]

http://www.bnd.com/100/story/765109.html

from the same link

Meanwhile, on Monday afternoon, police tape at the Columbia house had been removed and three people were loading luggage and other items into a trailer. The curtains in the house were drawn. One vehicle registered to Christopher Coleman was parked in the garage and another one registered to him was parked on the street.

1. I wonder what items other than luggage were being taken from the home?
2. Interesting that both cars were registered to Chris.

[cog1]

http://www.bnd.com/100/story/765109.html

from the same link



1. I wonder what items other than luggage were being taken from the home?
2. Interesting that both cars were registered to Chris.


I saw pics earlier and it looked like a women was loading his clothes into a small trailer that was backed up to the garage. Said he did not want to go in to the home.

[cog1]

Program for the memorial service. No pic's of daddy or mention of him.

http://media.bnd.com/smedia/2009/05/12/12/ColemansMemorial.source.prod_affiliate.98.pdf

[KittyMom]

Program for the memorial service. No pic's of daddy or mention of him.

http://media.bnd.com/smedia/2009/05/12/12/ColemansMemorial.source.prod_affiliate.98.pdf

WOW. Those photos and the message from Jenna just chokes ya up. :crying:

IMO, the fact that Chris was excluded speaks volumes.

[cog1]

WOW. Those photos and the message from Jenna just chokes ya up. :crying:

IMO, the fact that Chris was excluded speaks volumes.


I know it is so sad! But it shows how much thier friends and family want to remember the happy times and I give them many kudos for that as it is hard to do!

I thought the same thing regarding the father being left out of the program. I wonder what if anything gave them bad/negative thoughts?

[carolm]

It sounds like her family knows who did it... and why would he need a lawyer.... I pray I am wrong but I would bet money he did it....

[cog1]

It sounds like her family knows who did it... and why would he need a lawyer.... I pray I am wrong but I would bet money he did it....


I think we all want it to be different but have seen so many of these type cases. They plant calls, evidence, etc. to make it appear that someone else did this and it falls right back into thier laps.

So sad! I just don't understand how they can kill thier own blood, their children? Never will!

[Musterion]

If it were an unknown murderer, you'd think the prevailing emotion would be terror. Fear that there were a bad guy out there wondering around and no one knew what he looked like. IMO, anger would be a result of having a monster in your midst who fooled you on a daily basis. That anger would be not only at the bad guy that you know but also anger at yourself for failing to see the person for what he/she really was.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I do think it was interesting he used anger, too. Maybe it's more telling about him as a person, though. Or maybe he and those around the family believe it was someone who just targeted this family because of Chris' job and they don't have a reason to fear but are angry at this anonymous murderer.

Chris wasn't at the candlelight vigil was he?

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

Program for the memorial service. No pic's of daddy or mention of him.

http://media.bnd.com/smedia/2009/05/12/12/ColemansMemorial.source.prod_affiliate.98.pdf

I think we know where all of this is headed. :(

LE has not stated how the family was killed. But, if it was strangulation he may have used a rope, not hands. I can't remember where I read that a pair of gloves were found? Does anyone remember? They can get fingerprints off of the inside of gloves if it is done right. If they found the spray cans there is usually a code that tells what store the cans were sold at.

If Chris did this he had premeditated it for a long time. He would have had to know that he was going to murder his two sons. How he could have come home every day, for months, and hugged them and told them he loved them knowing he was going to end their lives is the most cold blooded thing I can think of.

IF he did this.

IMO.
M.

[cog1]

I think we know where all of this is headed. :(

LE has not stated how the family was killed. But, if it was strangulation he may have used a rope, not hands. I can't remember where I read that a pair of gloves were found? Does anyone remember? They can get fingerprints off of the inside of gloves if it is done right. If they found the spray cans there is usually a code that tells what store the cans were sold at.

If Chris did this he had premeditated it for a long time. He would have had to know that he was going to murder his two sons. How he could have come home every day, for months, and hugged them and told them he loved them knowing he was going to end their lives is the most cold blooded thing I can think of.

IF he did this.

IMO.
M.


Musterion, sadly I think we do know where this is headed.

I don't know how any father or mother for that matter could do this but I agree with you it would have been premeditated. I am sure the LE will find all that they need to convict in this case.

I have not heard about gloves so will look for others info on that. I did hear RUMOR that there was dvr in the home I think that was removed and LE found part of it under a bridge. That is what would have taped the "intruders" at the home.

Want this one solved so much!!!

[Amy]

In addition to the below - since they're getting Chris' fingerprints, perhaps they also have some other prints in the house...

I wonder if the girlfriend story is valid.

Anyone hearing anything about how Chris and the in-laws are getting along lately, any pings there?

Lets work this problem board members! :) We can go over and watch Oprah if we want emotional arguments without fact: "... I can just FEEL that the husband did it! See? He has a goatee!!"

Getting his prints would make sense, as I am sure they printed the wife and kids--they need the prints of people that belong in the house, to compare with prints collected. They can then determine if there are any "foreign" prints.

From reading previous posts, there might be some tension. There seemed to be some controversy over allowing the bodies to go to the Chicago area for another funeral.

[cog1]

http://www.bnd.com/179/story/765104.html

Sheri met Chris Coleman in the Marines.

