Illinois man charged with strangling wife, 2 kids

A southwestern Illinois man was expected to plead not guilty to using a cord to strangle his wife and two children earlier this month.

Chris Coleman, 32, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, accused of using a ligature to kill his wife Sheri Coleman, 31, and her two sons, Garett, 11, and 9-year-old Gavin.

Their bodies were found May 5 at the family's home in Columbia, just south of St. Louis.

Coleman, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit with his arms shackled to his waist, refused to answer reporters' questions as police escorted him Tuesday night. He was being held without bond.

Defense attorney William Margulis said his …