A shocking double murder case has come to light in Henry County, Virginia, where a husband is accused of killing his wife and another man before trying to escape with his two young children and two guns in his car. Authorities acted quickly to arrest the suspect and rescue the children unharmed.
The Incident on Meeks Road
The incident happened on Tuesday around 1 p.m. in the 200 block of Meeks Road. A call was made to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office reporting that a man had been shot outside a home.
When deputies arrived, they found a man lying dead from multiple gunshot wounds. He was later identified as 68-year-old William Leroy Morey.
Officers then entered the house and discovered a woman, 22-year-old Mandy Michelle Coleman, who had been shot in the head and died on the spot. Investigators later found out that Morey had gone to the home to check on Mandy’s safety.
The Main Suspect: Joshua Corbett Coleman
The police immediately identified Mandy’s husband, 30-year-old Joshua Corbett Coleman, as the main suspect. However, he was not at the crime scene when officers arrived.
Concern grew when it was discovered that two small children—Mandy and Joshua’s kids, aged about 10 months and 2 years—were also missing from the home.
Police Launch Manhunt and Find Suspect
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Virginia State Police, joined the search for Coleman and the children. Just under two hours later, at around 2:40 p.m., police stopped Coleman’s vehicle.
Inside the car, they found him armed with a handgun and an AR-15 rifle. Thankfully, both children were found inside the car, safe and unharmed.
Coleman was taken into custody without any trouble and placed in the Henry County Adult Detention Center. He is being held without bond.
Confession and Details of the Crime
After his arrest, Coleman reportedly confessed to both murders. He told the police that he had an argument with his wife, during which he accused her of cheating. He then grabbed a gun and shot her in the head.
After that, he placed his children in the car and went looking for Morey, saying he “knew he was going to jail” and wanted to kill Morey too. When he couldn’t find him at his house, he returned home, saw Morey there, and allegedly shot him.
Authorities have not confirmed the relationship between Morey and the Colemans, only saying that he was not a relative.
Charges Against the Suspect
Joshua Corbett Coleman now faces several serious charges, including:
Two counts of first-degree murder
Two counts of using a firearm while committing a felony
One count of shooting from a moving vehicle
Two counts of child abuse and neglect
He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Community Reaction
Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis called the incident “heartbreaking and tragic” and said it deeply affected both the families and the entire community. He also expressed relief that the two children were safely recovered.
According to local reports, it was a neighbor who called 911 after hearing gunshots and seeing unusual activity near the house.
This case is a devastating reminder of how quickly domestic issues can turn into dangerous and deadly situations. Thankfully, the quick response from law enforcement helped prevent more loss, especially with the safe recovery of the two young children.
The investigation will now continue through the courts as Coleman faces multiple serious charges for the tragic deaths.
