Chris Moore / Photo from Chicago Police
BY JORDAN OWEN
Sun-Times Media
A Far South Side man awaiting trail on a battery charge is now accused of stabbing a woman to death when she tried to leave a Roseland gathering with another man Saturday, prosecutors said.
Chris Moore, Janice Coleman and others spent Saturday morning drinking at an acquaintance’s home in a home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue, said Assistant State’s Attorney Enrique Abraham.
When the resident “passed out,” Coleman put her coat on to leave with another man at the gathering who she used to date, Abraham said.
Abraham claims Moore, 57, became upset and told Coleman, “You have been drinking with me all morning and you are going to leave with him, I don’t think so.”
Moore followed the pair downstairs, wedged himself between the two and shut the door behind the other man, Abraham said.
While outside, the other man heard Coleman say, “Quit playing Chris,” then multiple banging sounds, Abraham said. The other man waited outside for a few minutes, but when Coleman didn’t come out he assumed she decided to stay with Moore and went across the street, prosecutors said.
The next day, the resident who had passed out found Coleman, 48, lying in the fetal position against the front door with her coat still on, Abraham said. She had a stab wound to her right side, and two slash wounds and a puncture wound to the right side of her face, prosecutors said.
A Monday autopsy determined Coleman, of an unidentified home address, died of multiple stab wounds and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
When the other man learned Coleman was dead he immediately contacted police and told detectives what happened, Abraham said.
When Moore was arrested he still had blood on him and admitted to having a dating relationship with Coleman, but said she fell down the stairs and hit her head, Abraham said.
Janice Coleman / Photo from Chicago Police
Moore claimed he attempted to help Coleman, when she did not get up he left, Abraham said.
Detectives found a bloody 8-inch knife in the kitchen garbage where she was stabbed, Abraham said. They also found a bloody towel and cap, prosecutors said.
Moore, of the 11100 block of South Lowe Avenue, was charged with first-degree and Judge James Brown ordered him held on $1 million bond during a Tuesday court hearing.
Moore, who prosecutors said has a lengthy criminal history including felony convictions for domestic abuse, attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery, cares for his elderly mother and is currently on disability from “an attack on his life,” said Assistant Public Defender Kelly McCarthy.
She added that Moore is a veteran of the U.S. Marines and Air Force, where he was a paratrooper in the Vietnam War.
Moore will be back in court March 3.