Naked photos and the Admission of an Affair

by Carol Daniel and BND reporter Beth Hundsdorfer

The Chris Coleman triple murder trial enters it’s fourth day Thursday.  Wednesday, jurors heard Coleman admit to a sexual relationship with Tara Lintz, his wife’s best friend in high school and to sending her nude photos of himself on a company cell phone that belonged to Joyce Meyer Ministries.   

Belleville News Democrat reporter Beth Hundsdorfer reports, during the police interrogation video, jurors saw Coleman initially portray Lintz as a family friend, calling her his wife’s number one Facebook fan.  Coleman said that he and Sheri had been having marital problems and he had been talking to Tara a lot lately.  He said that Sheri Coleman could get a little bit jealous at times. 

It was only after Columbia Police detective Justin Barlow and Illinois State Police Sgt. Dave Bivens told Coleman that Lintz, who lives in Florida, told St. Petersburg homicide detectives that the pair were having an affair and that Chris Coleman had sent nude photos of himself to Lintz on his cell phone, that he admitted to a sexual relationship with her. 

Hundsdorfer says, Coleman, dressed in a shirt, tie and black pants, watched the video intently and didn’t take any notes. 

At one point, an hour into the video questioning Hundsdorfer says Sgt. Bivens and Detective Barlow tell Coleman, “We know the who, what, when and where but we don’t know the why.”  They added, “You can do the right thing by your kids by telling us the why.” 

While Coleman never appeared to flinch,  the detectives continued, “Garrett and Gavin didn’t deserve what happened to them.”  The detectives told Coleman that he knew it, the detectives knew it and everyone out there knew it and he should try to make it right.”

Coleman told detectives, “I told you everything I know, I’m telling the truth. I’m telling you everything I know.” 

Today, the defense team begins it’s cross examination of detective  Barlow.  On the stand briefly at the end of the day,  Barlow talked about what Coleman didn’t say during the questioning.  He said Coleman never asked how Sheri and the boys died and didn’t bring up the fact that he had video surveillance of his home until well into the questioning.  Barlow said Coleman never said in the beginning, “Check my video.” 

And when will Coleman’s mistress take the stand?   Hundsdorfer says Tara Lintz is scheduled to testify Thursday but because the video went so long, her testimony might be pushed to Friday although she is supposed to be in town already.

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