From the outside, the Colemans appeared to have it all.
Matthew Coleman, a handsome and athletic surfing instructor in Santa Barbara, radiated charm, while his wife, Abby, was a devoted stay-at-home mom and active churchgoer.
Together, they shared two young children—two-year-old Kaleo and ten-month-old Roxy.
Neighbors and friends saw a happy, close-knit family. Abby and Matthew seemed like a perfect match, living the life many would envy.
But behind the idyllic façade, the seeds of a terrifying tragedy were quietly taking root.
The Descent Into Conspiracy
Everything began to unravel in 2020, as the Covid pandemic forced families indoors and online.
During this time, Matthew became engrossed in a dark and twisted conspiracy theory.
He convinced himself he was battling a hidden network of pedophiles and satanic forces supposedly controlling America.
Abby listened to his fears but often expressed doubt.
She supported her husband, yet she never imagined how dangerously far his beliefs would escalate.
Matthew eventually became obsessed with the idea that his own children carried “serpent DNA,” a delusion that would lead him to commit an unthinkable act.
The Tragic Day
On August 9, 2021, as the family packed for a camping trip, Matthew allegedly loaded Kaleo and Roxy into his van and drove away without warning.
Authorities say he crossed into Mexico, checked into a resort hotel, ignored Abby’s frantic calls, and then took the children to a remote ranch, where he allegedly murdered them using a spearfishing gun.
Abby, devastated by the loss of her children, disappeared from public view shortly afterward.
She moved quietly to Texas to be closer to her family, changing back to her maiden name and retreating from the life she once knew.
A Mother’s Grief
“Grieving has been the hardest thing imaginable,” a family member shared.
Abby keeps her children’s memories close, storing photo albums and keeping their images on her phone lock screen.
While she mourns Kaleo and Roxy every day, she also grapples with her feelings for Matthew.
“She misses her children daily… but she also misses her husband,” the relative said.
Abby even keeps her wedding ring, occasionally wearing it as a connection to the life that was abruptly stolen from her.
Matthew Coleman’s Breakdown
Matthew’s descent into madness was fueled by QAnon conspiracy theories, claiming a secret elite controls the world.
His belief system became entwined with older, more bizarre conspiracies, including the idea that elites—and even his own children—were reptilian or demonic.
He told investigators that Kaleo and Roxy had inherited “serpent DNA” from Abby and that visions convinced him the only way to save the world was to kill them.
He has been held in a federal prison in southern California since the murders.
Court records paint a chilling picture of his mental state: diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, he spends most days staring at his cell wall, refusing communication except for basic needs, and engaging in severe self-harm.
Life Behind Bars
Coleman’s behavior in prison has escalated dramatically.
Reports describe him stripping naked to pray, diving into toilets, karate-chopping empty air, and repeatedly harming himself.
He has been placed under suicide watch, and in 2025, a judge ordered forced medication to try to restore him to sanity.
He currently receives a combination of ketamine, antipsychotics, and sedatives, but his condition remains unstable, preventing him from standing trial.
Federal Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo commented, “He is just floundering right now in prison, which isn’t helping anybody… Witnesses are getting cold. The situation is getting cold.”
Abby’s Struggle With the Past
Abby continues to navigate a complex mix of grief and confusion.
She acknowledges that while she loved Matthew, she doesn’t recognize the man who killed their children.
The family confirms she never believed the conspiracy theories entirely, even as she encouraged her husband’s ideas.
A week before the murders, court documents show Abby sent texts expressing support for Matthew’s worldview, but she never imagined it would put her children in harm’s way.
Now, she focuses on preserving the memories of Kaleo and Roxy while trying to make sense of the unimaginable.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Questions
Matthew Coleman has pleaded not guilty to the murders and faces the death penalty if convicted.
Abby supports the government’s efforts to medicate him in hopes of understanding why he committed the crime.
“She loves the Matthew she knew,” the family member said, “but she doesn’t know this man anymore.”
Meanwhile, Abby remains quietly rebuilding her life in Texas, holding onto memories of her children and the family she lost so suddenly.
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