Janice Coleman | Homicide Watch Chicago

Chris Moore gets 40 years for fatally stabbing his ex, Janice Coleman, after night of drinking in 2015

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 15:11:22 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Chris Moore | Illinois Dept. of Corrections

A Far South Side man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for stabbing Janice Coleman to death after a night of drinking in the Roseland neighborhood in 2015.

Chris Moore, 59, was found guilty of murder Dec. 12 after a bench trial before Cook County Judge Erica Reddick, according to Cook County court records.

Moore, Coleman and others spent the morning of Feb. 8, 2015, drinking at an acquaintance’s home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue, authorities said at the time.

When the resident “passed out,” Coleman put her coat on to leave with a man she used to date, authorities said.

Moore 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,” authorities said.

Janice Coleman | Facebook

Moore followed the pair downstairs, wedged himself in between them and shut the door behind the other man, authorities said.

The man outside heard Coleman say, “Quit playing Chris,” then multiple banging sounds, authorities said. He 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.

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, authorities 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.

An autopsy found Coleman died of multiple stab wounds and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

When the other man learned Coleman was dead, he contacted police and told detectives what happened, authorities 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, authorities said. He claimed he tried to help, but when she didn’t get up, he left.

Detectives found a bloody 8-inch knife in the kitchen garbage where she was stabbed, authorities said.

Moore had previously served a 10-year sentence for attempted armed robbery and a three-year sentence for aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.

Judge Reddick sentenced him to 40 years in prison on Jan. 19, according to court records. He will receive credit for 711 days served in the Cook County Jail.

He was booked into the Stateville Correctional Center to begin serving his sentence last week, according to IDOC records.

Family: Slain mother Janice Coleman, 48, would 'take you in with a smile and cook for you'

Michael Lansu — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:04:55 -0600

Janice Coleman / Submitted photo

BY CHANTELLE NAVARRO
Homicide Watch Chicago

Janice Coleman cared for more than her nine children and 24 grandchildren -- she also frequently helped relatives and neighbors, family said.

“If she wasn’t taking care of the kids, she was taking care of the elderly in our family,” said Coleman's niece, Dornise Pewett.

Coleman, 48, was stabbed to death during a Feb. 8 gathering inside a home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue in the Roseland community, authorities said.

Prosecutors claim 57-year-old Chris Moore fatally stabbed Coleman when she attempted to leave with another man. Moore is being held in Cook County Jail on $1 million bond while he awaits trial for murder.

Pewett described Coleman as a caring person who was always helping others.

“It didn’t matter if she didn’t know you. She would still take you in with a smile and cook for you,” Pewett said.

In addition to cooking, Coleman enjoyed telling stories with family members, dancing and braiding hair, Pewett said.

Coleman would always use a term of endearment towards others to make them feel loved, according to Pewett, who said the last time she spoke to Coleman she offered to do her hair.

“She had a gift with her hands,” Pewett said.

Pewett said Coleman would help people in the neighborhood who needed it most.

“She treated everyone equally,” Pewett said. “She didn’t see your handicap, she just saw you as a person.”

Assistant Public Defender Kelly McCarthy noted Coleman's alleged killer is a war veteran on disability from a previous “attack on his life.”

Prosecutors: Chris Moore fatally stabbed Janice Coleman when she tried to leave Roseland party with ex-boyfriend

Michael Lansu — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 16:32:05 -0600

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.

Janice Coleman, 48, fatally stabbed in Roseland

Michael Lansu — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:56:40 -0600

A 48-year-old woman was stabbed to death in the Roseland neighborhood Sunday.

Police found Janice Coleman dead inside a home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue about noon Sunday, authorities 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.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

WEEK IN REVIEW: Four killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 10:09:04 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Two people were shot to death, and two others were fatally stabbed, last week in Chicago.

Two more people also died last week from violent injuries suffered earlier this year, authorities said.

The most recent slaying happened when 13-year-old Anthony Diaz was fatally shot in the 6000 block of West Grand Avenue in the Belmont Cragin community, authorities said. Family said Diaz and his sisters had left their home to confront someone over Facebook posts.

Diaz, 2100 block of North McVicker Avenue, died less than an hour later at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

In the Roseland neighborhood, police found 48-year-old Janice Coleman stabbed to death inside a home in the 11300 block of South Parnell Avenue about noon Sunday, authorities said.

On Wednesday, 20-year-old Curtis Lyons was shot in the 3100 block of West 84th Place in the Ashburn community, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Lyons was part of a group hanging out in the basement of Joshua Poe's residence when Poe, who had been smoking synthetic marijuana earlier in the day, shot Lyons in the head.

Lyons, of the 8000 block of South Richmond Street, died at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. Another man, 19, was also wounded.

Poe was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, police said. He was ordered held without bond.

The killing started when 60-year-old Linda Sanders was found beaten and stabbed to death insider her Grand Boulevard home in the 400 block of East 48th Street about 8:45 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Prosecutors claimed Sanders' son, 40-year-old Dwight Brown, came over for dinner Sunday night and beat and stabbed his mother to death when her husband went to work for an overnight shift. Her body was found on the couple's 24th wedding anniversary.

Brown, of the 6200 block of South Dorchester Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery was ordered held without bond, authorities said.

Additionally, two people died last week from violent injuries suffered earlier in this year.

Kenneth Guise, 38, of Kaukauna, Wis., died Thursday night after being shot Jan. 29 during a party in the 11900 block of South Yale Avenue in the West Pullman neighborhood, authorities said.

Myron Collier, 24, of the 10000 block of South Pulaski Road, was also wounded in the shooting and died at the scene, authorities said.

Christopher Cage, 27, of the 300 block of West 109th Place, was initially charged with first-degree murder for Collier's death and attempted murder for shooting Guise, authorities said. He is currently being held without bond.

Cierra Moore died Monday night after being stabbed in a domestic fight at a Roseland gas station in the 10000 block of South Michigan Avenue Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Prosecutors claimed Moore's girlfriend, 23-year-old Eliza Roper, stabbed Moore during a fight at the gas station. Moore, 27, of Calumet City, was able to drive away, but was found unresponsive in the car about a block away, authorities said.

Roper, also of Calumet City, was charged with first-degree murder and was ordered held on $400,000 bond.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 35 Chicago deaths in 2015 a homicide.