Edhat Staff
Update by the edhat staff
August 12, 2021
New updates have been released regarding the Santa Barbara surf school instructor who killed his young children in Mexico earlier this week.
Matthew Taylor Coleman, 40, confessed to killing his children because he believed they were “going to grow into monsters so he had to kill them,” according to the affidavit.
Coleman explained to authorities that he was “enlightened by QAnon and Illuminati conspiracy theories and was receiving visions and signs revealing that his wife… possessed serpent DNA and had passed it onto his children.” He believed he was saving the world from monsters, the affidavit states.
When asked if he knew what he was doing was wrong, Coleman stated he did but it was the only course of action that would save the world.
The full affidavit is available to view here. [Warning: the contents of the affidavit include graphic content]
Update by the Department of Justice
August 11, 2021
A Santa Barbara man was charged today with taking his two young children to Rosarito, Mexico and killing them.
Matthew Taylor Coleman, 40, allegedly killed the 2-year-old boy and 10-month-old girl on Monday. A federal criminal complaint filed today charges Coleman with foreign murder of United States nationals.
Coleman is expected to make his initial court appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
An affidavit in support of the criminal complaint outlines the investigation that started on Saturday when Coleman’s wife contacted the Santa Barbara Police to report that her husband had left the couple’s residence in a Sprinter van and she did not know where they had gone.
The next day, Coleman’s wife filed a missing persons report. Using a computer application, Coleman’s wife was able to determine that Coleman’s phone had been in Rosarito on Sunday afternoon, the affidavit states.
The same phone-locating service was used on Monday and showed that Coleman’s phone was near the San Ysidro Port of Entry at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the affidavit. The FBI dispatched colleagues in San Diego to contact Coleman, who entered the United States in the Sprinter van without the children. When the children were not found, FBI agents contacted law enforcement officials in Rosarito and learned that Mexican authorities that morning had recovered the bodies of two children matching the description of Coleman’s children.
After further investigation, FBI agents took Coleman into custody.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI, United States Customs and Border Protection, the Santa Barbara Police Department, and the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Municipal de Rosarito are investigating this matter. The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office provided substantial assistance throughout the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Joanna Curtis, Chief of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, are prosecuting this case.
Update by edhat staff
August 10, 2021
A Santa Barbara surf school instructor is accused of killing his two young children in Mexico.
Matthey Taylor Coleman, 40 of Santa Barbara, was arrested by Mexican authorities as he attempted to re-enter the United States’ southern border.
The Baja California State Attorney General’s Office held a press conference on Tuesday stating the bodies of two children, ages 1 and 3, found Monday morning at a ranch near Rosarito, Mexico. The children are believed to have died from stab wounds, one was stabbed 12 times and the other 17 times.
Mexican authorities discovered camera footage from a hotel showing the children’s father, who they believe to be Coleman, leaving the hotel around 3:00 a.m. Monday with the children. Cameras also showed him return alone around 6:00 a.m.
Santa Barbara Police confirmed taking a missing person’s report on Sunday from a woman who stated her husband and two children had been missing for approximately 24 hours. Officers determined the father and children had possibly traveled to Mexico and the case was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
It’s believed Coleman is the owner of LoveWater Surf School in Santa Barbara with his wife. The company’s website states Coleman was born in Santa Barbara, received his Master’s Degree from UC Santa Barbara, and spent ten years directing a local non-profit before opening the surf school.
Mexican officials are working to charge and convict Coleman in Mexico where he can face between 60-120 years in prison.
Source: Santa Barbara Police Department
August 10, 2021
On August 8, 2021, the Santa Barbara Police Department took three missing persons reports from a mother, who indicated her husband and children have been missing for approximately 24 hours. The mother was concerned for the well-being of her husband and their two children.
During the investigation, Santa Barbara Police obtained evidence that the father and the two children had possibly traveled to Mexico.
