ID Go: Shortly after Chris Coleman starts a new job as Security Chief for a Christian ministry, he begins receiving threatening emails. Then, tragedy strikes: his wife and two sons are found dead. Police must work to trace the emails back to the killer. -Hate Mail, Web of Lies (S2,E11)

Date: May 5, 2009
Victims: Sheri Coleman, Air Force veteran, Garett Coleman, Gavin Coleman
Offender: Chris Coleman, Marine Corps veteran
Location: Waterloo, Illinois
Circumstances: Devout Christians, rushed to get married because Sheri was pregnant, moved to Waterloo, Illinois after getting out of the military, Chris got a job as head of security for Joyce Meyer, Joyce attracted extreme fanatics, Chris monitors e-mails and hate mail for Meyer, paid $100,000 a year, Joyce travels the world and Chris goes with her, unrelenting schedule that keeps him away from home, Chris was gone 260 days out of the year, Chris starts getting threatening emails at work, threats escalate to include harm to Chris’ family, neighbor finds Sheri, Garett, and Gavin strangled to death in their Illinois home, investigation leads police to Chris Coleman, Chris wanted to end his marriage to be with a woman he was having an affair with, Chris knew Sheri didn’t want a divorce
Disposition: Sentenced to life in prison, no parole

In the News:

Press conference in 2009 about the triple murder of Sheri, Garett and Gavin Coleman in Columbia, Illinois. Their father Chris Coleman was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murders two years later. -Belleville News-Democrat (May 12, 2011)

Unedited video from Joyce Meyer’s testimony in the Chris Coleman Murder Trial. -Belleville News-Democrat (July 7, 2011)

Excerpt from the Chris Coleman interview. Coleman was convicted of killing his wife and two sons. This interview took place after the bodies were found in their Columbia, Illinois home. The evidence was released by the judge on July 7, 2011. -Belleville News-Democrat (July 8, 2011)

“The Writing on the Wall” | 48 Hours | CBS (May 5, 2012)

Angela DeCicco, mother of Sheri Coleman, talks about the civil suit. Her daughter and grandsons were murder by Chris Coleman. -Belleville News-Democrat (May 12, 2012)

Sheri Coleman and her two boys were found brutally murdered in a scene that looked like it was right out of the Manson Family Horror. They were strangled to death and someone spray painted over their bodies. Sheri’s husband Christopher, a bodyguard for a televangelist, claimed his family had been threatened prior to the murders because of his line of work, but was his family actually targeted for the job he held? -True Crime Daily (April 26, 2018)

Pt. 2: Woman, Sons Found Strangled After Home Spray Painted – Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen -True Crime Daily (April 26, 2018)

Pt. 3: Woman, Sons Found Strangled After Home Spray Painted – Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen -True Crime Daily (April 26, 2018)

Pt. 4: Woman, Sons Found Strangled After Home Spray Painted – Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen -True Crime Daily (April 26, 2018)

Chris Coleman was convicted in 2011 of murdering his wife Sherri and sons, Garret & Gavin to death. -Crime Statement Analysis (November 26, 2018)

Convicted murderer Chris Coleman is back in a Columbia, Illinois court Tuesday. Ten years ago, Coleman was convicted of killing his wife and sons. Fox 2/News 11’s Kelley Hoskins is live in Waterloo with what was decided today during Coleman’s attempted appeal. -FOX 2 St. Louis (April 17, 2019)

Editor’s note: With a cable subscription, you can download the free ID Go app and watch all of the Investigation Discovery programming at your convenience. And for those who do not have cable, you can watch “unlocked” episodes on the ID Go app including the latest premieres. Download the ID Go app and binge away. For those who prefer commercial free programming during your binge session, Prime Video has an ID channel: ‘True Crime Files by Investigation Discovery” available for $2.99 a month. It’s a compilation of older seasons but totally worth the cost if you are a true crime addict.

Related Links:
Hate Mail | Web of Lies | Investigation Discovery (S2,E11)
Hate Mail | Web of Lies | Investigation Discovery (website)
Hate Mail | Web of Lies | Investigation Discovery (Amazon)
Sheri Ann Weiss Coleman (1977-2009) – Find A Grave Memorial
Christopher Coleman charged with strangling his family
Dad pleads not guilty to killing family
Man Accused of Killing Family Texts Girlfriend from Wife’s Funeral
Documents: Coleman texted his girlfriend on the days the wake, funeral were held for his wife and sons
Family: Threats Found in Home Where Woman, 2 Sons Found Strangled
Convicted Murderer Chris Coleman Interview part 1
First Responders Describe Horrific Scene at Coleman House
Family of slain woman drops lawsuit against Joyce Meyer Ministries
Warning: Graphic Pictures – Coleman Murder Evidence
A Family Erased: The Chris Coleman Story
Joyce Meyer Testimony
Joyce Meyer Testifies In Ex-Bodyguard’s Murder Trial
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Joyce Meyer’s Ex-Bodyguard Convicted of Murder
Murder, 2009 Coleman Family Triple murder
Televangelist’s bodyguard ‘strangled wife and sons so he could marry his mistress’
Coming up on 48 Hours Mystery: Televangelist Joyce Meyer’s Former Head of Security Found Guilty in Triple Murder – “The Writing on the Wall,” Saturday, May 5 (10:00 PM, ET/PT)
Mother Sheri Coleman speaks
Sheri Coleman’s family speaks to media 2
Chris Coleman speaks from prison about murder of wife, 2 sons
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2009 Coleman family triple murder
Chris Coleman, convicted of strangling his family, seeks appeal over explicit photos
Was Christopher Coleman’s family murdered by a serial killer? Former cop thinks so.
New trial may be warranted for man convicted of murdering wife, two sons
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Pt. 1: Woman, Sons Found Strangled After Home Spray Painted – Crime Watch Daily
Pt. 2: Woman, Sons Found Strangled After Home Spray Painted – Crime Watch Daily
Pt. 3: Woman, Sons Found Strangled After Home Spray Painted – Crime Watch Daily
Pt. 4: Woman, Sons Found Strangled After Home Spray Painted – Crime Watch Daily
Convicted killer Chris Coleman talks to ‘Crime Watch Daily,’ proclaims innocence
The story behind ‘Crime Watch Daily’s report on the Chris Coleman murders
Illinois man appeals murder conviction after jury sees four dirty pictures
Motion to dismiss Coleman petition
Mother Sheri Coleman speaks
Chris Coleman seeking new trial in 2009 murder of wife, sons
Could convicted family killer Chris Coleman get a new trial?
Judge grants request for new evidentiary hearing in Coleman murders
Murdered: The Coleman Family | Crime Junkie Podcast
Interrogation of Convicted Murderer Chris Coleman | Crime Statement Analysis
One Last Kiss: The True Story of a Minister’s Bodyguard, His Beautiful Mistress, and a Brutal Triple Homicide (Book)
Chris Coleman on 48 Hours [Full Episode)