Her family refused to discuss the case or Chris Coleman, who on Monday gave fingerprints to investigators from the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. He did not attend the memorial service in Chicago but at least three of the more-than 20 investigators working on the triple murders were at the funeral home.


There has to be some riff going on with Sherri's family about Chris or atleast it seems to be that way to me. Why on earth would you not attend their service for your deceased wife and children!

Trust me I am not a funeral person at all! But I would have to be there to honor my babies NO MATTER WHAT!!!

Maybe he just couldn't do it emotionally and wanted to be ready for the service in Chester?

:confused:

[Amy]

As far as suspicious cars entering or leaving the subdivision... if the person / people threatening the family were sharp enough to know the family's patterns.... and to get things into and out of the mailbox...

They were certainly sharp enough to not just drive up to the house, kill the family, and then leave. MOO. They would be on foot and use a rear entrance.

Have the police said anything or has anyone seen info on whether a door was broken into?

If Chris was covering up something and just wanted to make it LOOK like an assailant did it, might he break in his own back door? He certainly wouldn't want a "locked house" scenario. Then again, evidence of forced entry really points at an outsider -

On the other hand, if you were a bad guy trying to ruin Chris, wouldnt you want to make this LOOK like he did it? There are smart, sick people out there. In that case, you'd WANT to have no evidence of break in.

What's to say the Colemans were always careful, but on this one day there was a rear window left unlocked?

I don't know how large the subdivision is--but how would anyone know that a certain car did or did not belong to someone living there? And, once the car passes the camera, there doesn't seem to be any way to trace WHERE the car went after that. Did any of the cars belong to people who live there, so went to those houses? And, even if there was a car that no one living there owned, it could have been parked anywhere, and the driver walk to the Coleman house.

In an earlier post (on the 8th or so) someone mentioned about people out and about walking their dogs, jogging, going to work. I would guess someone could say, be "jogging" and end up @ the Colemans'?

I haven't read or heard about the Colemans' security measures, altho one would think, with threatening messages being received, they would be rather vigilant about locking up, even if they might not have been before. AND, it could be they normally lock up tight, but perhaps a window was left unlocked on this particular morning for a reason.

Now, I don't know if Chris Coleman was involved--if he murdered his family, or perhaps, even could have hired someone else to do so whilst he went to the gym. (Or it could very well be not related to him @ all.)

I would wonder, tho, why he would want to kill his boys, even if he was wanting another life w/another woman and perhaps wouldn't want a divorce to muddy his image. What woman would be worth having who would say, in addition to having to get rid of the wife--I don't want your boys around, either? IMO, that would be the only reason he would want to off the boys--would be if the gf would say she didn't want the kids around.

[carolm]

is the girlfriend the blonde standing alone at the funeral....

and not attending the candle lite vigil..... sounds like Scott Petterson only showed up when the media did...

[cog1]

is the girlfriend the blonde standing alone at the funeral....

and not attending the candle lite vigil..... sounds like Scott Petterson only showed up when the media did...

Carolm I was wondering the same thing. Who was that and why would you do that? Dressed in black, drawing attention to yourself? Makes no sense to me. The police would have pics of the person and if a female friend of HIS would be able to question her motives. Why move yourself slap in the middle of a murder case?

More questions!

[carolm]

they think they are smarter then LE, I hope she spills her guts to them but it will be after their love affair goes south and he is cheating on her too

[USACQ]

Amy - great points.

I know that I'm pretty anal about security, but once in a great while discover that we've missed locking a window when I get up in the morning.

Hadn't thought about joggers, etc... it can happen.

Here in North Carolina, we recently had a case where a hooded man in a sweatshirt went into a home in a subdivision, and shot the whole family (except the dad who was away) and got away - this was in the morning also when everyone was busy with their early morning routines.

On the girlfriend - the woman that LE was interviewing in FL has been shown to be a friend of Sherri's... still haven't seen anything convincing on a girlfriend existing yet. anyone?

[Amy]

http://www.bnd.com/100/story/765109.html

from the same link



1. I wonder what items other than luggage were being taken from the home?
2. Interesting that both cars were registered to Chris.

Not so much-all the cars in my family are registered in my name--cuz I am the one who bought them. Other family members drive them.

[USACQ]

I don't know how large the subdivision is--but how would anyone know that a certain car did or did not belong to someone living there? And, once the car passes the camera, there doesn't seem to be any way to trace WHERE the car went after that. Did any of the cars belong to people who live there, so went to those houses? And, even if there was a car that no one living there owned, it could have been parked anywhere, and the driver walk to the Coleman house.



Just following up on this point - we have this issue in our subdivision too - a camera at the entrance, but very hard for those of us on crime watch, or for local LE, to tell which cars belong and which don't. I can generally tell on my street but that's it.

[cog1]

Amy - great points.

I know that I'm pretty anal about security, but once in a great while discover that we've missed locking a window when I get up in the morning.

Hadn't thought about joggers, etc... it can happen.

Here in North Carolina, we recently had a case where a hooded man in a sweatshirt went into a home in a subdivision, and shot the whole family (except the dad who was away) and got away - this was in the morning also when everyone was busy with their early morning routines.

On the girlfriend - the woman that LE was interviewing in FL has been shown to be a friend of Sherri's... still haven't seen anything convincing on a girlfriend existing yet. anyone?

It looks like she might be an old high school friend of Sherri's but hey that doesn't stop some peeps from cheating with thier spouse bf. It has happened before. We just don't know.