Santa Barbara Police have been working directly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Border Patrol regarding this investigation. Because this investigation potentially involved the jurisdiction of another country, the FBI is the lead investigating agency.
This is an active FBI investigation.
Me too! Pious scum bags
Men commit such heinous acts to get revenge…they know that nothing will hurt/destroy a woman more than the death of her children.Such men are reprehensible, without the strength of character to deal with complications of a relationship. I pray mom Abby is surrounded by loving support .
Women commit the same acts for thr same reasons. All heart breaking….
What would possess a person to commit such a heinous and deliberate crime? I actually worked with his guy about six years ago. He was always smiling and had a wholesome, smooth demeanor. But, his smiles were superficial. He was actually shifty and difficult to get to know. So, there you are. Now, his wife has to endure the nightmare of loosing her children and somehow move forward with her life. All horribly sad.
I thought Mexico was going to keep him here comes the Mental illness defense..Now he will be pampered the rest of his life in America..
Did u ever think that it could be someone else. It said that could possibly be Mr Coleman. It seems werid he go to Mexico and how would the mom not have tabs on her man or kids um cause I know I know what my child is doing at all times. Something doesn’t seem right. Also from their website looks like he really loves his kids. Anyways I do pray for the mother and the pain she is going thur. Strength and comfort.
Chalk more tragic deaths to those who buy into the Big Lie. Plenty of triggers for those with mental health issues.
Christian zeal, QAnon and Illuminati conspiracies are all things that have been attributed to this man. So sad but should add to the ongoing wake up call of the dangers of these individuals.
I am not buying his reasons for doing this…
Think money problems, marriage problems?
Probably has rich parents, want him in a mental ward, not a jail.
She told investigators she didn’t believe the children were in any danger and didn’t think he would harm his children. How could she not know her own husband was a nut job?
Christian, Muslim, any religion, Black, White, Brown, Atheist, Backpacker… has nothing to do with this tragedy – it’s mental illness, people from all walks of life and beliefs live with this illness, just as many live with depression…
Anti-Christian rhetoric, or opportunistic slamming of him (“these people” or anyone) because he happened to be, or say he was a Christian is useless. And no, I don’t feel “the victim”, but I do feel the sadness, and love that we need to have for the grieving mother, family and friends… Give the hate a rest people, and thank you.
Evangelical Christian tied into Q’Anon. Sounds like a lot of Birther/Big Lie Republicans. I wonder if he was at the Capitol on January 6th.
GT- seriously… Must you take every post too far…?
I keep reading the words:
Insane, mental, crazy, etc.
Yes, it sounds like only a “crazy” person would commit such a crime..
but—-ANY example of planning, such as buying airplane tickets, cleaning products, anything..falls under
“Pre-meditation”.
@ SBSAND :
Fully agree with your analysis. @Fleck : please STOP making excuses for monsters like him !
Awful news. The guy seems very self absorbed. His surfing website home page is all about him.
You can give the hate a rest but your not my mommy. I will continue to feel the way I like.
Until now, I’ve always opposed the death penalty.
Mexico won’t extradite him back to the USA when it is a capital offense, so he will rot in a Mexican jail until the other prisoners take him out. In those jails if you don’t have outside support you don’t eat well or have any privileges, and a “man” who murdered his own children will find a shank. As he deserves. Maybe a wooden stake, as he apparently used to kill the children.
This is pure insanity. There is no answer. There is no logic. There is no reason. It is insane and it is incredibly awful and so very sad. So to the EdHat Peanut Gallery: Keep your opinions and your ideas to yourself. No one cares what you think about this situation. No one.
What a freak. He added a photo of his family to his business website last March then slaughtered them 5 months later.
As it turns out, this murderer actually fits a psychological “type”; the coupled-father. His wife may be lucky she’s still alive.
“COUPLED FATHER
Statistically fathers who are still in the family unit who kill their children are more likely to have a criminal history.
