Jamie Dawn Shipman, a 57-year-old resident of Mendocino, California, was found dead on May 23, 2017, at her home on Caspar Little Lake Road. The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office initially treated the incident as a suspicious death, but it was later classified as a homicide. The investigation revealed that Shipman had been shot, and her vehicle, a 2009 Chevy HHR with a custom paint job, was missing from the scene.
The investigation quickly led to Kelley Anne Coan, 39, and her son, Alexander Phillip Coan, 20, who had been living on the same property as the Shipmans. Kelley Coan surrendered to authorities in San Joaquin County the day after Shipman's body was discovered, following advice from her private attorney. She was found in possession of Shipman's missing vehicle. Alexander Coan was arrested a few days later, on May 27, in Comptche, California, after detectives determined he was an active participant in the crime.
Both Kelley and Alexander Coan were charged with the murder of Jamie Dawn Shipman. The motive for the murder appeared to be related to a dispute over the property where both families resided. Kelley Coan and her son pleaded not guilty to the charges. The preliminary hearing for the case was set for August 14, 2017.
The case attracted significant attention due to the involvement of both a mother and her son in the alleged crime. The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, along with the District Attorney's Office, conducted a thorough investigation, which included processing the recovered vehicle for evidence and interviewing witnesses. The legal proceedings were closely followed by the local community, as the Coans faced serious charges that could result in lengthy prison sentences if convicted.
