In 2021, Matthew Taylor Coleman, a 40-year-old American, was living a life that seemed perfect to everyone. He owned a surf school in Santa Barbara, California, and was married to Abby, with whom he had two children: Kaleo, a two-year-old boy, and Roxy, a baby only 10 months old.
They were an adorable family, well-respected in the local community, and no one could have ever imagined the horror that was about to unfold.
On August 7, what should have been an ordinary day took a completely unexpected turn. Matthew, without any explanation, took his two children, placed them in the car, and disappeared, leaving Abby behind, desperate and with no clue about what had happened.
He drove more than 400 km to the border with Mexico, where he stayed at the City Express Hotel, in the coastal city of Rosarito.
The Days in Rosarito
For two days, Matthew kept to himself in the hotel with the children, acting discreetly. However, some guests reported seeing him in the hallways, always accompanied by the children, smiling. One guest even commented on how they looked like an adorable trio, unaware of the tragedy that was about to unfold.
Meanwhile, Abby was living a nightmare in Santa Barbara. She desperately tried to contact her husband, but he didn’t answer her calls. Initially, Abby believed he would never harm the children.
However, as time passed and there were no answers, she filed a missing persons report. When the police located Matthew’s phone in Rosarito, the case was quickly handed over to the FBI.
The Brutal Act
In the early hours of August 9, something dark happened. Matthew sent a confusing message to Abby, saying he was having “crazy thoughts” and was starting to “see things clearly.”
Shortly after, he took the children, placed them in the car, and drove to a remote area. There, in an incomprehensible act, he murdered his own children.
Roxy, the little baby, suffered 12 stab wounds to her heart. Kaleo, her older brother, was stabbed 17 times. The children were found in a touching position: lying side by side, as if they were hugging, wearing only diapers. Matthew left the bodies in the vegetation, returned to the hotel, grabbed his belongings, and left without looking back.
The Horrible Discovery
Hours later, a neighbor in the area found blood stains near his house and called Roberto Ramirez, a local farmer. Roberto, intrigued, went out to investigate, taking his dog with him. After following the bloodstains, he found the children’s bodies hidden under leaves. The scene was so grotesque and devastating that Roberto immediately called the police.
Meanwhile, Matthew was detained at the border between the United States and Mexico. He was returning to the country alone, and customs officers found blood on papers inside his car. The confession came during the interrogation, further shocking the authorities.
Conspiracy Theories
The reason behind Matthew’s insane act? He had become deeply involved in conspiracy theories, especially QAnon. He believed that his wife possessed “snake DNA” and had passed it on to their children, making them a threat to humanity. To “save the world,” he believed he needed to kill them.
Matthew spoke of visions and signs that, according to him, confirmed his beliefs. He even claimed that other babies were being used in satanic rituals, and that his own children would become a form of “aliens” unless he acted.
Matthew and Abby’s Past
Abby, although sharing some conspiracy beliefs, never imagined Matthew would take it to such extremes. Friends and neighbors described Matthew as a calm and gentle man before the pandemic. He loved surfing, motocross, and attending church.
However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, both Matthew and Abby became immersed in QAnon conspiracy theories. The difference was that Abby began to distance herself, while Matthew became even more radicalized.
Matthew’s Future
Matthew was diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders after his arrest. Initially considered incompetent to stand trial, he is under medication and constant supervision. Prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty, but he may face life imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Abby moved to Texas to try to rebuild her life. She lives torn between hatred for Matthew and pity for his mental condition.
This case is a shocking example of how extreme beliefs and conspiracy theories can lead to unimaginable tragedies. Matthew Taylor Coleman’s story not only devastated a family but also served as a warning about the dangers of losing oneself in paranoia and fanaticism.
