Offender Record · OFF-2026-036
Alton Coleman (photo from the Radford University biography)
Alton Coleman
Sex
Male
Race
African-American
Born
1955
Custody
Deceased
States
IL, OH, WI, KY, IN
Distinguishing featuresdocument notes charming demeanor and smooth talker
Custody
Executed by lethal injection on April 26, 2002, at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Alton Coleman was convicted of eight murders across six Midwestern states (Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky) between May and July 1984 in a crime spree committed with accomplice Debra Brown. He was convicted of two murders in Ohio (Tonnie Storey and Marlene Walters), one in Indiana (Tamika Turks), and one in Illinois (Vernita Wheat). Coleman received death sentences in three states (Ohio, Illinois, Indiana) and was the only person in U.S. history sentenced to death in three separate states. He was executed by lethal injection on April 26, 2002, at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Dec 27, 1973, Waukegan, Illinois
Armed robbery
Cook County, Illinois · Cook County Circuit Court · Arrested Dec 27, 1973 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Two years in Joliet Penitentiary
Coleman and an accomplice abducted 54-year-old Eleanor MacIntire at gunpoint, raped and robbed her. Rape charges were dismissed when victim declined to testify; Coleman pleaded guilty to armed robbery.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Coleman, Alton; Alton Coleman; Alton Coleman #771
Offense date 1976, Lake County Jail, Illinois
Deviate sexual assault (three counts)
Lake County, Illinois · Arrested 1976 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Six months for battery; rape charges not pursued
Coleman was charged with three counts of deviate sexual assault for raping three fellow inmates while awaiting trial at Lake County Jail. Convicted only of battery.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Coleman, Alton; Alton Coleman; Alton Coleman #771
Offense date Sep 1976, Waukegan, Illinois
Deviate sexual assault
Cook County, Illinois · Arrested Sep 1976 · Acquitted Acquitted · Sentence: Acquitted of rape; served time for lesser charge
Coleman was arrested for rape of 17-year-old Sherri Patterson and acquitted after jury found act was consensual.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Coleman, Alton; Alton Coleman; Alton Coleman #771
Offense date Jul 11, 1980, Waukegan, Illinois
Rape (attempted)
Cook County, Illinois · Arrested Jul 11, 1980 · Charges dismissed Charges dismissed
Coleman was arrested for attempted rape of 22-year-old Dorothy Hawkins, a U.S. Navy member. He was acquitted despite victim identifying him.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Coleman, Alton; Alton Coleman
Offense date May 29, 1984, Kenosha, Wisconsin; body found in Waukegan, Illinois
Murder (Vernita Wheat) and Aggravated kidnapping
Lake County, Illinois · Lake County Circuit Court · Arrested Jul 20, 1984 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death
Coleman befriended 9-year-old Vernita Wheat's mother, then abducted the child on May 29, 1984. He transported her to Waukegan, Illinois, where he raped and strangled her. Body discovered June 19 in abandoned building.
SourcesAlton Coleman #771; Alton Coleman; People v. Coleman (544 N.E.2d 330, 129 Ill.2d 321)
Offense date May 29, 1984, Illinois
First-degree murder (Vernita Wheat in Illinois prosecution)
Lake County, Illinois · Lake County Circuit Court · Arrested Jul 20, 1984 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death
Death sentence in Illinois for murder of Vernita Wheat, tried separately in Lake County. Eye-witness account from victim's sister, taxi driver identification, and fingerprint evidence introduced.
SourcesAlton Coleman #771; People v. Coleman (544 N.E.2d 330, 129 Ill.2d 321)
Offense date Jun 18, 1984, Gary, Indiana
Murder (Tamika Turks), Attempted murder, and Child molestation
Lake County, Indiana · Lake County Circuit Court · Arrested Jul 20, 1984 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death
Coleman and Brown abducted 7-year-old Tamika Turks and 9-year-old Annie Hillard (niece) from street in Gary. They took girls to woods, bound and gagged them. Coleman stomped on Tamika's chest while Brown held her nose and mouth; strangled Tamika to death. Annie was forced to perform oral sex and raped but survived.
