Illinois Man Charged with Murdering His Family

An alibi that checks out can act as an absolute defense. If it does not, it can be evidence of premeditation, an element of first degree murder. In this matter, premeditation is all but a dead issue anyway because it is inherent in the way the family was killed. Ligature strangulation can take several minutes, giving the killer plenty of time to think about what he’s doing. The words painted on the walls virtually spell out premeditation. What defense is out there does not yet dispute that, only the identity of the killer. If things stay that way, it will be an “all or nothing” trial, i.e. murder one or acquittal. Expect the defense to change if strong forensic evidence comes down on the prosecution’s side, and it very well might.

Key Evidence Find Takes Some Gloss Off Coleman’s Alibi

Recently, a latex glove was found discarded off I-255, which was on the route from Coleman’s house to his gym. The glove was stained with red spray paint. It might also reveal fingerprints and trace evidence such as hairs, fibers or DNA. The St. Louis Major Case Squad has been checking hardware stores, taking samples of red spray paint, asking about the sale of rubber gloves, and requesting surveillance camera videos. Fox News, 5/20/09. A pathologist has gauged the time of the three deaths to between 3 and 5 AM on May 5. Unless rebutted by the defense, that would totally undermine Coleman’s alibi.

Chris Coleman was arrested late Tuesday, May 19, and charged with three counts of first degree murder. The prosecution has yet to say whether it will seek the death penalty.

Why Would Chris Coleman Kill His Whole Family?

While motive is not an element of a murder charge, when a man’s entire family is wiped out in so cold a fashion, a jury will want to know why. If Coleman’s defense is built around the concept that someone else killed his family, expect defense counsel to chip away at the issue of “reasonable doubt” by arguing that Coleman had no reason to do it.

There are rumors that Coleman was having an affair with a friend of his wife. That could lead to strife, even violence, but the premeditated massacre of an entire family is not the typical denouement of an extra-marital dalliance. Expect the prosecution to work on motive, perhaps even to explore the possibility that Coleman is the type of sociopath who might simply erase his family to start a new life.

Meanwhile, Coleman cannot look to his deceased wife’s family for support. They are planning to file a civil action for wrongful death against him, to ensure that he will accrue no financial gain from her death. Sheri’s relatives, at least, think the police have the right man. The rest of us can merely hope that justice will be done in this God-awful, tragic case.