What I want to know is why did her name get drug into this so quickly when she lives in Fl? Something was up with that. Maybe she left a message on the phone for her?

??

[Amy]

It looks like she might be an old high school friend of Sherri's but hey that doesn't stop some peeps from cheating with thier spouse bf. It has happened before. We just don't know.

What I want to know is why did her name get drug into this so quickly when she lives in Fl? Something was up with that. Maybe she left a message on the phone for her?

??

Perhaps this friend was someone Sheri had been communicating with about her marital issues, if there were any? Perhaps LE found some communications on a computer and want to ask this friend for more information?

In the Michelle Young case, her husband was allegedly "involved" w/her sorority sister who lived in FL--and the Youngs were in SC? I guess that is a little closer proximity tho, than IL to FL.

[Kip]

...[snipped]
I would wonder, tho, why he would want to kill his boys, even if he was wanting another life w/another woman and perhaps wouldn't want a divorce to muddy his image. What woman would be worth having who would say, in addition to having to get rid of the wife--I don't want your boys around, either? IMO, that would be the only reason he would want to off the boys--would be if the gf would say she didn't want the kids around.

I just can't fathom a parent killing their children in cold blood like that, but it does happen. For example, two years ago Christopher Vaughn had his wife and children (ages 8, 11 and 12) in their SUV. He pulled off onto a side road and shot them, then shot himself in his leg, and claimed a carjacker did it. He had taken out a large life insurance policy on his wife -- I forget if there was a girlfriend too. He was arrested just before his family's funeral.

In a lot of these cases where a parent kills their children to move on to a new life, the boyfriend/girlfriend don't have any knowledge of the crime and frequently help LE.

[Amy]

I just can't fathom a parent killing their children in cold blood like that, but it does happen. For example, two years ago Christopher Vaughn had his wife and children (ages 8, 11 and 12) in their SUV. He pulled off onto a side road and shot them, then shot himself in his leg, and claimed a carjacker did it. He had taken out a large life insurance policy on his wife -- I forget if there was a girlfriend too. He was arrested just before his family's funeral.

In a lot of these cases where a parent kills their children to move on to a new life, the boyfriend/girlfriend don't have any knowledge of the crime and frequently help LE.

I remember the Vaughn case, and it doesn't make any more sense than this one. (Could you pm me where I can find update? That thread disappeared some time ago. TIA if you can.)

And, there was the fellow last year of so, can't remember the state, where he had been embezzling from his job, there were financial issues and he killed the wife and kids (@ least some were foster or adopted) then rn his van into a pole. Didn't want his family to have to face his shame. Where he should have just taken himself out--his family would have been able to survive the "shame."

[airportwoman]

I remember the Vaughn case, and it doesn't make any more sense than this one. (Could you pm me where I can find update? That thread disappeared some time ago. TIA if you can.)

And, there was the fellow last year of so, can't remember the state, where he had been embezzling from his job, there were financial issues and he killed the wife and kids (@ least some were foster or adopted) then rn his van into a pole. Didn't want his family to have to face his shame. Where he should have just taken himself out--his family would have been able to survive the "shame."

Regarding the second paragraph: That was the Sueppel family in Iowa City. Adopted four Korean children - turned out one was autistic and another was on dialysis because of a birth defect - killed them and his wife by bashing their heads in with a baseball bat, then killed himself by ramming his van into a highway overpass. Interestingly, the family insisted he be buried with them, and even more interestingly, the Iowa City newspaper would allow no negative comments about him because he's from a wealthy family (they wouldn't admit it but everyone knew that was why).

[carolm]

There was a man in Houston I think he was from honduras he killed his wife and four kids than himself his family brought him home and buried him but the wife and kids are still in the morgue in Houston... explain that one too me

[Jester]

As far as suspicious cars entering or leaving the subdivision... if the person / people threatening the family were sharp enough to know the family's patterns.... and to get things into and out of the mailbox...

They were certainly sharp enough to not just drive up to the house, kill the family, and then leave. MOO. They would be on foot and use a rear entrance.

Have the police said anything or has anyone seen info on whether a door was broken into?

If Chris was covering up something and just wanted to make it LOOK like an assailant did it, might he break in his own back door? He certainly wouldn't want a "locked house" scenario. Then again, evidence of forced entry really points at an outsider -

On the other hand, if you were a bad guy trying to ruin Chris, wouldnt you want to make this LOOK like he did it? There are smart, sick people out there. In that case, you'd WANT to have no evidence of break in.

What's to say the Colemans were always careful, but on this one day there was a rear window left unlocked?

If someone was willing to commit murder to ruin a man, wouldn't the man, rather than his family, be murdered? It's a bit cloak and dagger to murder the family with some elaborate plan that the police will be too dumb to solve the murder, so the husband will be convicted.

[carolm]

Nancy Grace spent alittle time on this story....

[Breakingnews]

Nancy Grace spent alittle time on this story....

I watched it too. Sounds like he spent his entire time away from the home calling the house. Such BS. Calls LE when he's 5 mins from the house. GMAB. If I called the cops everytime DD didn't answer the phone they'd need a parking space in my driveway. No forced entry and a back window left open....Sure it's a crazy Joyce Meyer hater that's out to get one of her security employees. :rolleyes:

Bunk. Bunk. Bunk.

