A distress call from a security guard prompted a police investigation that uncovered a chilling story of deceit and homicide. Former US Marine Chris Coleman contacted authorities in May 2009 after failing to reach his family by phone.
Upon arriving at the Colemans’ lakeside residence in Columbia, Illinois, law enforcement made a grim discovery. Sheri Coleman, 31, and their two sons, Garret, 11, and Gavin, 9, were found lifeless in their beds, apparently strangled by an unknown assailant. The house bore threatening messages like “punished” spray-painted on the walls, suggesting a targeted attack due to past threatening letters received by Coleman and his employer, religious author Joyce Meyer.
Podcaster Annie Elise shed light on Meyer’s controversial reputation, noting her immense wealth and public scrutiny. Amid protests and accusations of fraud, Meyer hired Coleman, a former Marine, as her security chief. However, unsettling emails warned Meyer of harm to Coleman’s family unless she ceased her ministry.
Events took a sinister turn on May 5th, 2009, when Coleman’s routine gym visit revealed a gruesome scene at home. The house was vandalized with blood-red messages, and his family lay dead. Despite Coleman’s alibi and attempts to prove innocence, inconsistencies in the timeline raised suspicions.
Further investigations exposed Coleman’s extramarital affair with Sheri’s best friend, Tara Lintz, and discussions of divorce. Prosecutors charged Coleman with three counts of first-degree murder, leading to a conviction in 2011. Sentenced to life imprisonment, Coleman faced the consequences of his actions, with the death penalty off the table in Illinois.
The case showcased a tragic tale of betrayal and deception, ultimately resulting in justice for the victims and closure for the mourning community.