DNA Tests Confirms Roger Coleman's Guilt

DNA testing of a man executed in 1992 ordered by Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner has confirmed that Roger Coleman was not only guilty of the murder and rape of his sister-in-law Wanda Fay McCoy, he was a liar until his last breath.

McCoy, 19, was raped and murdered on March 10, 1981. Her throat was slashed so severely that she was nearly decapitated. Roger Keith Coleman was convicted of her murder and sentenced to death in 1982.

As Coleman was being strapped into the electric chair on May 20, 1992, he continued to maintain his innocence. His case as been raised by opponents of the death penalty for the past 13 years. Those groups, including Centurion Ministries, successfully petitioned Gov. Warner to order the new DNA tests before he leaves office later this month.

"The confirmation that Roger Coleman's DNA was present reaffirms the verdict and the sanction. Again, my prayers are with the family of Wanda McCoy at this time," Warner said in a statement.

According to the DNA lab report, "The probability that a randomly selected individual unrelated to Roger Coleman would coincidentally share the observed DNA profile is estimated to be 1 in 19 million."

See Also:
Tests Reaffirm Coleman's Guilt
Reaction to Coleman's DNA Test
Press Release From James C. McCloskey, of Centurion Ministries
Statement of Michael Paranzino of Throw Away the Key

More Information:
Virginia to Retest Executed Man's DNA
The Death Penalty

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