Alton Coleman
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| “ | Because of the massive investigation that we did, and the publicity that we did, that he was caught within seven weeks of when he started. Had we not done that, had we not gotten on this right away, who knows how long he would have gone on killing people? | „ |
| ~ FBI Special Agent Berdina Passernelly regarding Coleman's crimes. |
Alton Coleman was a American serial killer who, with his girlfriend and accomplice Debra Brown, managed to kill eight people across three states one of the most violent crimes sprees in US history. On July 12th 1986, Coleman was named the 11th most wanted fugitive on the FBI Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List for the murder of Virginia Temple.
Biography edit
Alton Coleman was born in Waukegan, Illinois to a mother who had to work three jobs to make ends meet so spent most of his time with his 73 year old grandmother. He dropped out of high school for unknown reasons and met Debra Brown in 1983 when she moved into his neighbourhood. Prior to his crime spree, Coleman was well known to local police; having previously been arrested for assault, sexually assaulting a 40 year old woman and child molestation. He was acquitted on all charges except for the rape of a 14 year old girl.
Coleman's crime spree in Kenosha. Wisconsin began on May 29th, 1984 when he befriended Wanita Wheat under the alias Robert Knight when he asked if her nine year old daughter Vernita could help him carry a mother's day present to his house. Instead, Coleman raped Vernita in an abandoned house and strangled her to death which got the FBI involved since they always become involved in child abduction cases. On the day that he was supposed to go to trial for the rape of the 14 year old, he and Brown fled the state and began thier crime spree.
For his crimes, Alton Coleman received a 20 year federal prison sentence for interstate trafficking and 4 death sentences: two from Ohio for the murders of Virginia Temple and Tonnie Storey as well as one from both Wisconsin and Illinois for the murders of Vernita Wheat and Tamika Turks. Debra Brown also received a death sentence but this was commuted to a life sentence plus 140 years in 1991. Due to most of his murders occurring in Ohio, Coleman spent 18 years on Ohio's death row in the Chillicothe Correctional Institution before being transferred to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville. He ordered a last meal of a well-done filet mignon smothered with mushrooms, fried chicken breasts, a French dressed salad, sweet potato pie topped with whipped cream, French fries, collard greens, onion rings, cornbread, broccoli with melted cheese, biscuits and gravy, and Cherry Coke. After all appeals failed, Alton Coleman was executed by lethal injection on April 26th 2002.
Personality edit
Alton Coleman was a violent psychopath who showed no remorse for any of his crimes and seemed completely indifferent to his actions. The only motives for his crimes were sadism, the power that he felt over his victims and his sadistic urges. He was also completely deranged; going into an incoherent tirade in the middle of one sexual assault about how "blacks were forcing him to rape and murder other blacks" according to retired FBI profiler John Douglas.
Quotes edit
| “ | Coleman: Debra, you're a little afraid, aren't you? Brown: Yes. Coleman: Bear with me, Debra. You know this is rough. |
„ |
| ~ Coleman whilst cross-examining Debra Brown at his own trial |
| “ | The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. | „ |
| ~ Alton Coleman quoting Psalm 23 and his final words. |