Over the course of just 53 days, Alton Coleman and Debra Brown killed eight people across six states in the American Midwest.
Bettmann / Getty ImagesAlton Coleman and Debra Brown terrorize just about everyone they play — from senior citizen to children .
Alton Coleman had a way with words . The serial orca was charming enough to take in the trust of people he barely knew — before brutally slay them . From May to July 1984 , he terrorise the American Midwest .
But the 28 - yr - sure-enough was n’t act alone . Coleman ’s 21 - year - old girlfriend Debra Brown gleefullypartook in his crimes , which included eight murders , seven colza , three kidnappings , and 14 armed robberies .
Bettmann/Getty ImagesAlton Coleman and Debra Brown terrorized just about everyone they met — from senior citizens to children.
law were do-or-die to catch Alton Coleman and Debra Brown , but the baneful pair put off authorities for 53 days . And while that may sound like a short time , they were still able-bodied to do a horrific amount of damage .
The Crimes Of Alton Coleman And Debra Brown
Born on November 6 , 1955 , in Waukegan , Illinois , Alton Coleman inscribe a life story of crime early on . A in-between - shoal dropout , Coleman started with petty crime like property hurt and then move on to more serious offence .
Even before he went on his murder spree , Coleman was already facing charges for raping a 14 - year - old girl . But instead of risking prison , he hit the road with his girlfriend . Unlike Coleman , Brown had no history of vehemence .
The couplemet their first lie with victimin Kenosha , Wisconsin on May 29 , 1984 . After kidnap 9 - twelvemonth - old Vernita Wheat , they savagely murder her . Three workweek later , her organic structure was bump in an abandon building in Illinois .
Bettmann/Getty ImagesAuthorities claimed that Alton Coleman and Debra Brown had a “master-slave relationship.”
By that point , Coleman and Brown had already escaped to Gary , Indiana . On June 18 , they spotted two immature girls — ages seven and nine — and abducted them . Both children were raped and beat , but one of them was able-bodied to scat . However , the other one was throttle to death .
Around the same time that the organic structure of 7 - year - sometime Tamika Turks was found , 25 - year - old Donna Williams vanished from Gary . Williams ’ body would later be regain in July 1984 , in an desolate edifice in Detroit , Michigan .
While Coleman and Brown were in Detroit , they began on a regular basis stealing railway car — possibly to avert detection . By that dot , the FBI had begun creating a profile on Coleman to help bewildered law .
Bettmann/Contributor/Getty ImagesAlton Coleman, shortly after he was arrested in Evanston, Illinois.
But by the metre Williams ’ body was find , the couple had already struck again . On July 7 , the body of an Ohio woman name Virginia Temple was found in her home . Her 10 - year - old daughter ’s dead body was nearby .
While still in Ohio , Alton Coleman and Debra Brown also murdered a 15 - class - old girl . On July 13 , they killed another womanhood for her car and take flight to Kentucky — where they kidnap two men but did n’t kill them .
On July 18 , the couplet polish off their last known dupe — a 77 - class - onetime man in Indiana — to get his car .
How The Deadly Duo Was Caught
Bettmann / Contributor / Getty ImagesAlton Coleman , shortly after he was get in Evanston , Illinois .
Alton Coleman was so dangerous that the FBI make an “ eleventh ” slot on their Ten Most Wanted List — just for him .
On July 20 , 1984 , he and Brown were arrested in Evanston , Illinois , after Coleman was recognized by a childhood ally . Police apprehended the couple in a parking lot — and they seemed to admit their fate .
Originally , both Alton Coleman and Debra Brown were sentenced to end for their criminal offense . But while Coleman was eventually action in Ohio in 2002 , Brown ’s sentence was commuted to lifespan imprisonment in Ohio in 1991 . accord to office , this decision was made because of Brown ’s low IQ and her “ master copy - striver relationship ” with Coleman .
Brown still confront another death sentence in Indiana . But in 2019 , that one was also wipe out , “ base on grounds developed throughout the guinea pig that Brown in all likelihood is intellectually disabled . ”
While authorities believed they made the right option , the victim ’ families were furious . Tamika Turks ’ mother said , “ Debra Brown was decent there with [ Coleman ] , invest the same crimes . She yield the same responsibleness for them , and she should deal his punishment . ”
The decision was specially controversial since Brown initially shew no remorse for her criminal offence . During one of her test , she sent a bank note to the judge that read , “ I killed the b*tch and I do n’t give a damn . I had play out of it . ”
As for their motive , that remains a mystery . Since most of their victims were African American , some believe they had an “ intense hate ” of other smutty people . And according to FBI profilerJohn Douglas , Coleman once allegedlyclaimedthat “ total darkness were forcing him to murder other Blacks . ”
However , others believe targeting disgraceful multitude was a strictly strategic move for the couple . Since Coleman and Brown were also African American , they may have found it easy to “ blend in ” with dark community .
Tragically , the real answer died with Coleman .
After learning about the crimes of Alton Coleman and Debra Brown , take about otherserial sea wolf couple . Then , take a aspect atLester Eubanks , the nestling slayer who turn tail from prison house .
