Lisa Ann Coleman was born on October 6, 1975, in Tarrant County, Texas. Her early life was filled with many challenges. She was conceived after her mother was raped by her step-grandfather. This event set the tone for a difficult childhood.

As a child, Coleman faced physical abuse. An uncle often beat her with extension cords. She was placed in several foster homes throughout her youth, but this stability was hard to find. A child abuse expert later stated that she had also been sexually abused by her foster parents when she was very young. Her mother, who gave her the nickname "Pig," rarely visited her while she was in foster care.

By the time she reached her preteen years, her life took another turn for the worse. She was stabbed by a cousin, adding to her trauma. In her teenage years, another relative introduced her to drugs and alcohol. Coleman managed to complete some schooling but only reached the tenth grade. At the age of 16, she became a mother.

As she grew older, Coleman had multiple run-ins with the law. She went to prison two times: once for burglary and another time for possession of illegal drugs with the intent to sell. 

On July 26, 2004, in Arlington, Texas, Marcella Williams called 9-1-1, claiming her son, Davontae, had stopped breathing. The dispatcher tried to give her CPR instructions, but the call was disconnected. When emergency services arrived, they noted that Davontae had been dead for several hours, as rigor mortis was present.

Davontae was nine years old at the time of his death. He weighed only 35 pounds and had over 250 scars on his body. Medical examinations revealed infected wounds on his wrists and legs, indicating he had been bound with plastic extension cords. There was also evidence of physical abuse. Emergency responders found a blood-stained golf club at the scene.

Coleman and Marcella Williams were arrested and initially charged with injury to a child. Following further investigation, the charges were upgraded to capital murder. After Davontae's death, his two sisters were placed in foster care.

During the investigation, Coleman admitted to hitting Davontae with a belt and helping to restrain him. Eventually, Marcella Williams agreed to plead guilty to murder and received a life sentence. She will not be eligible for parole until 2044. Coleman chose to go to trial.

In the trial, prosecutors argued that Davontae had been starved and abused. They noted that while other family members were well-fed, Davontae was denied food. A medical expert testified that his body was bruised, underweight, and showed signs of malnutrition. Testimony indicated that he had been tied up and that his ear appeared to be injured.

In contrast, Coleman's defense claimed that Davontae died from poor parenting and not murder. They argued that he was small due to being born premature and that he was sometimes restrained because of hyperactive behavior. Defense witnesses included a doctor who suggested he might have aspirated on his own vomit.

After a short deliberation, the jury found Coleman guilty of capital murder. In the sentencing phase, her lawyers presented various mitigating circumstances, including her troubled upbringing and mental health issues. Despite this, the jury sentenced her to death.

Coleman appealed her sentence, with her attorneys arguing against the kidnapping charge that supported the capital murder charge. The appeals were ultimately rejected by higher courts. On September 17, 2014, Lisa Ann Coleman was executed by lethal injection. She was only the 15th woman to be executed in the United States since 1976. After her execution, there was significant scrutiny of the Child Protective Services due to previous investigations involving Davontae's family.