California Father, Matthew Taylor Coleman Deemed Incompetent to Stand Trial for Killing Children Over Bizarre Beliefs

 

Matthew Taylor Coleman, the man accused of a tragic and horrifying act of killing his 2-year-old son and 10-month-old daughter with a spearfishing gun because he believed they had "serpent DNA" and that their execution would "save the world," has been declared unfit to stand trial by a judge in California.

As per the federal case records, U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo issued an order on Wednesday, stating that the defendant is not competent to stand trial and needs treatment. This decision has temporarily halted Coleman's criminal case. 

A status hearing is scheduled for December 1, with a competency hearing set for March 8, 2024.

Coleman confessed to the heartbreaking killings, attributing his actions to being "enlightened by QAnon." Prosecutors revealed that in August 2021, Coleman drove from his home in Santa Barbara, California to a ranch in Mexico. 

After spending two days there, he killed his young children by stabbing them with the speargun and then returned to his motel. The lifeless bodies of the children were discovered by a local ranch worker, who alerted the authorities.

When questioned by the FBI, Coleman acknowledged that he knew his actions were wrong, but he believed it was the only way to "save the world."

Abby Coleman, Matthew's wife, expressed concern for their children's safety to the FBI. Court records indicate that she was in contact with her husband on the morning he killed their children and had urged him to take good care of them. Worried about their well-being, she later reported them missing before his arrest at the border when he was attempting to reenter the U.S.

According to court records, Matthew Coleman was deeply immersed in bizarre QAnon conspiracy theories and held the belief that his wife was a "shapeshifter."

Judge Bencivengo, appointed by Barack Obama, has scheduled a hearing in March 2024 to reassess the 42-year-old's competency, as indicated in the docket.

[SOURCE]