WATERLOO, Ill. (AP) - A southwestern Illinois man accused of strangling his wife and two sons is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing.
Wednesday's hearing is for 32-year-old Christopher Coleman of Columbia.
He's charged with first-degree murder in the May 5 deaths of 31-year-old Sheri Coleman and the couple's children, 11-year-old Garett and 9-year-old Gavin.
Investigators contend Coleman carefully planned the killings.
He's accused of sending threatening notes to himself in the months beforehand, then spray-painting vulgar messages on the home's walls as the stalker-killer's supposed calling card.
Coleman claims someone else killed his family while he was working out at a gym.
Police haven't discussed a motive for the killings.
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