Roger Keith Coleman was born on November 1, 1958, and grew up in Grundy, Virginia, where he later worked as a coal miner. His life was troubled from adolescence, marked by disturbing behavior and escalating criminal activity. At age 13, Coleman was brought before juvenile court for making obscene phone calls to female classmates. In 1977, at 18 years old, he attempted to rape a local woman, Brenda Rife. Coleman entered her home under false pretenses, threatened her with a gun, and attempted to sexually assault her before the victim fought him off and escaped. Coleman was sentenced to three years in prison for this crime and was paroled in 1979.

In January 1981, Coleman allegedly committed another act of sexual misconduct when he exposed himself and masturbated in front of two librarians. Though never charged, witnesses later identified him as the perpetrator. By 1981, Coleman had developed a reputation in the community for his criminal behavior and sexual misconduct.

Despite these incidents, Coleman continued living in Grundy and working in the coal mines. His life would take a fatal turn in March 1981 with the murder of his sister-in-law, Wanda Faye McCoy.

On the night of March 10, 1981, 19-year-old Wanda Faye McCoy was brutally attacked in her home in Grundy, Virginia. She was raped and stabbed to death, suffering severe neck wounds that nearly decapitated her. Investigators found no signs of forced entry, leading police to believe she knew her killer. Physical evidence included a fingerprint on the front door, pry marks suggesting attempted forced entry, and bloodstains inside the house.

Suspicion immediately fell on Roger Coleman, McCoy’s brother-in-law, due to his prior conviction for attempted rape and his presence near the scene. Coleman had been at work that evening but left after his shift was dismissed early. Blood flecks found on his pants matched McCoy’s blood type, and a hair found on the victim’s body was determined to be similar to Coleman’s. Coleman’s inability to provide a clear alibi, combined with forensic findings and testimony from a fellow prisoner who claimed Coleman confessed, strengthened the prosecution’s case.

In 1982, Coleman was tried and convicted of rape and capital murder. The prosecution argued that McCoy knew her killer and that Coleman’s criminal history and the evidence pointed directly to him. The defense countered with claims of forced entry and questioned the forensic evidence, suggesting multiple attackers, but the jury found Coleman guilty and sentenced him to death.

Coleman’s case gained national and international attention due to his persistent claims of innocence and the growing debate over the death penalty. Media outlets such as Time, The New York Times, and major television programs covered his story. Anti-death penalty activists rallied behind him, hoping his case would spotlight flaws in capital punishment.

Despite multiple appeals, Coleman’s conviction was upheld. DNA testing in 1990 narrowed possible matches to 2% of the population, with additional tests suggesting only a 0.2% chance that someone else committed the crime. Days before his execution, Coleman failed a last-minute polygraph test arranged by Virginia’s governor.

On May 20, 1992, Coleman was executed by electric chair. He maintained his innocence until his final moments, delivering a statement condemning the death penalty and expressing eternal love for his girlfriend, Sharon Paul.