In the late summer of 2018, a grim discovery was made at a residence north of Stroud, Oklahoma, unsettling the quiet of the rural community. Donald Gene Coleman, a 66-year-old male, was found deceased on the front porch of his home on September 1, 2018. The scene told a story of brutal violence, and it was immediately clear to investigators that he had not died of natural causes.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was called to assist in the unfolding homicide case.
The investigation revealed a horrifying sequence of events that had transpired the night before Coleman's body was discovered. Three individuals, identified as Jerry Richards, Deirdre Allen, and Waylon Whitlow, had entered Coleman's home. Once inside, they attacked him, striking him with a hammer and an ax. During this violent assault, the assailants took a rifle that belonged to Coleman. Despite his injuries, Coleman managed to make his way outside onto his porch. It was there that Jerry Richards used Coleman's own rifle to shoot him, ending his life.
The law enforcement investigation led to the arrest of all three individuals involved in the murder. The legal proceedings that followed brought the details of the brutal crime to light and resulted in convictions for all three. Jerry Richards, who was 34 at the time, faced the most severe charge and was convicted of second-degree murder. His sentence was 37 years in prison, with a stipulation that he must serve over 31 years before being eligible for parole. Deirdre Allen and Waylon Whitlow both pleaded guilty to manslaughter for their roles in the crime. Allen received a 30-year sentence, with the final 15 years suspended, while Whitlow was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
