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May God Have Mercy: A True Story of Crime and Punishment
In some states by law, in others by tradition, judges imposing a sentence of death complete the grim ritual with the words "May God have mercy on your soul."
In 1982, in Grundy, Virginia, a young miner named Roger Coleman was sentenced to death for the murder of his sister-in-law. Ten years later, the sentence was carried out, despite the extraordinary efforts of Kitty Behan, a brilliant and dedicated young lawyer who devoted two years of her life to gathering evidence of Coleman's innocence, evidence so compelling that media around the world came to question the verdict. The courts, ruling on technicalities, refused to hear the new evidence and witnesses. Finally, the governor of Virginia ordered a lie-detector test to be administered on the morning of Coleman's scheduled execution, and in a chair that to Coleman surely looked like nothing so much as an electric chair.
In John Tucker's telling, this story is an emotional and unforgettable roller-coaster ride from the awful night of the crime to the equally awful night of the execution. Perhaps it was not Roger Coleman whose soul was in need of God's mercy, but the judges, prosecutors, and politicians who procured his death.
In 1982, in Grundy, Virginia, a young miner named Roger Coleman was sentenced to death for the murder of his sister-in-law. Ten years later, the sentence was carried out, despite the extraordinary efforts of Kitty Behan, a brilliant and dedicated young lawyer who devoted two years of her life to gathering evidence of Coleman's innocence, evidence so compelling that media around the world came to question the verdict. The courts, ruling on technicalities, refused to hear the new evidence and witnesses. Finally, the governor of Virginia ordered a lie-detector test to be administered on the morning of Coleman's scheduled execution, and in a chair that to Coleman surely looked like nothing so much as an electric chair.
In John Tucker's telling, this story is an emotional and unforgettable roller-coaster ride from the awful night of the crime to the equally awful night of the execution. Perhaps it was not Roger Coleman whose soul was in need of God's mercy, but the judges, prosecutors, and politicians who procured his death.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
15 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
John C. Tucker
5 books1 followerJohn C. Tucker is a retired criminal lawyer who studied at Princeton University and the University of Michigan Law School. He practiced at Jenner and Block and was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1974. His debut book, May God Have Mercy, critically examines the conviction and execution of Roger Coleman, raising powerful questions about justice and the death penalty.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 7, 2014
I still give this book five stars in spite of developments in the case since the book was written, although I would emphasize that readers must seek out this new information once they've read the book so that they will have a complete picture of the case. (Google should provide all the needed answers.) If this book was fascinating read before, it is still fascinating now, although for other reasons. Lots to think about and discuss here. We have to question what we are willing to believe and why, and never lose sight of the victim in cases like this.
March 29, 2022
This was quite a ride. I thought it was about a different case when I sent for it, and I was surprised and pleased to realize there was a whole book about the hideous murder of Wanda McCoy. Even though I knew exactly how it would all come out (the truth was revealed only long after the book ended), I was still drawn into the story and could easily see how this case tore apart everyone involved on both sides of the case, to say nothing of the general public. Well-written, compassionate and very unbiased despite the fact that most of the story was told from the defense perspective. Don't miss this one.
September 4, 2015
The most riveting, gut wrenching, emotional book I've ever read. By far, my all time favorite. The beginning has a lot of characters and some have the same name so it can be a bit tricky to follow, for this reason there is a separate guide to help. The last half is an emotional roller coaster ride. Once you get the beginning all established and the roller coaster starts, clear your schedule because you'll stay up all night to finish. I'm so grateful John C Tucker knew that this story needed to be told. It definitely did and he was the man for the job. A clear, understandable voice to such an important true story that will leave you feeling the same fire and passion for this story you know the author still has.
October 4, 2024
Let me begin my review noting that I (re)read this book in 2024 - 43 years after Wanda Fay McCoy was sexually assaulted and murdered, 32 years after Roger Keith Coleman was executed, and 18 years after retested DNA evidence conclusively proved that he did in fact murder his teenage sister-in-law despite his unwavering claims of innocence.
