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in 1979. After his release, he was a suspect in an indecent exposure incident at the Grundy public library in
January 1981. Though he was never charged for it, the librarians positively identified Coleman, after his subsequent arrest for the murder of his sister-in-law. Suspicion quickly fell upon Coleman for McCoy's murder, given his criminal record, and after it was discovered that he had reported for work that day but had left after his shift was dismissed for the evening. Coleman was unable to provide any alibi for his whereabouts during the time frame of the crime and as the investigation continued, he was subsequently arrested and brought to trial. He was convicted of the crimes and sentenced to death in 1982.
344:. However, federal courts may generally not review a state court's denial of a federal constitutional claim if the denial is based on a state procedural default that is both independent of the federal claim and sufficient to support the prisoner's continued custody. Since Coleman was in procedural default of his appeal in state court, that was independent of his federal constitutional claims. That was considered adequate to support his continued custody, and he was ineligible for relief in a federal habeas corpus proceeding. Although finding that Coleman was in procedural default, the District Court addressed all of his claims and found them without merit. The
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up her six-year-old daughter. He then walked Rife upstairs to her bedroom at gunpoint, where he ordered her to undress. When she refused, Coleman ripped open her bathrobe, threw her on the bed, and clambered on top of her. Rife scratched him on the neck and managed to escape. She then freed her daughter and fled from the house. Coleman chased them and tried to force them back inside. As the two struggled, Rife managed to grab
Coleman's gun, throw it under the porch, and scream for help. As neighbors responded, Coleman fled. He was later convicted of attempted rape and sentenced to three years in prison.
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people on death row had been known to be exonerated. If
Coleman had been proven innocent, it likely would have contributed to anti-death penalty support. Death penalty supporters were able to argue that Coleman's case showed that the criminal justice system was functioning in having guilty people convicted and executed, which severely dampened moves to abolish capital punishment. McCloskey subsequently issued a statement.
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Coleman had a history of sexual misconduct and crime dating back to adolescence. At age thirteen he was brought before juvenile court for making obscene phone calls to his female classmates. He later received a three-year prison sentence for the attempted rape of a local woman in 1977 and was paroled
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Coleman appealed to the
Virginia Supreme Court, but the appeal was dismissed on the motion of the Commonwealth since his notice of appeal had not been filed in time. The Virginia Supreme Court requires for a notice of appeal to be filed within 30 days of entry of the final judgment. Coleman's notice
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On April 7, 1977, Coleman knocked on the door to Brenda Rife's home in Grundy and asked for a glass of water, after falsely claiming to be helping the cleanup crews aiding the recovery from catastrophic flooding three days prior. After she allowed him in, Coleman produced a gun and forced her to tie
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An innocent man is going to be murdered tonight. When my innocence is proven, I hope
America will realize the injustice of the death penalty as all other civilized countries have. My last words are to the woman I love. Love is eternal. My love for you will last forever. I love you, Sharon. (Sharon
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Supporters who believed in
Coleman's innocence had expected DNA tests to exonerate him, but they were profoundly disappointed. Some death penalty opponents had believed that evidence of an innocent man's execution would have a major impact on the death penalty debate in the United States, as some
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In
January 1981, Coleman allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of two librarians, Patricia Hatfield and Jean Gilbert, at a public library. The two women did not know Coleman, but Hatfield encouraged Gilbert, an artist, to draw his face. After showing a police officer the sketch, he
518:, January 12, 2006; Quote: "The testing in Coleman's case marks only the second time nationwide that DNA tests have been performed after an execution. In 2000, tests ordered by a Georgia judge in the case of Ellis W. Felker, who was executed in 1996, were inconclusive."; accessed May 26, 2017
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After his conviction, Coleman would become known nationally and internationally to death penalty opponents, who seized upon his claims of injustice by the legal system and brought considerable media attention to the case. Coleman's case was discussed on major television shows such as the
438:, Canada. It determined that his DNA matched that of semen found at the crime scene, with no exclusions, and that there was only a 1-in-19-million chance of a random match. On January 12, 2006, Warner's office announced that the test results conclusively confirmed Coleman's guilt.
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also covered the case. Despite multiple appeals and attempts to win a new trial, his sentence was carried out in 1992 amid a storm of national and international media attention and protests. Coleman maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration and eventual execution.
