Fifteen years after the death of Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman, his ex-wife Shannon Price is stepping into the spotlight once again to clear her name. Amid persistent public speculation regarding her involvement in Coleman’s 2010 death, Price voluntarily participated in a polygraph test as part of A&E’s upcoming series Lie Detector: Truth or Deception.
Despite maintaining her innocence throughout the years, Price acknowledged the personal toll the scrutiny has taken on her and expressed hope that the lie detector test would offer her a chance to be seen in a new light.
Controversy Lingers Over Coleman’s Death and Price’s Actions After the Tragic Fall
Price and Coleman had a brief marriage in 2007 and continued cohabitating after their divorce. In May 2010, Coleman suffered a fatal fall at their Utah home, leading to an intracranial hemorrhage. Price claimed to have found him bleeding on the floor and called 911. However, controversy arose when the 911 call revealed her reluctance to follow emergency instructions.
Two days later, she made the decision to remove Coleman from life support. Although Coleman’s death was ruled accidental and Price was never charged, her actions have remained under public scrutiny.
Polygraph Raises Questions as Shannon Price Tries to Clear Her Name After 15 YearsFormer FBI agent George Olivo conducted the polygraph, taking multiple steps to ensure accuracy, including independent verifications. Three specific questions were asked: whether Price ever struck Coleman, whether she withheld aid after his fall, and whether she caused the fall. The results for the first two questions were inconclusive.
Though Price denied harming Coleman or failing to help him adequately, Olivo pointed out inconsistencies and noted the emotional weight she carried regarding the events, potentially affecting the results.
Polygraph Reveals Deception, Leaving Gary Coleman’s Death Shrouded in Doubt and Suspicion
The third question—whether Price physically caused Coleman’s fall—yielded the most definitive result: deception was indicated. Olivo firmly concluded that Price failed that part of the test and suggested that she had not been entirely honest during the process.
He emphasized that while lack of evidence may have prevented legal action, the polygraph results revealed deeper truths. Price, however, dismissed the results by attributing them to the fallibility of the machine and reiterated her belief that she had been thoroughly investigated and exonerated.
Despite her insistence on innocence and emotional resolve, Price was challenged directly by Olivo, who maintained that she knew why she failed the test. The episode leaves viewers with more questions than answers, emphasizing the emotional complexity and unresolved nature of the case. With Lie Detector: Truth or Deception set to air on July 10, the episode promises to reignite public debate over the circumstances surrounding Gary Coleman’s tragic death and Shannon Price’s contested role in it.