Man charged with three counts of murder

Staff report

    GARLAND — Maine State Police have charged a Garland man with killing his girlfriend and her two children whose bodies were discovered in the mobile home they shared Saturday night at 9:50 by deputies from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responding to 12 Paul Road after being called by relatives.

    Keith Coleman, 27, was taken into custody mid-afternoon on Sunday, Dec. 21 at an apartment complex in Bucksport after state police received a tip. Also located was the minivan parked outside that police were also looking for.
    Coleman was transported to the Troop E state police barracks in Bangor for questioning and was charged with three counts of murder. He was taken to the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor and his initial court appearance took place on Dec. 22. Coleman is being held without bail until another hearing, scheduled for Dec. 30.
    The victims in the domestic violence homicides are Christina Sargent, 36, and her daughter and son, 8- year-old Destiny Sargent and 10-year-old Duwayne Coke. The bodies were transported Sunday afternoon to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta, where autopsies were scheduled for Dec. 22.
    Detectives and evidence technicians worked throughout the night after the bodies were found. A team of state police detectives worked with the Penobscot sheriff’s office, Bangor police and several other agencies investigating the circumstances of the deaths. The mobile home remains under police guard and detectives returned there Monday.
    On the AOS 94 website the following message was posted, “On December 21 we learned that two of our Ridge View Community School students, Duwayne Coke – grade 4 and Destiny Sargent – grade 3, died at their home in Garland Maine. The faculty, staff and students extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family involved and all of their friends. We at the school will miss Duwayne and Destiny very much. They were part of our school family.”
    Grief counselors were available at the Ridge View Community School on Monday and Tuesday for staff, students and parents.