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on the front screen door, a pry mark on the front door molding, and bloodstains inside the house. The victim had broken fingernails; cuts on her hands; and a dark, dusty substance on her body. Flecks of blood found on
Coleman's pants were determined to be the same
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Wanda McCoy, 19, was attacked in her home in Grundy on March 10, 1981. She was raped, stabbed to death, and nearly beheaded from severe neck wounds. As there wasn't any sign of a struggle, police believed that she had allowed her attacker into the house.
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suggested that the perpetrator might've been
Coleman and encouraged her to check a high school yearbook to see if the faces match. Although Hatfield said the pictures appeared to be a clear match, the police ignored the incident.
324:, raising several federal constitutional claims for the first time. A two-day evidentiary hearing was held, and the court denied all of Coleman's claims. On September 4, 1986, the court entered its final judgment.
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While he was on death row, Coleman continued to claim his innocence. Because of increasing efforts by opponents of the death penalty in the United States, an international audience became interested in his case.
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Her sister's husband, Roger
Coleman, had access to the house and was quickly considered a suspect due to his prior conviction. Coleman had reported to work that night but left after his shift was dismissed.
135:(November 1, 1958 – May 20, 1992) was an American convicted murderer and rapist who was executed on May 20, 1992, for the rape and murder of his 19-year-old sister-in-law, Wanda Faye McCoy, at her home in
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In 1990, Coleman's DNA was tested. He was found to be within the 2% of the population who could have committed the crime. Some argued that DNA and blood tests combined reduced this figure to 0.2%.
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416:, sought to have DNA evidence from the case re-examined in 2000. That year was the first instance of a court ordering DNA testing of a man who had been executed for rape and murder:
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received 13,000 calls and letters about Coleman from around the world, nearly all in favor of clemency. Wilder arranged a secret last-minute polygraph test for Coleman, who failed.
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Press Release From James C. McCloskey, Executive Director of Centurion Ministries, Inc. and Paul Enzinna, Partner, Baker Botts L.L.P. on the Roger Coleman DNA Testing Results
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Coleman's case drew national and worldwide attention before and after his execution because of his repeated claims of innocence. Appeals were supported by the
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197:. After his death, his was the second case nationally in which DNA evidence was analyzed of an executed man. In January 2006, Virginia Governor
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On January 5, 2006, Warner ordered the retesting of Coleman's DNA evidence, which was sent to the Centre of Forensic Sciences in
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The prosecution said that there was no struggle, but the victim had cuts, a bruise in her arm, and broken fingernails.
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of appeal was filed on October 7, which was 33 days after the circuit court had entered its judgment.
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on the night of March 10, 1981. A lifelong resident of Grundy, Coleman had worked as a coal miner.
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Tanner, Robert. "DNA Test Confirms Guilt in 1992 Execution" Associated Press, January 13, 2006.
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Paul was a college student and the girlfriend of Coleman whom he had met by mail during prison.)
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in 1983 to the Virginia Supreme Court was denied, and the United States Supreme Court denied
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At a jury trial in 1982, Coleman was convicted of the rape and capital murder of McCoy.
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declined the request. Centurion Ministries subsequently appealed to Virginia Governor
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Glod, Maria and Michael D. Shear. "DNA Tests Confirm Guilt of Executed Man."
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A fellow prisoner said that Coleman had privately confessed the crime to him.
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affirmed the District Court's ruling, as did the US Supreme Court in 1991.
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Maria Gold and Michael D. Shear, "DNA Tests Confirm Guilt of Executed Man"
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Willing, Richard. "DNA Tests Confirm Man Executed in 1992 was Guilty."
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magazine featured Coleman on its May 18, 1992, cover. Virginia Governor
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377:. He shared his final meal with James McCloskey, executive director of
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A hair found on McCoy's body was determined to be similar to Coleman's.
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had conclusively proven that Coleman was actually guilty of the crime.
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Dao, James. "DNA Ties Man Executed in '92 to the Murder He Denied."
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Burden of Proof - Washington Post Magazine article examining the case
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Glod, Maria. "DNA Tests May Signal Shift in Death Penalty Debate."
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external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into
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708:"DNA: Virginia Executed the Right Man," CNN.com, January 12, 2006.
672:"USATODAY.com - DNA tests confirm man executed in 1992 was guilty"
559:"DNA: Virginia Executed the Right Man," CNN.com, January 12, 2006.
