A jury in Whiteside County has found Steven Coleman, a man from Rock Falls, guilty of murder and arson in connection with a fire that resulted in the deaths of three individuals. Coleman was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated arson, and one count of residential arson.
The jury, composed of eight men and four women, began their deliberations shortly before 11 a.m. on Friday, following the closing arguments. The verdict was reached at approximately 2:15 p.m. Coleman faced severe charges, including three counts of aggravated arson, six counts of murder, and residential arson. These charges stemmed from the tragic deaths of 49-year-old Carrie Hose, 8-year-old Shayla Walker, and 13-year-old Celina Serrano.
The fatal fire, which occurred in June 2020, was set by Coleman at the Western Apartments on West 3rd Street in Sterling. According to prosecutors, the fire was started over a drug deal dispute. The trial saw both the prosecution and the defense presenting their cases by Thursday, but Coleman chose not to testify in his defense. Testimonies from witnesses began earlier in the week on Tuesday.
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The tragic incident has left a significant impact on the community, with the loss of three lives due to the fire’s devastating effects. As a result of the guilty verdict, Steven Coleman now faces the consequences of his actions, which have brought immense grief to the families of the victims.