It's clear from the beginning of May God Have Mercy that the author believes Roger is innocent and this book is an attempt to posthumously continue Roger's false narrative of innocence. Just as those who believed in Roger's innocence claimed the police and prosecutors had tunnel vision, created false narratives, and ignored or fabricated evidence/witness testimonies, John C. Tucker, Jim McCloskey and Kitty Behan (who I'll refer to as "Roger's team) fell into the same psychological entrapment of bias towards Roger. While not 100% conclusive, the DNA evidence tested as a part of Roger's trial in the 80s concluded that Roger was a part of the 0.2% of the population who could have the combination of blood type and alleles found on Wanda's body. The state DNA examiner found two sets of DNA, which his team says proved his innocence, instead of maybe the fact that Roger had an accomplice. Roger had a history of sexual depravity. This book made no effort to interview the victims of Roger's earlier crimes and at times, glossed over or entirely left out pieces of evidence against Roger. Roger's team discounted eye witnesses from Roger's earlier sexual crimes, yet hailed their own eye witnesses "proving" Roger's innocence as completely honest and accurate with no flaws or reasons to lie. This book at times went too far and came off as conspiratorial. Roger's team should have known he wasn't innocent when he made the outlandish claim that a female prison guard was sent by the State to have sex with him in order to collect his DNA and frame him ... almost as if Roger knew his DNA would be positively identified if more sophisticated testing was done. Kitty Behan proved overzealous and completely inappropriate in her pursuit to fight for the perceived justice of Roger Coleman. So inappropriate in fact that she and the law firm she was working for were sued by Wanda's neighbor, who they stated as fact was the real killer of Wanda McCoy with less than impressive evidence. Kitty's commitment to her client went far beyond what is appropriate for an attorney/client relationship. Roger's team ponders how in the world someone as intellectual, calm and soft-spoken as Roger Coleman could have committed such a heinous crime, never stopping to think that just maybe someone such as Roger could use his intellect to leave little trace of his crime and then manipulate those around him in to believing his claims of innocence. I could go on and on. An unintended interesting aspect of this novel is showing just how hypocritical human beings can be. There appears to be little self-reflection from Roger's team throughout their journey. This book proves that no one - not even top attorneys - are prone from extreme biases, manipulation, and hypocrisy. Despite his claims, Roger was never a victim - a young woman with her entire life ahead of her and a loving family was. Wanda Fay McCoy was sexually assaulted and murdered by someone I can only assume she loved and trusted. Her story and life felt lost in this novel.
That being said, despite Roger Coleman being a lying manipulator and murdered, this book is a fantastic representation of just how complex and difficult capital cases are. I first read this book my freshman year of college for a criminal justice class. The point of reading the book was not necessarily to discuss the ethics of the death penalty or Roger's innocence, but rather showing the process of a capital case from crime to death and everything in between. John C. Tucker's attention to detail was impressive. He made the complexities of this capital case easy to follow. This was a made-for-television story, it had everything: small coal mining town in Appalachia, SCOTUS review, claims of innocence, an anonymous letter, suspicious deaths, corrupt police, appeals, and so much more. The author need not dramatize any aspect of this case. Just because DNA evidence conclusively proved that Roger was guilty, it does not mean that he necessarily got a fair trial. He had subpar representation at his trial and the state actors were unscrupulous and had questionable motives. This case shows how police departments and state prosecutors can be one track minded and ignore or under investigate other leads. I will say, after my first reading of the book, I too believed that there was a good chance of Roger being innocent. Wanda's neighbors should have been subject to the same level of investigation as Roger - unless the author conveniently left out the police's investigation of the neighbors, of course!
