Newnan Woman Sentenced to Life for Husband’s Murder

NEWNAN, Ga.—A Coweta County jury has found a Newnan woman guilty of malice murder in the death of her husband, resulting in a sentence of life without parole.

Cheryl Howell Coe, 55, was found guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, and Aggravated Assault on August 18 after a weeklong trial. This was the second trial for Coe, as the first ended in a mistrial.

On June 23, 2021, Coe called 911, reporting that her husband, Luther “Luke” Lee Coe, III, had been shot and that her “gun went off by itself.” Deputies and EMS arrived at the home but Luke Coe was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators found that two bullets had been fired from a 9mm pistol that Coe kept by her bed. A medical examiner determined that the victim was shot in the armpit area at a downward angle, with the firearm pressed against his skin.

Throughout the investigation and both trials, Coe gave multiple inconsistent statements to law enforcement and to the jury. Her stories shifted from shooting an intruder to firing “warning shots” at her husband because she was scared of him. Text messages introduced as evidence showed the couple had been arguing for days. During the second trial, Coe admitted to lying to police and to the jury under oath.

The case was prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Office and investigated by the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office.