SourcesAlton Coleman #771; Coleman v. State (Ind. 1998); Coleman v. State of Indiana (Ind. 2000)
Offense date Jul 07, 1984, Toledo, Ohio
Murder (Virginia Temple and daughter)
Lucas County, Ohio · Arrested Jul 20, 1984 · Convicted Convicted
Coleman befriended Virginia Temple and her family in Toledo, Ohio. Temple and her 9-year-old daughter Rachelle were strangled and left in crawl space.
SourcesAlton Coleman; Alton Coleman #771
Offense date Jul 11, 1984, Cincinnati, Ohio
Murder (Tonnie Storey) and Rape
Hamilton County, Ohio · Hamilton County Common Pleas Court · Arrested Jul 20, 1984 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death (later set aside on direct appeal due to ineffective counsel; conviction upheld)
Coleman and Brown approached 15-year-old Tonnie Storey under pretense of needing directions on July 11, 1984. She was raped and strangled. Body found bound in abandoned building basement on July 19.
SourcesAlton Coleman #771; Alton Coleman; People v. Coleman (544 N.E.2d 330, 129 Ill.2d 321)
Offense date Jul 13, 1984, Norwood, Ohio
Murder (Marlene Walters) and Attempted aggravated murder
Hamilton County, Ohio · Hamilton County Common Pleas Court · Arrested Jul 20, 1984 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death
Coleman and Brown posed as interested buyers for a camper. They entered Harry and Marlene Walters' home in Norwood on July 13, 1984. Coleman beat Harry Walters with wooden candlestick, rendering him unconscious. Marlene was bludgeoned 20-25 times and left dead. Harry survived.
SourcesAlton Coleman #771; Alton Coleman; People v. Coleman (544 N.E.2d 330, 129 Ill.2d 321)
Offense date Jul 16, 1984, Kentucky and Ohio
Federal kidnapping (Oline Carmical)
Federal · Arrested Jul 20, 1984 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 20 years
Coleman kidnapped Cumberland College associate professor Oline Carmical in Kentucky, locked him in trunk, and drove car to Ohio. Victim was released alive.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Coleman, Alton; Alton Coleman
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
4
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
4
Victims suspected
Active years
1973–1984
Victim profile
Children, Young women, Elderly, Couples, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual, Financial gain
Range from home
interstate
Accomplice
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Died
2002-04-26 · executed
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
IL
Waukegan, Illinois
approx. 1955 – 1973 · Born and raised; lived with grandmother and mother
Joliet, Illinois
1974 – 1976 · Joliet Penitentiary; served sentence for armed robbery
Lake, Illinois
1976 – 1976 · Pre-trial detention; charged with sexual assault of inmates
Waukegan, Illinois
approx. 1976 – 1984 · Released on parole, lived in Waukegan area
Evanston, Illinois
Jul 20, 1984 – Jul 20, 1984 · Arrested by local police due to citizen cooperation; on FBI Ten Most Wanted List
IN
Gary, Indiana
Jun 18, 1984 – Jun 18, 1984 · Abducted and murdered Tamika Turks
KY
Lexington, Kentucky
Jul 16, 1984 – Jul 16, 1984 · Kidnapped Oline Carmical
OH
Toledo, Ohio
Jul 07, 1984 – Jul 07, 1984 · Committed murders of Virginia Temple and daughter
Cincinnati, Ohio
Jul 11, 1984 – Jul 13, 1984 · Committed murders of Tonnie Storey and Marlene Walters
Lucasville, Ohio
1986 – Apr 26, 2002 · Southern Ohio Correctional Facility; death row inmate #771
WI
Kenosha, Wisconsin
May 29, 1984 – May 29, 1984 · Abducted Vernita Wheat; traveled to Waukegan, Illinois with victim
Timeline
Dec 27, 1973
Coleman and accomplice abducted, raped, and robbed 54-year-old Eleanor MacIntire in Waukegan, Illinois.