Overall, this book is a fascinating read. All humans - police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, coal miners in Appalachia, everyone - are fallible and subject to the same biases and hypocrisies that we often accuse others of having. This book should not be taken at face value, which I think is one of the lessons I'm leaving the second reading with. I really hope that all those on Roger's team have found a way to make peace with this time in their lives. I can only image how used, manipulated and guilty they felt for many years after learning of his conclusive guilt. They all really convinced themselves of Roger's innocence, just as I suspect Roger blocked out the murder and convinced himself of the same. It's quite astonishing how if this same murder occurred within the past 20 years, there would be no question of Roger's guilt. I imagine that I'll go back to reread this book more times throughout my life.
It's clear from the beginning of May God Have Mercy that the author believes Roger is innocent and this book is an attempt to posthumously continue Roger's false narrative of innocence. Just as those who believed in Roger's innocence claimed the police and prosecutors had tunnel vision, created false narratives, and ignored or fabricated evidence/witness testimonies, John C. Tucker, Jim McCloskey and Kitty Behan (who I'll refer to as "Roger's team) fell into the same psychological entrapment of bias towards Roger. While not 100% conclusive, the DNA evidence tested as a part of Roger's trial in the 80s concluded that Roger was a part of the 0.2% of the population who could have the combination of blood type and alleles found on Wanda's body. The state DNA examiner found two sets of DNA, which his team says proved his innocence, instead of maybe the fact that Roger had an accomplice. Roger had a history of sexual depravity. This book made no effort to interview the victims of Roger's earlier crimes and at times, glossed over or entirely left out pieces of evidence against Roger. Roger's team discounted eye witnesses from Roger's earlier sexual crimes, yet hailed their own eye witnesses "proving" Roger's innocence as completely honest and accurate with no flaws or reasons to lie. This book at times went too far and came off as conspiratorial. Roger's team should have known he wasn't innocent when he made the outlandish claim that a female prison guard was sent by the State to have sex with him in order to collect his DNA and frame him ... almost as if Roger knew his DNA would be positively identified if more sophisticated testing was done. Kitty Behan proved overzealous and completely inappropriate in her pursuit to fight for the perceived justice of Roger Coleman. So inappropriate in fact that she and the law firm she was working for were sued by Wanda's neighbor, who they stated as fact was the real killer of Wanda McCoy with less than impressive evidence. Kitty's commitment to her client went far beyond what is appropriate for an attorney/client relationship. Roger's team ponders how in the world someone as intellectual, calm and soft-spoken as Roger Coleman could have committed such a heinous crime, never stopping to think that just maybe someone such as Roger could use his intellect to leave little trace of his crime and then manipulate those around him in to believing his claims of innocence. I could go on and on. An unintended interesting aspect of this novel is showing just how hypocritical human beings can be. There appears to be little self-reflection from Roger's team throughout their journey. This book proves that no one - not even top attorneys - are prone from extreme biases, manipulation, and hypocrisy. Despite his claims, Roger was never a victim - a young woman with her entire life ahead of her and a loving family was. Wanda Fay McCoy was sexually assaulted and murdered by someone I can only assume she loved and trusted. Her story and life felt lost in this novel.
That being said, despite Roger Coleman being a lying manipulator and murdered, this book is a fantastic representation of just how complex and difficult capital cases are. I first read this book my freshman year of college for a criminal justice class. The point of reading the book was not necessarily to discuss the ethics of the death penalty or Roger's innocence, but rather showing the process of a capital case from crime to death and everything in between. John C. Tucker's attention to detail was impressive. He made the complexities of this capital case easy to follow. This was a made-for-television story, it had everything: small coal mining town in Appalachia, SCOTUS review, claims of innocence, an anonymous letter, suspicious deaths, corrupt police, appeals, and so much more. The author need not dramatize any aspect of this case. Just because DNA evidence conclusively proved that Roger was guilty, it does not mean that he necessarily got a fair trial. He had subpar representation at his trial and the state actors were unscrupulous and had questionable motives. This case shows how police departments and state prosecutors can be one track minded and ignore or under investigate other leads. I will say, after my first reading of the book, I too believed that there was a good chance of Roger being innocent. Wanda's neighbors should have been subject to the same level of investigation as Roger - unless the author conveniently left out the police's investigation of the neighbors, of course!