Kills multiple family members and his wife or partner is often in danger of also being killed.
Kills by stabbing or inflicting head or spinal injuries.
Please keep him in Mexico other wise these American head shrinkers will get ahold of him say he is insane put diapers on him bottle feed him thorzine and let him out in 10 years to do it again..The Peanut Gallery is entitled to their blessed opinions too..
I agree with what Shorebird said. This rage was directed at someone else, probably the wife. This was not a gentle way to kill these poor babies.
I have a criminal history but I fit the profile of a serial killer..
Hola, Just read that today thanks for posting. A couple of questions…how many more like him are out there and what about the wife…was she intended to be the next victim or was she part of it ? Beyond disturbing.
Not everyone is wired to automatically assume the worst of everyone. Especially the father of your children, who you once loved, at least a little. It can lead to tragic consequences but would you rather live your life assuming the worst of everyone? That would be a lonely existence.
It is in the realm of probability that he was returning to kill his wife, then he would be free , to start a new life…IF he got a trial in the USA…after a bit of jail time….he.coukd plead temporary insanity due to Q’Anon brainwashing Since he seems to have rather quickly adopted an extremely bizaar belief, one has to wonder….is he very clever or a true believer , and throwing his Christian faith under the bus? I don’t think he suddenly became schizophrenic. The Q”Anon followers I know are fervent about spreading the word and, so, it would be odd that he would keep his “beliefs” about it a secret…just doesn’t fit a real Q adherent’s profile.
You must be a Hedge Fund manager…. I work for people that are middle class, or used to be. For you to not be exposed to that…..? Tells me you’re wealthy, and have no clue. I lived in Hope Ranch during my life. Get a grip…. Middle Class is having mental health issues. Take that to the bank. Be kind to people.
Edhat commenters don’t need to be judge and jury. Insanity pleas are much more complicated than you imply.
Mental Health Inc. Just like Homeless Inc…
So the New York times are experts on brain washing now too Wow they have come along way I call B.S. On this who thing it is on the killer no one else. When he felt himself slipping he should have got help that is what people do I had alot of things happen too me as a kid and I took a life in self defense and turned myself in for it. I was very angry for many years and thought about hurting others for what happened to me then one day I realized no one deserved my anger I went and got help. I went to MENTAL HEALTH and got help got a therapist, signed myself into Cottage I even told a police officer I wanted to kill someone I got help. You don’t kill someone first then ask for help..I know mental health helps but it’s your responsibility to get help before something bad happens. It bothers me that people who commit serious crimes are considered mentally ill and are becoming not at fault for committing crimes. Sex offenders are considered mentally ill these days there are half way houses in neighborhoods where potential victims live near some of these places.. I had the traits to become a serial killer I wasn’t joking before that could happen I got help. Everyone feels themselves slipping before the shit hits the fan weather it be a medical issue or a physical issue DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. I’m sorry about some of my crappy comments but it aggravates me to see some people getting off easy. YOU DO THE CRIME YOU DO THE TIME .
DUKE, you always have to reply if someone puts anything remotely anti-conservative up here. Take a good hard look at the party you align yourself with. Wack jobs, liars, grifters, conspiracy theory pushers, anti-vaxxers…. all of them yelling loudly as the ship sinks. Enough already!
BigUgly – Actually I go out of my way to point out the problems inherent to people who fanatically follow the far left or the far right. That truly is the problem with our country and society…both fringes religiously and blindly follow their party. As you point out (unironically) about aligning with wack jobs, liars, grifters and conspiracy theory pushers…that truly and completely defines both parties.
Enough already is right!!! Stop with the blind following of the far left and the far right. So yes, when someone commits an unconscionable crime and then someone pops up and “wonders” if that person was at the Capital on January 6th, they deserve (the very mild) comment I made (“must you take every post too far”).
Bigugly – I don’t know much about Q, but what have they done to our nation?