*Fifteen years after the tragic death of “Diff’rent Strokes” star Gary Coleman, his ex-wife Shannon Price faces renewed scrutiny in A&E’s “Lie Detector: Truth or Deception,” premiering July 10 at 9 p.m. ET.
Per the news release, the two-hour special spotlights the controversial 2010 death of the famed actor, which has fueled years of speculation. Coleman’s ex-wife agreed to take a polygraph test to address persistent public suspicion regarding her potential involvement in his death, even though she was never charged in connection with it. The episode revisits the circumstances surrounding Coleman’s 2010 intracranial hemorrhage, which followed a fall in their Utah home, and explores whether Price has been misjudged by public opinion or whether the results raise new questions.
The couple, married in 2007 and divorced in 2008 but still cohabiting, faced a turbulent relationship, and Coleman’s death at age 42 was ruled accidental, with no charges filed against Price. As PEOPLE reports, during the polygraph exam, conducted by former FBI agent George Olivo, Price was questioned about whether she ever struck Coleman. She denied it, saying, “I would never hurt him in that manner or that sense, because his life was so fragile,” citing his congenital kidney defect. The results were inconclusive.
Olivo noted, “I’m not going to say that you passed that test, because you didn’t.” The second question probed whether Price intentionally withheld aid after Coleman’s fall. Her denial again yielded inconclusive results, prompting Olivo to remark, “That, statistically, raises a little bit of an eyebrow.”
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Price admitted, “As far as rendering aid, I could have helped him a little bit more,” but deflected, adding, “I will say, the operator could have helped as well a little bit by asking me more specific questions.” Olivo countered, “Forget the 911 operator, you were there. … You’re not the victim here, he’s the victim.”
The critical question—whether Price physically caused Coleman’s fall—produced a stark outcome: “deception indicated.”
Olivo stated, “You failed the exam regarding Gary’s fall,” concluding, “there is more to this story that hasn’t been told. The body never lies.” Price maintained, “I know where I’m at. I’m at peace,” insisting, “There is a reason I am not in prison.”
Olivo, however, pointed out, “there’s also a thing called lack of evidence,” adding, “you know exactly why you failed this test.” Price’s response—“And I figured it wouldn’t be”—suggested resignation, met with Olivo’s retort, “Because you already knew you were gonna fail, and you know why you did.”
The inconclusive and deceptive results leave questions unanswered, intensifying public curiosity about the circumstances of Coleman’s death.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Shannon Price Faces Polygraph in Gary Coleman Death Case on A&E’s ‘Lie Detector: Truth or Deception’
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