Test Coleman's DNA

A battle has been lost, but the war goes on.  Don’t give up hope and never, never quit fighting....

This insanity called the death penalty will end someday.  So STAY STRONG AND KEEP THE FAITH!!

                                              - Roger Keith Coleman

Roger Keith Coleman was executed in 1992 for the 1981 killing of his sister-in-law, Wanda McCoy. From the time of his arrest to his execution, Coleman maintained his innocence. The case against him was flimsy and based on circumstantial evidence, which included forensic testimony showing sperm cells recovered from the victim contained the same blood type as Coleman (2% of the population that could have donated it). However, since Coleman’s execution DNA testing has evolved to such a standard that the probability of two unrelated individuals matching is now between 1 in 740 billion, and 1 in 1 quadrillion. In short, it is now possible to prove beyond ANY reasonable doubt whether or not Coleman committed the crime; it is only a matter of conducting the new tests.

In November of last year, the Virginia Supreme Court refused to allow a group of newspapers, together with New Jersey charity Centurion Ministries, access to DNA for testing which would show categorically whether Coleman was guilty or innocent of that crime.   The testing of Coleman’s DNA is now in the hand of Governor Warner.

Therein lies the rub.  For whatever reason, Governor Warner has so far failed to order those tests.

Public pressure on Governor Warner will force him to act on this matter, and we urge all members to contact him asking that he order the tests be carried out as soon as possible. The results may show Coleman to be guilty, but the very fact that it has taken over two decades to prove this beyond reasonable doubt, during which time Coleman was executed, should highlight inherent frailties within the capital trial process that cannot be redressed once the state has executed. With enough momentum the truth will be discovered as to whether the state has done what it says it is incapable of doing: kill an innocent man.

Please put pressure on the Governor to have Coleman’s DNA tested.  By phoning and emailing your questions on Coleman’s case, we hope to force Warner into realizing that this is a fundamental concern to many Virginians, prompting him to take action and ensure finality surrounding this case.

In addition to calling and writing the Governor, we encourage you to look at Governor Warner’s schedule, which is shown below.  If Warner will be in your area and you are free, please take the time to question him publicly on this issue. 

Sign the On-Line Petition for Coleman

We encourage you to forward this email to your friends and family.  The more people who sign the petition, the more likely Governor Warner is to authorize the testing.

Please call, write, or email Governor Warner.

Gov. Mark R. Warner 
State Capitol, 3rd Floor 
Richmond, Virginia 23219 
Phone: (804) 786-2211  Fax: (804) 371-6351 
TTY/TDD (For the Hearing Impaired): (804) 371-8015

Sample Email

Copy the text below.  Then Click the above link to email Governor Warner.

Time discovers truth.

- Seneca

 It’s time to test Roger Keith Coleman’s DNA. 

Dear Gov. Warner,

I urge you to order that DNA testing be carried out to answer the question, once and for all, whether

Roger Keith Coleman was guilty or innocent of the 1981 killing of his sister-in-law, Wanda McCoy.

Mr. Coleman was executed for this crime in 1992.

If the tests show Coleman to be innocent than the search for McCoy’s true killer can begin. If they prove               

him to be guilty, finality will be brought to the McCoy family and the citizens of Virginia.

From the time of his arrest until his execution, Roger Coleman maintained his innocence. It is now possible

to prove beyond ANY reasonable doubt whether or not he committed the crime. The authority to order such

testing rests in your hands.

Please allow the truth to be known.

Sincerely,