[carolm]

Breakingnews

I agree 100% I hope they have enough to arrest him soon and not this drag on for years

carol

[Breakingnews]

Breakingnews

I agree 100% I hope they have enough to arrest him soon and not this drag on for years

carol

Me too, Carol. I follow several cases where the murderer years later is still out enjoying their freedom and LE knows who the guilty party is but for whatever reasons no arrest. Must be literally hell for the victims' family.

[Musterion]

I watched it too. Sounds like he spent his entire time away from the home calling the house. Such BS. Calls LE when he's 5 mins from the house. GMAB. If I called the cops everytime DD didn't answer the phone they'd need a parking space in my driveway. No forced entry and a back window left open....Sure it's a crazy Joyce Meyer hater that's out to get one of her security employees. :rolleyes:

Bunk. Bunk. Bunk.

Oh....I'll have to watch it tonight.

I often wonder how delusional murderers must be to think that they can set up a scenario and not get caught. Cell phone records, home security cameras, neighbourhood security cameras, intricate DNA analysis on microscopic fibers or hair, computer forensics, etc. Evidently there are many who do not get caught, but one like this....

I don't think I'll get over, IF Chris did this, how he could premeditate and look those beautiful boys in the eyes every day before he murdered them, knowing he was going to snuff their lives out. They trusted him.

How the families must be suffering. :(

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

Breakingnews

I agree 100% I hope they have enough to arrest him soon and not this drag on for years

carol

Adding my hope with yours and others, carolm.

Justice for Sheri, Gavin and Garett.:rose::rose::rose:

IMO.
M.

[Breakingnews]

Oh....I'll have to watch it tonight.

I often wonder how delusional murderers must be to think that they can set up a scenario and not get caught. Cell phone records, home security cameras, neighbourhood security cameras, intricate DNA analysis on microscopic fibers or hair, computer forensics, etc. Evidently there are many who do not get caught, but one like this....

I don't think I'll get over, IF Chris did this, how he could premeditate and look those beautiful boys in the eyes every day before he murdered them, knowing he was going to snuff their lives out. They trusted him.

How the families must be suffering. :(

IMO.
M.

Nancy spends 3/4 of her show talking about Casey. So unless you're interested in the latest with that I wouldn't tune in until halfway thru it.

I THINK he told LE something along the lines...Sheri was in bed when I left. I told her I would let her sleep longer and call at xxxx time to make sure she was awake. So that would be his explanation for calling LE when he was so close to the house...he was frantic cuz he had been calling.

M, you got me as to how any parent could murder their children. The spousal murders are horrible enough but your own babies that you raised and they trust and love you unconditionally??? I don't keep up with many child abductions and murders because it disturbs me so much.

[Musterion]

Well, this breaks my heart.

"Sheri Coleman's mother, Angela DeCicco, was alone when the LaGrange Park Police called her May 5 and informed her of the deaths earlier that morning of her only daughter and only grandchildren."

http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/766370.html

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

Nancy spends 3/4 of her show talking about Casey. So unless you're interested in the latest with that I wouldn't tune in until halfway thru it.

I THINK he told LE something along the lines...Sheri was in bed when I left. I told her I would let her sleep longer and call at xxxx time to make sure she was awake. So that would be his explanation for calling LE when he was so close to the house...he was frantic cuz he had been calling.

M, you got me as to how any parent could murder their children. The spousal murders are horrible enough but your own babies that you raised and they trust and love you unconditionally??? I don't keep up with many child abductions and murders because it disturbs me so much.

Hi Breaking,

I'm watching now, thank you for the update.

I'm with you, I try, very hard, to stay away from parents murdering their children cases, because it seems impossible that a parent could conceive, give birth, stay up all night for feedings, take care of every single need of a baby, watch them take first steps, hear their first words, love them thru sicknesses, watch them grow, then snuff out their life. It is against every fiber of a parent's being to harm their own child. Well, most parents.

This case is just wrenching my heart. I look at Sheri and how vibrant she is, I look at these little boys and see how much spunk and character they have and I almost cannot contain the tears.

IMO.
M.

[LILMANMAX]

The more I read about this case and think about it, the more I feel this CC is just full of it.
That dog don't hunt. JMHO

[Kip]

Well, this breaks my heart.

"Sheri Coleman's mother, Angela DeCicco, was alone when the LaGrange Park Police called her May 5 and informed her of the deaths earlier that morning of her only daughter and only grandchildren."

http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/766370.html

IMO.
M.

Yeah...if Chris couldn't call, you'd think he'd ask his father, a pastor, to make the call.

A couple of things in Chris's defense though. Maybe LE took him straight in for questioning and they made the call to Sheri's family before Chris had a chance to. Also, if I arrived home and my husband and children had been killed, and LE wanted to question me, that would have been fine with me. At that point, my first priority would be to do anything I could to help LE find the murderer. An hour or two delay in notifying my husband's family wouldn't seem that important compared to finding the killer.

Also, it's possible that LE wanted to notify Sheri's family and talk to them before Chris did.

[Musterion]

"It was reported, the family had been receiving threats for the last 6 months through notes left in their mailbox. Neighbors reported that the notes the Coleman family had been receiving dealt with Coleman’s job. Their mailbox had also been vandalized. Coleman works as chief of security for Joyce Meyer Ministries. Meyer arrived in the subdivision just after 8:00 a.m. to console neighbors. Joyce Meyer Ministries issued this statement: This morning Joyce Meyer Ministries received news that Chris Coleman, a long time member of our ministry, experienced one of the greatest losses imaginable – the loss of his family. We have assured Chris that he has our full support, encouragement, and prayer during this time of immense grief."