Overall, this book is a fascinating read. All humans - police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, coal miners in Appalachia, everyone - are fallible and subject to the same biases and hypocrisies that we often accuse others of having. This book should not be taken at face value, which I think is one of the lessons I'm leaving the second reading with. I really hope that all those on Roger's team have found a way to make peace with this time in their lives. I can only image how used, manipulated and guilty they felt for many years after learning of his conclusive guilt. They all really convinced themselves of Roger's innocence, just as I suspect Roger blocked out the murder and convinced himself of the same. It's quite astonishing how if this same murder occurred within the past 20 years, there would be no question of Roger's guilt. I imagine that I'll go back to reread this book more times throughout my life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2021
A thoughtful and very thorough look at a man set for execution who never stops claiming that he is innocent. The dedication and work on stopping his execution by a team of lawyers who believe him is amazing. I recommend this book to all that are interested in what happens after the trial of a capital crime.
September 24, 2011
It really made me think about the death penalty and what it meant in terms of justice. Is killing someone really the best way to achieve the "peace" that justice brings? I still believe in some cases, the death penalty is more than necessary, but this book made me second guess a court's idea of what an "innocent man" is and what a "guilty man" is. I highly recommend the book to people who like true crime stories and are interested in the death penalty.
September 27, 2019
Well written with occasionally significant bias from the author on points which should have made him doubt Coleman’s innocence. The book is increasingly intriguing given the DNA update from 2006.
January 26, 2024
I am a die-hard fan of books on serial killing cases and have read the dozens of books released on their crimes and legal cases from the early seventies until the early nineties.
From hands on killers like the Zodiac and Night Stalker to self-proclaimed self-taught mentalists like Charles Manson who caused others to kill for him, I have delved deeply into the fascinating world of human killers and the legal aspects following their capture. My descent into this fascination with the macabre ended with the mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer, whose notoriety and ghastly evil deeds ended my search for answers into the human soul by 1994.
I thought I had thoroughly plumbed the depths of human depravity until I bought a copy of "May God Have Mercy" in 2015. This cannot-put-down, soup to nuts book about an Appalachian murder is one of my recommendations to hardcore real life murder stories! I beg you to read it, form your opinion, THEN research the latest findings on this case.
Perhaps you will find that there are countless little questions that add up to heart-rending truths about murder cases and the legal system does little to answer these questions in a truly satisfying way.
From hands on killers like the Zodiac and Night Stalker to self-proclaimed self-taught mentalists like Charles Manson who caused others to kill for him, I have delved deeply into the fascinating world of human killers and the legal aspects following their capture. My descent into this fascination with the macabre ended with the mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer, whose notoriety and ghastly evil deeds ended my search for answers into the human soul by 1994.
I thought I had thoroughly plumbed the depths of human depravity until I bought a copy of "May God Have Mercy" in 2015. This cannot-put-down, soup to nuts book about an Appalachian murder is one of my recommendations to hardcore real life murder stories! I beg you to read it, form your opinion, THEN research the latest findings on this case.
Perhaps you will find that there are countless little questions that add up to heart-rending truths about murder cases and the legal system does little to answer these questions in a truly satisfying way.
April 29, 2019
I was required to read this book fora political science class regarding the law and let me just say that "required readings" intimidate me as an active reader. I love being motivated to read but not forced; however, despite my unwillingness to start the book, I had a hard time putting it down. Thought-provoking, insightful, and tear jerking, I was rooting for the defense and Roger Coleman the entire time. I am aware of the recent DNA findings conducted in 2006 or soo that declared his guilt, but I don't know, something doesn't sit right. What's done is done, but I can't help but wonder.....
