WISE — The identity of one of two homicide victims who were recovered two weeks ago from a makeshift grave in Wise County has been confirmed by state forensic authorities in Roanoke.
Sources said the body has been identified as suspect Mark Edward Coleman's stepmother, Sharon Coleman.
In a four-count indictment handed down Aug. 15 by a Wise County grand jury, Mark Coleman, 39, 8320 Crabtree Road, was charged with two counts of capital murder, one count of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one count of abduction involving the disappearances of Sharon Coleman and Mark Coleman's father, Robert Coleman.
The abduction charge leveled against Mark Coleman involves Sharon Coleman, and the firearms charge involves Robert Coleman.
Virginia State Police and Wise County Sheriff's Office investigators found a makeshift grave two weeks ago following an investigation of about a month into the whereabouts of Robert and Sharon Coleman, both 62.
Forensic specialists have been working to identify the two bodies found in the grave, which was located at the family home in the Duncan Gap section of Wise County, northeast of Wise.
Forensic specialists confirmed the identification of the female victim found in the makeshift grave is Sharon Coleman. Confirmation of an identification of the male recovered from the grave awaits further investigation and testing.
Mark Coleman remains incarcerated in the regional jail in Duffield without bond.