WATERLOO, Ill. – A judge says a southwestern Illinois man should stand trial in the deaths of his wife and two sons, who were found strangled in their home.
At a hearing Wednesday, Judge Dennis Doyle found sufficient evidence for the case against 32-year-old Christopher Coleman to proceed to trial.
The Columbia man is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of 31-year-old Sheri Coleman and the couple's children, 11-year-old Garett and 9-year-old Gavin.
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Columbia Police Chief Joseph Edwards testified that investigators traced an e-mail threatening the family to Coleman's laptop. That was among several bits of evidence the chief outlined. He was the only person to testify at the hearing.
Coleman claims someone else killed his family while he was working out at a gym.
He's scheduled to be in court again Aug. 26.
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