"The family also had a previous interaction with Columbia Police when they called them to document some interaction between an unknown individual and themselves.
“There was some interaction between an unknown individual and them that was just suspicious in nature. We don’t even know that it was a crime; they just contacted the police and wanted to document some incidents,” said Deputy Commander Jeff Connor. “We’re looking at anybody at this time; I’m not ruling out anybody. It’s just too early; we’re just a few hours into this investigation and we’re not ready to out anybody,” he added.
A source close to the investigation did confirm that the words “I told you this would happen” was spray painted inside the home."

http://www.randolphcountyheraldtribune.com/homepage/x362994168

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

Yeah...if Chris couldn't call, you'd think he'd ask his father, a pastor, to make the call.

A couple of things in Chris's defense though. Maybe LE took him straight in for questioning and they made the call to Sheri's family before Chris had a chance to. Also, if I arrived home and my husband and children had been killed, and LE wanted to question me, that would have been fine with me. At that point, my first priority would be to do anything I could to help LE find the murderer. An hour or two delay in notifying my husband's family wouldn't seem that important compared to finding the killer.

Also, it's possible that LE wanted to notify Sheri's family and talk to them before Chris did.

A good and balanced view!

IMO.
M.

[Kip]

[snipped]....

I don't think I'll get over, IF Chris did this, how he could premeditate and look those beautiful boys in the eyes every day before he murdered them, knowing he was going to snuff their lives out. They trusted him....

IMO.
M.

It's beyond all understanding.

And when a parent kills children like this, it affects so many people. It's one thing for children to have the face the reality that "a bad guy" killed some children in their town. It's quite another for children to learn that a father killed his own children sleeping in their beds. Children begin to wonder if their own parents are capable of that -- and that's something children should not have to worry about.

[Musterion]

"Tuesday, Jim Doiron said the media attention paid to Chris Coleman at the police station, and later at his home where he went to gather clothing, was a little too much. His son, a close friend of Coleman, was there to help.

"It wasn't like he could just drive up here and pull into the house and pick up some stuff that he was needing. It was quite an ordeal."

Doiron's son is associate pastor at the church where Chris Coleman's father is pastor, in Chester, Illinois. He even lived with the Colemans for a time."

http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-jim-doiron-columbia-murders-051209,0,3836833.story

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

It's beyond all understanding.

And when a parent kills children like this, it affects so many people. It's one thing for children to have the face the reality that "a bad guy" killed some children in their town. It's quite another for children to learn that a father killed his own children sleeping in their beds. Children begin to wonder if their own parents are capable of that -- and that's something children should not have to worry about.

That is so true, Kip. Little ones who should feel safe in the arms of their families may not because of this. It is selfishness, complete selfishness, for someone to murder anyone. They think they are eliminating their issue, their problem, but in the larger scheme, they have affected hundreds of people. Selfishness.

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

No mention, at all, of the tragedy, the murders of his daughter in law, his beautiful grandsons?

Just the times of service and, of course, how to donate money to the ministry.

http://www.dotheword.com/
:sad:

IMO.
M.

[carlybarly]

On the other hand, from the first time I heard the 911 call from the father of Haleigh Cummings, I was fairly certain that he has nothing to do with her disappearance.

.

I wanted to comment on this before I finished catching up on this thread, like you guys I "lost" it when it got moved here! I think you, I and only a very small handful feel the same way about that call. So many say he is acting but it doesn't feel that way to me. Now back to catching up on this. And then maybe I'll have something to say that hasn't been said by one of you guys!

[darcie]

I think we all were looking fora link about a supposed girlfriend, well here it is.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/848E00DB94E5E491862575B5001067C4?OpenDocument

Police question alleged girlfriend of man whose family was slain

*snipped*
LARGO, Fla. — Police are investigating a romantic relationship between a woman in Florida and Christopher Coleman, whose wife and two children were slain last week at their home in Columbia, Ill.

Detectives have acknowledged traveling to Florida last week. They were there to interview a woman described as Coleman's girlfriend, a law enforcement source close to the case said Tuesday.

A second police source confirmed the relationship. They did not say whether they think it played any role in the murders.

Art Margulis, a lawyer hired by Christopher Coleman, said Tuesday evening he had no knowledge of anyone by that woman's name.

[carlybarly]

After reading all this and catching up on the latest news, I can't help but feel he is involved in this. I wish I didn't because I cannot conceive how a parent can kill their children like that! If it was strangulation, it breaks my heart to imagine he was looking in their faces as he was killing them and the last thing they saw was daddy's face and had to be thinking why daddy why? Strangulation doesn't happen quickly.

I hope LE has something solid to say whether Chris did do it or not so we can get past speculating and have some facts. I agree with the other posts, something can be reasoned away even if we likely wouldn't have done that or reacted in that way. But adding them all up, it just doesn't look good.

[USACQ]

Great points Kip! That call was made at 11am, he was still likely being questioned.

As to him calling a lot that morning... how many times did NG say he called?