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533:"Women who survived Roger Keith Coleman often get overlooked"
488:"Did Roger Coleman Really Believe He was Innocent of Murder?"
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The lack of forced entry showed that McCoy knew her attacker.
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as the victim's. At the time, DNA testing was not available.
857: (archived June 3, 2009) from The Malefactor's Register
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COURIER, ALYSSA OURSLER | BRISTOL HERALD (March 11, 2018).
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found on the victim's body implicated more than one person.
402:), detailing his efforts to save Coleman from execution.
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Centurion Ministries and four newspapers, including the
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Blood found on Coleman's clothes was McCoy's blood type.
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Coleman had been previously convicted of attempted rape.
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may not follow Knowledge (XXG)'s policies or guidelines
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Still, Kathy. "'Tell Them I Said Hello,' He'd Say."
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United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
340:for the Western District of Virginia for a writ of
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390:In 1998, Chicago lawyer John C. Tucker published
284:The pry mark on the door indicated forced entry.
229:Physical evidence at the McCoy house included a
921:People executed by Virginia by electric chair
836:Clark County, Indiana Prosecutors Office site
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420:in Georgia. The results were inconclusive.
886:20th-century executions of American people
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810:Learn how and when to remove this message
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314:. Coleman filed a petition for a writ of
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462:Capital punishment in the United States
916:People convicted of murder by Virginia
824:DNA tests confirm executed man's guilt
373:Coleman was executed May 20, 1992, by
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670:Richard Willing (January 12, 2006).
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881:20th-century executions by Virginia
735:"Tests Reaffirm Coleman's Guilt."
467:List of people executed in Virginia
171:. Major publications including the
652:. John Douglas and Mark Olshaker.
622:"Tests Reaffirm Coleman's Guilt",
537:Bristol Herald Courier - Tricities
486:Ponti, Crystal (January 5, 2021).
332:Federal petition for habeas corpus
297:Several witnesses gave affidavits.
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901:American people convicted of rape
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73:Greensville Correctional Center
457:Capital punishment in Virginia
280:Coleman's defense maintained:
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891:Executed people from Virginia
911:People from Grundy, Virginia
338:United States District Court
195:anti-death penalty movement
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722:, January 17, 2006, p. B5.
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406:DNA testing post-execution
336:Coleman petitioned in the
201:announced that testing of
425:Supreme Court of Virginia
352:Controversy and execution
322:Buchanan County, Virginia
320:in the Circuit Court for
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636:Coleman on the cover of
569:Coleman v. Commonwealth,
851:Gone, but Not Forgotten
737:Richmond Times-Dispatch
624:Richmond Times-Dispatch
727:Bristol Herald Courier
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287:Forensic tests of the
121:Death by electrocution
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255:Commonwealth Attorney
253:for the case, led by
780:improve this article
607:501 U.S. 722 (1991)
589:Va. Sup. Ct. R. 5A:6
580:465 U.S. 1109 (1984)
379:Centurion Ministries
792:footnote references
746:, January 12, 2006.
739:, January 12, 2006.
729:, January 11, 2006.
705:, January 13, 2006.
626:, January 12 2006.
603:Coleman v. Thompson
133:Roger Keith Coleman
25:Roger Keith Coleman
650:Law & Disorder
418:Ellis Wayne Felker
392:May God Have Mercy
306:Coleman's initial
258:Michael McGlothlin
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658:978-0-7582-7312-3
571:226 Va. 31 (1983)
150:Phil Donahue Show
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67:(1992-05-20)
65:May 20, 1992
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871:1958 births
683:November 4,
429:Mark Warner
251:prosecution
231:fingerprint
199:Mark Warner
865:Categories
473:References
312:certiorari
236:blood type
183:, and the
46:1958-11-01
784:excessive
744:USA TODAY
677:USA Today
442:Aftermath
162:Nightline
660:. (2013)
451:See also
85:Executed
853:at the
778:Please
770:use of
492:A&E
436:Toronto
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542:May 2,
398:
308:appeal
209:Crimes
165:, and
56:, U.S.
829:MSNBC
289:semen
168:Today
685:2016
654:ISBN
638:Time
544:2022
396:ISBN
363:Time
249:The
242:Case
180:Time
107:Rape
62:Died
40:Born
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