This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and strong language that may not be suitable for all listeners.

Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Now, just a heads up, before we begin this episode, Ricky was actually recording from his iPhone,

so the audio may sound a little different than usual.

We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding,

and we are so glad that you're tuning in. My name is Ashley. And I'm Ricky. And this is

Crime Salad. At 6.43 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5th of 2009, Detective Justin Barlow's phone rang, and on the other end was his neighbor, Christopher Coleman, sounding anxious.

He had just returned from the gym and couldn't get his wife, Sherry, to answer the phone.

Something wasn't right. That call would set off an investigation

that would uncover one of the most chilling family tragedies in Columbia, Illinois. A small town

located near St. Louis, Missouri. The family of four, Chris Coleman, Sherry, who were both high school

sweethearts and their two sons, nine-year-old Gavin and 11-year-old Garrett, were living in a two-story house located in a suburban neighborhood.

When Detective Barlow received this call, he was well aware of this family receiving death threats in the past that were increasingly getting more and more worrisome.

These threats were to kill Chris's family, apparently because of Chris's job.

And, well, it was scary because he just so happened to be living in the same neighborhood

within view of the Coleman's home.

Chris Coleman, a former Marine and pastor's son, was employed as a

director of security for Joyce Meyer Ministries, or J.M. an internationally renowned Christian

ministry headquartered in Missouri. Chris had reported the multiple threats that his family and him received to the Columbia

Police Department. These came in the mail, so whoever sent these knew where he lived, they knew he

had a family, they also knew where he worked, because he was getting threats through his work

email.

...