A bit earlier in this thread we were all saying "if he only called once, he's guilty". Now we're saying - "since he called a lot, he's guilty". Just an observation :)

I still think there are some plausible scenarios given the evidence, that someone else did this... not convicting him yet, not like in many other cases....

Yeah...if Chris couldn't call, you'd think he'd ask his father, a pastor, to make the call.

A couple of things in Chris's defense though. Maybe LE took him straight in for questioning and they made the call to Sheri's family before Chris had a chance to. Also, if I arrived home and my husband and children had been killed, and LE wanted to question me, that would have been fine with me. At that point, my first priority would be to do anything I could to help LE find the murderer. An hour or two delay in notifying my husband's family wouldn't seem that important compared to finding the killer.

Also, it's possible that LE wanted to notify Sheri's family and talk to them before Chris did.

[darcie]

It's hard to put myself in the position of Chris Coleman. I dont know the man nor his demeanor. So i guess judging his reactions then and now are mute for me. I can't say how a person should respond

I think that after the initial shock, I myself would have called my parents, and her parents. Actually I just assume that would be one of the first things the police would tell me to do. Get someone there for me for support. I would just assume that the closest parent would be his first call (his father), and then if need be i would for sure have them call her parents if I wasn't able. I dont think i would have the police call. And i dont think i would wait two days until i talked to one of them. That is just bizarre to me, even if you are on the oust with the family. Common courtesey and respect should play a role somewhere. Family battles would be fast forgotten for me in this type of situation.

I guess time will tell. The girlfriend (if she is really one) definitely doesn't look good for Chris right now. I saw where her family wasn't aware of a girlfriend, which isn't surprising either. Sherry might not have even known. Sometimes moms get so wrapped up in the children's lives and activities, that everything else around them takes
2nd place. Husbands included.

MOO

[carolm]

It will come down too he would rather be a grieving widower and grieving father than a divorced man... JMO

sorry all of a sudden I can't spell and can't find my dictionary

[Scampi]

Just from watching Nancy Grace's preliminary coverage of this case last night, Christopher Coleman's actions are very suspicious. I see another peterson/macdonald type case here. imo.

[Kip]

I'd like to know Coleman's typical calling patterns for the previous two weeks. Did he typically call home a half hour after leaving? If not, why did he call that morning?

When he was away from home, did he call last thing at night and first thing in the morning to make sure his family was okay?

I still think it doesn't make sense to be so sure that something bad had happened when the phone wasn't answered and yet not take more precautions to keep his family safe.

Basic things like making sure all doors and windows are secured. Sure, we've all left doors and windows unlocked/opened on occasion. But not when we're in a heightened state of alarm over something.

When Coleman traveled, did he arrange for someone to stay with his family? Did Coleman ask his father or friend to stay with the family while he was away?

[carolm]

I just can't see a husband that is 5 minutes away call LE for a welfare check when she could have been in the shower the phone could have been turned off a thousand things could have kept her from answering the phone.... I would be upset if I did not answer the phone one time and LE was at my door doing a welfare check...

[cog1]

I just can't see a husband that is 5 minutes away call LE for a welfare check when she could have been in the shower the phone could have been turned off a thousand things could have kept her from answering the phone.... I would be upset if I did not answer the phone one time and LE was at my door doing a welfare check...

Carol, I think he set this up but I hope I'm proven wrong. Like you say, why make a welfare check if he was only 5 miles away. That was 7 am and he left the house at 5:30. Wasn't he about ready to head home anyway? How long did this guy need at the gym?

Then you have the window screen that was tampered with. The open window which did not appear to be pryed.

The women dressed in black standing on the hill. Possible girl friend or just observer?

The gf rumors or truth as the LE have interviewed her for some reason. That could be for any number of reasons.

The spray painted message on the wall. What killer would do that unless they are totally pyscho? That screams imitation to me!

SO many questions and I hope and pray more answers come to light soon.

AMOO

[carolm]

I am sure that LE knows he did now they need proof he did it...JMO

[cog1]

I'm reading at WS and a local is saying MCS has his parents house surrounded by cars and possible arrest coming.

Could be rumor so iggy if you like but just saying. Maybe??

AMOO

[carolm]

Cog1

Please keep me updated this case just makes you sick too your stomach
My daughter hates me keeping up with all these types of crimes....

Thanks,
Carol

[cog1]

http://www.fox2now.com/news/stlouis/

Story Re: cops around parents home in CHester, Il.

http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-jim-doiron-columbia-murders-051209,0,3125245.story

Tuesday night, at least eight Major Case Squad investigators were around the home of Chris Coleman's parents in Chester, Illinois. We counted four Major Case Squad units with two investigators in each one.

They were on every street leading from the Coleman home on Dixie Drive. People were on the front porch of the house relaxing. When we knocked on the door, a man who answered told us the family had no comment.

[oxfordfox]

Of all the clumsy set ups and hinkey stories I've ever heard of, this one takes the cake. Susan Smith's story was more believable than this one, and I'd believe there was a Zanny the Nanny before I'd believe this hogwash. It's just pathetic. The guy obviously wanted the police to find his murdered family. If my husband had been trying to reach me and I didn't answer, he would come on home, being 5 minutes away, and would barrel in, very irritated, wanting to know what was the matter with me that I didn't answer the phone. He sure as heck wouldn't call the police. The wife could have been in the shower, outside chasing the dog, the phone could have been unplugged. I'd also be interested to know which way that screen was pushed--from in or from out. And the writing on the wall, oh puhleeze! What did he write? Kill the pigs or whatever it was that McDonald wrote when he slaughtered his family? I don't think this guy is the brightest crayon in the box. I think he'll be undone very soon.

