True Crime Friday: Alton Coleman and Debra Brown, The Serial Killer Couple
Alton Coleman and Debra Brown committed murders in six states before being caught by authorities. They murdered eight people during their reign of terror across the Midwest. Together they murdered all races, men, women and children they had no chosen demographic.
Coleman would eventually be executed while Brown would be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Alton Coleman Early Childhood
Alton Coleman was born in Illinois on November 6, 1955. His mother worked multiple jobs to support her family. He was raised primarily by his 73 year old grandmother. Alton Coleman was neglected at home and often went to school wearing soiled clothes. He faced relentless bullying at school. He was known in school as “Pissy” Coleman because he smelled like urine. Alton eventually dropped out of school because of low grades and bullying. He then began a life of crime resulting in at least six arrests while he was a teenager. As with most sexually related crimes against women and girls that are not taken seriously by authorities he went on to commit more crimes, two of the cases against Coleman would be dropped. While two other cases he would be acquitted. After committing yet another sexual assault against a 14 year old girl, he received a summons to appear in court regarding assault charges but he fled the state of Illinois and began his infamous crime spreeDebra Brown Early Childhood
Debra Brown was born on November 11, 1962. She was mentally challenged and suffered severe head trauma as a child. She was eventually diagnosed with Dependent Personality Disorder by a psychiatrist. She was engaged to another man when she met Coleman in 1983. She decided to break off the engagement and follow Coleman. Before she met Coleman she had no history of violent behavior nor a criminal history. Coleman was alleged to be a very charming man. In fact, one of the victim’s mother allowed him to take her daughter to the state fair. She had been dating Coleman for about a week at the time. He kidnapped her daughter and murdered her in cold blood.The Victims of Alton Coleman and Debra Brown
- Vernita Wheat, 9
- Tamika Turks, 7
- Donna Williams, 25
- Rachelle Temple, 9
- Virginia Temple, Mother of Rachelle Temple
- Tonnie Storey, 15
- Marlene Walters, Wife of Harry Walters
- Eugene Scott, 75
- Annie Turks, 9-Survivor
- Mr. and Mrs. Palmer-Jones-Survivors
- Frank and Dorothy Duvendack-Survivors
- Reverend Millard and Kathryn Gay-Survivors
- Harry Walters-Survivor
- Oline Carmical Jr.-Survivor
Lady Justice
On April 26, 2002, Alton Coleman was executed by the state of Illinois for the murders he committed. So many victims family wanted to view Alton Coleman’s execution that a closed-circuit television was set up outside the building that he would be executed for the murders. Before his execution, he released a letter apologizing for his crimes. Although for his victims’ families it was too little too late. Debra Brown was originally sentenced to death but her case was commuted to life in prison without parole.Reference
Alton Coleman and Debra Brown Serial Killers - My Crime LibraryAlton Coleman - Wikipedia
Inside Alton Coleman's Grisly Murders Alongside Debra Brown (allthatsinteresting.com)