NEWS4U OCTOBER 2021 | ENTERTAINMENT
TRUE CRIME JUNKIE WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER
CHRISTOPHER COLEMAN Many of you are probably familiar with the infamous Chris
could not get enough of; he even planned for a future
Watts case that grabbed the headlines a few years ago,
together with his mistress. Just one problem: like Watts,
primarily due to the unthinkable nature of the crime which
Coleman was hamstrung by his family - not to mention that
involved the murders of Watts' pregnant wife Shanann and
divorce didn't play well in his Christian community. Feeling
two innocent young daughters, Bella and Celeste. The idea
boxed in, Coleman devised a sick scheme to rid himself of
that a seemingly mild-mannered husband with no history
responsibility and be free to carry on with Lintz at will.
of violence could resort to such extremes confounded and captivated, frankly - the nation as details of the triple
In November 2008, Coleman began sending himself
homicide slowly came to light. What could possibly have
hateful, threatening messages targeting his family via the
driven Watts to do it? Eventually, his affair with co-worker
email address destroychris@gmail.com. These fictional
Nichol Kessinger was uncovered - a secret obsessive
threats reportedly alluded to his association with the Joyce
relationship that ultimately drove him to wipe out his family
Meyer empire, one in particular stating, "tell Joyce to
for the sake of autonomy. Media coverage of the crime and
stop preaching the bullsh*t or Chris and his family will be
the trial that followed was off
killed." In addition, Coleman
the charts, but interestingly,
claimed to have received
there was a strikingly similar
disturbing letters through
- and equally shocking - case
the mail. Cut to the morning
from nine years prior that
of May 5, 2009 - Coleman
received far less attention.
left his home early in the morning to workout at a
The case in question also
local gym. At 6:43 a.m. he
centered around a "Chris" -
called his neighbor, police
Christopher Coleman from
detective
Columbia, Illinois, who, like
and asked him to check on
Watts, was white, in his early
Sheri, stating that he had
thirties and married with
been unable to reach her by
two young children. The two
phone. Barlow duly walked
men even looked similar
over to the Coleman home
with short-cropped hair and
Justin
Barlow,
and was met by a horrific
bulbous heads. Employed as a bodyguard for world-
scene: 11-year-old Garrett, 9-year-old Gavin and Sheri
famous Christian televangelist Joyce Meyer, Coleman was
were all found strangled to death. On the walls Barlow
reportedly well-liked and respected - but in private he had
noted similarly threatening messages spray-painted in red.
started to lead a double life at odds with the teachings of the church.
Still, Coleman's attempts to pin the murders on a fictional individual ultimately failed and he was sentenced to three
It all began when Coleman's wandering eye focused on his
life sentences. However, in March 2019 a judge granted
wife Sheri's best friend from high school, Tara Lintz. Soon
the opportunity for a new trial on the grounds of ineffectual
the pair was engaged in an illicit affair that Coleman simply
counsel.
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