[Kip]

The spray painted message on the wall. What killer would do that unless they are totally pyscho? That screams imitation to me!


The spray paint is one of the biggest red flags, IMO. Yes, a totally psycho killer would do that (an unorganized killer). But the rest of the circumstances points to a very organized killer. An organized killer might have prepared and left a note that said "I told you this would happen". I have trouble imagining that a killer would have brought a can of spray paint with him (might make getting in through a small window tougher).

I don't know how the house was left. A disorganized killer probably would have rooted around looking for something to right with. You might expect to find desk drawers rummaged through.

But an organized killer is going to want to get in and out of there as quickly as possible. After successfully killing his three intended victims, he's not going to spend time looking around for spray paint (which may or may not be there).

[oxfordfox]

I bet in three days Le will come up with a security video of this guy buying the paint. This is sickening. :angry:

[cog1]

Cog1

Please keep me updated this case just makes you sick too your stomach
My daughter hates me keeping up with all these types of crimes....

Thanks,
Carol


I will Carol as I'm snooping around the best I can to find out the latest.

I know how it is with family being a little pizzed about our desire to KNOW! LOL

I don't like the way this guy doesn't appear to be grieving. Good grief his children were murdered!! Wouldn't you be so upset you would shun reporters, etc.

I'll never understand the criminal mind!!

[cog1]

I bet in three days Le will come up with a security video of this guy buying the paint. This is sickening. :angry:


I hope so! Let us pray if he did this and I think he did, they get ALL the proof they need and FAST!!

[cog1]

The spray painted message on the wall. What killer would do that unless they are totally pyscho? That screams imitation to me!


The spray paint is one of the biggest red flags, IMO. Yes, a totally psycho killer would do that (an unorganized killer). But the rest of the circumstances points to a very organized killer. An organized killer might have prepared and left a note that said "I told you this would happen". I have trouble imagining that a killer would have brought a can of spray paint with him (might make getting in through a small window tougher).

I don't know how the house was left. A disorganized killer probably would have rooted around looking for something to right with. You might expect to find desk drawers rummaged through.

But an organized killer is going to want to get in and out of there as quickly as possible. After successfully killing his three intended victims, he's not going to spend time looking around for spray paint (which may or may not be there).


Exactly! Not gonna happen! Sickening isn't it the lengths some will go to just to off thier family. :cursing:

[cog1]

:cursing:Exactly! Not gonna happen! Sickening isn't it the lengths some will go to just to off thier family. :cursing:

Ya know now that I think of just that. It reminds me of what physchologist say about liars. They go above and beyond explaining when a simple yes or no would suffice.

Maybe he felt the need to really lay it out there for LE. You know the notes in the mailbox with supposed threats. What other stuff they reported to LE regarding UNKNOWN persons and UNKNOWN if illegal activity. Then the painted message on the wall, I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

Simply murdering them would have told LE that something was amiss.

[carolm]

I have never been in anything close to this but I don't think I would be able to walk and talk...

[Musterion]

http://www.bnd.com/100/story/767039.html

IMO.
M.

[cog1]

Another thing I noticed about CC is the way his shirt sleeves were rolled up when he gave his prints at the station.

To show he didn't have any scratches which I would assume one would from the victims defending themselves.

That is odd to me. Hmmmm

[cog1]

I have never been in anything close to this but I don't think I would be able to walk and talk...

I have not either but when my father passed away the last thing I wanted to do was to talk to anyone. I know he isn't talking but I didn't even want to be AROUND anyone! I had so much grief and loss in my heart!

[Musterion]

http://m.stltoday.com/STL/db_10907/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=75B4867E33F4F6370379A 93CE4B46FBA?contentguid=c5Ri6Gw2&storycount=161&detailindex=6&pn=&ps=&full=true#display

IMO.
M.

[carolm]

Musterion

my computer won't open the link it has been doing this a couple of days now...

carol

[Musterion]

"But it's not looking good for Coleman's husband, Christopher Coleman.

Today the Post-Dispatch reports that Coleman keeps a girlfriend in Florida. The unnamed woman was a friend of his wife Sheri, having graduated a year below her from a Largo, Florida, high school. Police flew to Florida last week to interview the woman. The daily reports that she is a divorcee who has worked in a bar and as a hostess for a Tampa strip club."

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/05/the_big_bloody_father_of_strangled_family_has_girl friend_in_florida_christopher_coleman.php

IMO.
M.

[Jpanda]

http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/767039.html

LE tailed him to a hospital.

Chris Coleman watched his wife and sons being buried Wednesday morning and then headed south on Interstate 55 with a group of police detectives following him.

Coleman was on I-55 headed south at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. He arrived with his parents at a hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo., with police following him at a distance and at normal highway speeds.

[Musterion]

Musterion

my computer won't open the link it has been doing this a couple of days now...

carol

Oh oh!

See if you can open any of the links I've just posted and if not google-Christopher Coleman murders and recent news should pop right up!

IMO.
M.

[Musterion]

http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/767039.html

LE tailed him to a hospital.

Chris Coleman watched his wife and sons being buried Wednesday morning and then headed south on Interstate 55 with a group of police detectives following him.

Coleman was on I-55 headed south at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. He arrived with his parents at a hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo., with police following him at a distance and at normal highway speeds.

DNA tests? Hm.

IMO.
M.

[cog1]

DNA tests? Hm.

IMO.
M.

wierd I thought maybe that is where the family was but why leave the caskets there?

I don't know what that is about.

[darcie]

http://www.bnd.com/100/story/767039.html

IMO.
M.

The article states that he headed to a hospital in Cape Girardeau. Mental help possibly??? Cape is south of Chester. I live about 50 miles west of Cape Girardeau. There are two Hospitals there. I am sure they both have Psych wards, but Farmington, MO hosts the Danny Staples Mental Health Center is alot closer to Chester.

Kinda odd

[cog1]

The article states that he headed to a hospital in Cape Girardeau. Mental help possibly??? Cape is south of Chester. I live about 50 miles west of Cape Girardeau. There are two Hospitals there. I am sure they both have Psych wards, but Farmington, MO hosts the Danny Staples Mental Health Center is alot closer to Chester.

Kinda odd

So, he's setting up his defense? Great! :sneaky:

[cog1]

http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/767039.html

Just after noon Wednesday Coleman was on Interstate 55 with his parents, headed back towards Chester after a trip to a hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. His mother, Connie Coleman, had a bandage on her left leg as she, her husband, the Rev. Ronald Coleman, and son, Chris Coleman, watched the burial of Chris Coleman's murdered wife and two sons.

I guess this explains it?

[Musterion]

"William Margulis, one of Coleman's lawyers, said this afternoon that the family was headed to a doctor's appointment in Cape Girardeau for Coleman's mother. Margulis said Coleman's mother has "serious health problems."

"It has nothing to do with Chris," Margulis said.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/CD8E133992A7C529862575B50061177F?OpenDocument

IMO.
M.

[cog1]

RUMOR ALERT

Rumor has it that CC has been seen in the back of a police car. Anyone have access to local news?

[cog1]

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=175221

UPDATE: New information expected soon on Coleman family murders

KSDK -- We could know within hours if police have a suspect in the killings of a Columbia woman and her two children.

[kc1991]

Any updates?

[cog1]

Any updates?


Look above but nothing new yet, I'm waiting with baited breath!!

[kc1991]

Look above but nothing new yet, I'm waiting with baited breath!!

I know - thanks.. as soon as I posted it came up! Thanks!

[cog1]

Check this out!

Restraining order!!

http://www.ksdk.com/news/pdfs/colemanaffidavit.pdf

[cog1]

Ok I got too excited over that. I guess it just means CC was restrained from the burial?

Sorry folks!! My apologies!

[cog1]

I know - thanks.. as soon as I posted it came up! Thanks!

No problem, I'm waiting on the pressor they said would be today between 4 and 4:30.

[kc1991]

No problem, I'm waiting on the pressor they said would be today between 4 and 4:30.

Do you know which news? Thank you

[cog1]

Do you know which news? Thank you

I think I read fox2 but I don't have a link. Are you in that area?

[cog1]

stltoday.com is the one who reported the presser so maybe they will have an alert.

[cog1]

"An update on the investigation into the Coleman family murders is expected this afternoon from the Major Case Squad according to Major Jeff Connor. Connor confirmed that if an arrest is made, the suspect will be booked in Columbia before going to jail in Waterloo, Illinois."

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story...175221&catid=3

So, I doubt presser if they are going to lock him up first.

[Amy]

Ok I got too excited over that. I guess it just means CC was restrained from the burial?

Sorry folks!! My apologies!

It was kind of hard to read, but if I understood it correctly, it was an order to let Sheri's family have the bodies in the Chicago area for a funeral service. Coleman had an agreement w/the brother (and Sheri's family would foot the cost) and then he reneged on that agreement. The order was, to have the services as had been scheduled. One in Chicago, and one in Chester.

I didn't get the restraining part, unless it was in reference to restraining Coleman from preventing the bodies to go to Chicago.

[iam]

My prayers go out to Sheri Coleman's family and friends. Be strong and let God fight your battles.

[KittyMom]

Well, who was arrested?

[KittyMom]

http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-columbia-triple-murder-grave-visit-051309,0,2768769.story

There is a video here of the bural. It was very informal. Sad.

[Musterion]

"Connor said evidence on the case was turned over to the Monroe County States Attorney Office. He said charges are being deferred until more forensic tests are complete. Connor said that could take weeks.

When asked if police were following the husband and father of the victims, Chris Coleman, Connor said no. He said he was not going to list Coleman as a suspect."

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=175221&catid=40

IMO.
M.

[Scampi]

IMO, it's only a matter of time before they arrest and charge Christopher Coleman for these murders.

[Leanne Weich]

IMO, it's only a matter of time before they arrest and charge Christopher Coleman for these murders.

I am with you on this one Scamp. Did you see how cut up he looked in the video of him with his families' caskets?

[Kip]

Oh, dear...besides removing his wife's name from the house deed, it looks like additional life insurance may have been purchased last December.

http://blinkoncrime.com/category/christopher-coleman/

[desmom]

Nancy Grace covering story....Banner says: "Cops fly down to FLA to question Dad's alleged girlfriend after wife, 2 kids strangled"

Press reports about what was written on wall is not exactly according to LE.

jmo