Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis

Mother, two children slain in Columbia, Ill., mystery

MAY 5 2009 - Investigators removed the bodies of a mother and her two sons from the home in Lake of the Wood subdivision in Columbia, Illinois. The Major Case Squad was called out about 7 a.m. for "multiple victims" inside a home in the 2800 block of Robert Drive. (Laurie Skrivan/P-D)

By Carolyn Tuft and Nicholas J. C. Pistor

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

05/06/2009

COLUMBIA, Ill. — Police worked into Tuesday night trying to unravel the mystery of who killed a mother and her two young sons in their home in a quiet subdivision of this quiet town.
The bodies of Sheri Coleman, 31, and sons Garett, 11, and Gavin, 9, were found in their house at 2854 Robert Drive.
A source close to the case said someone had scrawled a message on a wall inside. The law enforcement source also said that Christopher E. Coleman called police shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday, saying he had been at a gym in south St. Louis County and asking that they check on the welfare of his family. The source would not elaborate.

Neighbors said they saw Christopher Coleman, distraught and flailing on his driveway shortly after the bodies of his wife and sons were discovered.

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Major Case Squad investigates Columbia, IL murders

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Mom, 2 young sons murdered in Columbia

The Major Case Squad has been called in to help Columbia Police investigate the murders of three family members in their home at 2854 Robert Drive in Columbia.

The squad was called in by Columbia Police Chief Joseph A. Edwards around 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Neighbors said a mother and two sons were the victims and were found when the father came home from work. He came outside, was wailing and rolling on the lawn when neighbors spotted him and called police.

Police officers search the trash in front of the home in the 2800 block of Robert Drive, Columbia. - Tim Vizer/BND

Neighbor Jennifer Grimm said her kids played with the two boys, who were in the 5th and 3rd grades.

"She was such a tiny little thing. I don't know why anyone would hurt her," Grimm said.

Crime scene investigators at 10:55 a.m. were walking down Robert Drive going through the trash cans. Investigators from Monroe County, Columbia, Illinois State Police and 22 investigators from the Major Case Squad were all in the neighborhood.

Neighbors and public records showed the mother and father were both former members of the U.S. Marine Corps. The father currently works for Joyce Meyer Ministries, and Meyer was in the neighborhood earlier Tuesday.

Columbia Chief Edwards refused to confirm any information about the family.

"We have a death investigation going on. We are going to investigate anything and everything," Edwards said.

Edwards said a press conference is planned for Tuesday afternoon.

Overdose is suspected in death of woman, 28

By Shane Anthony

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Saturday, Apr. 11 2009

Lincoln County — A drug overdose likely caused the death of a Winfield woman whose body was found in Cuivre River State Park, police said Friday.

Sgt. Chris Bartlett of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department said

investigators think Nicole Tayon, 28, willingly took heroin and other narcotics.

He said they may seek charges against one or more people for providing the drugs. He would not say how many.

MCS Squad activated to Lincoln County for the death of a second female

The Major Case Squad has again been requested to Lincoln County for another dead female found alongside the road.  We have been advised that currently the cause of death is unknown but that the victim’s name is Jacqueline Jones W/F 12/11/64 from Foley, Mo.  Mark Schimwig from St. Peter PD is the Deputy Commander and Chris Bartlett from Lincoln County is the DRO.  It is not believed the two deaths are related.

Respectfully,

Robert J. Bauman, Executive Director

Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis