Matthew Taylor Coleman, a surf instructor from California, is facing serious legal issues after being accused of killing his young children in Mexico. A recent report reveals that Coleman is currently considered incompetent to stand trial and has been exhibiting erratic behavior while in custody.
According to the New York Post, the 43-year-old appears “nearly incomprehensible” and is unable to effectively participate in his own defense. His attorneys have until February 18 to propose a treatment plan for him, as required by court documents. It has been reported that Coleman has harmed himself multiple times while in jail, including cutting and punching himself.
The presiding judge, Cathy Ann Bencivengo, has stated she will not grant additional extensions for Coleman’s defense team to respond to treatment options from the federal Bureau of Prisons.
Coleman is accused of using a spearfishing gun to kill his 2-year-old son, Kaleo, and 10-month-old daughter, Roxy, in August 2021. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Authorities say Coleman took his children from their home in Santa Barbara into Mexico, where the alleged killings occurred on a ranch two days later. The bodies of the children were discovered shortly after by a farmer.
His wife, Abby, reportedly believed Coleman was influenced by conspiracy theories, as he suspected that their children carried “serpent DNA” and needed to be killed to save the world. She reported them missing, which led to Coleman’s arrest when he attempted to return to the United States.
Coleman was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2021, and following a psychological evaluation, he was deemed incompetent to stand trial in October 2023. Federal prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty in this case. As of now, Coleman’s attorneys have not commented on the situation.