1974
Coleman convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to two years at Joliet Penitentiary.
1976
While awaiting trial at Lake County Jail, Coleman charged with three counts of deviate sexual assault for raping fellow inmates; convicted of battery and sentenced to six months.
Sep 1976
Coleman arrested for rape of 17-year-old Sherri Patterson; acquitted on rape charge.
Jul 11, 1980
Coleman arrested for attempted rape of Dorothy Hawkins; charge dismissed.
May 29, 1984
Coleman abducted 9-year-old Vernita Wheat in Kenosha, Wisconsin; transported her to Waukegan, Illinois where he raped and strangled her to death.
Jun 18, 1984
Coleman and Brown abducted 7-year-old Tamika Turks and 9-year-old Annie Hillard in Gary, Indiana; strangled Tamika to death and raped Annie.
Jul 07, 1984
Coleman befriended and murdered Virginia Temple and her 9-year-old daughter Rachelle in Toledo, Ohio; strangled both and left in crawl space.
Jul 11, 1984
Coleman and Brown abducted 15-year-old Tonnie Storey in Cincinnati, Ohio; raped and strangled her to death.
Jul 13, 1984
Coleman and Brown attacked Harry and Marlene Walters in their Norwood, Ohio home; beat Marlene to death with candlestick and other objects; Harry survived.
Jul 16, 1984
Coleman kidnapped Cumberland College associate professor Oline Carmical in Kentucky, locked him in car trunk and drove to Ohio.
Jul 20, 1984
Coleman arrested in Evanston, Illinois by local police due to citizen cooperation.
May 06, 1985
Coleman convicted of murder of Marlene Walters in Ohio; sentenced to death.
Jun 24, 1985
Coleman convicted of murder of Tonnie Storey in Ohio; sentenced to death.
Apr 11, 1986
Coleman convicted of murder, attempted murder, and child molestation of Tamika Turks in Indiana; sentenced to death.
Feb 06, 1987
Coleman convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping of Vernita Wheat in Illinois; sentenced to death.
Apr 26, 2002
Coleman executed by lethal injection at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio for the murder of Marlene Walters.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Wikipedia ·
Alton Coleman“Alton Coleman (November 6, 1955 – April 26, 2002) was an American serial killer who, along with accomplice Debra Brown (born November 11, 1962), committed a crime spree across six states between May and July 1984 that resulted in the deaths of eight people.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Coleman, Alton“Born in Waukegan, IL. Mother dumped him in a garbage can when he was born.”
Law enforcement release · Clark Prosecutor's Office ·
Alton Coleman #771“Lucasville - Convicted serial killer Alton Coleman, who along with girlfriend, Debra Denise Brown, cut a murderous swath across at least four Midwest states during the summer of 1984, was executed by the state of Ohio today.”
Court record · Indiana Supreme Court ·
Coleman v. State of Indiana (Ind. 2000)“On April 11, 1986, a jury found Alton Coleman guilty of murder, attempted murder and child molesting. They strangled and sexually brutalized the nine-year-old and left her for dead, though she survived.”
Court record · Indiana Supreme Court ·
Coleman v. State (Ind. 1998)“A jury found Alton Coleman guilty of murder, attempted murder, and child molesting. Following the jury's recommendation, the court sentenced Coleman to death.”
Court record · Illinois Appellate Court ·
People v. Coleman (544 N.E.2d 330, 129 Ill.2d 321)“The defendant was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of Tamika Turks of Indiana and Tonnie Storey and Marlene Walters of Ohio.”
Law enforcement release · Clark Prosecutor's Office ·
COLEMAN, ALTON # 43“COLEMAN WAS EXECUTED BY LETHAL INJECTION BY THE STATE OF OHIO ON APRIL 26, 2002, AT 1:26 AM EST.”
Law enforcement release · Federal Bureau of Investigation ·
Ten Most Wanted Fugitives - Alton Coleman“On July 20, 1984, Coleman was arrested in Evanston, Illinois, by local police due to citizen cooperation.”
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