Either way, if you're a true crime fan, I recommend this. Additionally, if you're required to read this in a course have no fear. What an intriguing true story from start to finish. Best to the families involved in this horrible crime, no matter the guilty party.
Either way, if you're a true crime fan, I recommend this. Additionally, if you're required to read this in a course have no fear. What an intriguing true story from start to finish. Best to the families involved in this horrible crime, no matter the guilty party.
November 28, 2025
I followed the news stories about Roger Coleman in 1992, shortly before his execution, and at the time I didn't think he was guilty. Much of the evidence presented in the media seemed kind of iffy and I suspected that Douglas Wilder (who at that time was Virginia's governor) wanted the execution carried out because he was running for the Democratic nomination for president and wanted to appear tough on crime. Well, in 2006, DNA testing had come a long way from where it was in the 1990s. Some of Coleman's sperm had been preserved and was tested, and it showed that he was, in fact, guilty. Despite that, this book still makes for compelling reading (it was published years before the new DNA test came out) if you like true crime stories.
April 27, 2022
A very engaging, nail biting true story! I started the book not knowing the outcome and boy was I in for a surprise! Lots of interesting people and a very detailed process of a trial and conviction.
After finishing the book, which was published in 1997, I looked to see if there were any updates given the advances in DNA we know have. That was ALSO a surprise.
Very good story if you like true crime!
After finishing the book, which was published in 1997, I looked to see if there were any updates given the advances in DNA we know have. That was ALSO a surprise.
Very good story if you like true crime!
September 27, 2020
Interesting story that was clearly written before Governor Warner authorized DNA testing. I thought the proceedings and appeal process in Virginia were fascinating and highlights current problems with the Virginia criminal justice system.
January 29, 2026
Nothing like another book to make you hate the justice system. It is hard to fathom the number of people who were sent to the electric chair who were innocent. I didn’t know anything about this case before reading it, and I really thought it was going to end another way. Tears were shed.
May 18, 2021
Thrilling and also sad.
January 7, 2024
Don't care what evidence Warner allowed after the fact. NO lawyer or politician asks a question they do not already have an answer for. I think whatever Oxley gave them was tampered with afterward.
November 13, 2025
I have never been so aggravated or distressed by a book in my entire life.
May 1, 2012
In a word: creepy. I know, why would I expect otherwise? This non-fiction book follows the conviction of Roger Keith Coleman for the murder and rape of his sister-in-law. He is given the death penalty and the book explores efforts by various people, from lawyers to people working to free innocent inmates, to commute his sentence to life or prove his innocence entirely. The author (who was once a defense attorney) takes the view that Coleman could be innocent, but at the very least that if he had had better lawyers at his original trial that they may have been able to convince the jury of reasonable doubt. The crime was committed in 1981, so the DNA testing that was available at the time was not nearly as sophisticated as it is now. The book was published in 1992 and there have been new developments in the case since the book was published. I would recommend reading most or all of the book before looking up the more recent developments, so that you can explore the evidence and progression of the story as it unfolded.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2017
I read this book for my Law class, and I am so glad that I did. Such a fascinating book. I love even more that it's non-fictional. It brings light to the legal system and aspects of it that needn't be overlooked. I was so intrigued throughout the story, and actually bawled at the end. I recommend not looking up anything about the case until after you've finished the book. It's gut wrenching, heartbreaking and emotional. 5 stars.
November 14, 2008
One of the best books I have ever read! I have read it twice and getting ready to read it again. This was a required reading in one of my undergrad criminology classes. An amazing story of the injustice of our legal system!
January 5, 2009
A haunting tale of how the American criminal justice system can go oh so wrong.
August 10, 2015
I read this in law school. It was eye-opening.
January 27, 2019
A gripping story - that era makes you think and feel. I read it a decade ago - but the story stuck so well I literally googled the plot to find the right book. It’s one of those stories you remember for life - but also because it’s written very well without any extra fluff or confusing parallels.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews