Make wishtv.com your home page

Woman charged with killing elderly father with boiling water

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Police say a Mississippi woman has been charged with murder after pouring boiling water over her paralyzed elderly father, who died several days later.

Jackson Police Department Commander Tyree Jones said in a news release that 55-year-old Diane Coleman dumped the water on 81-year-old Earl Coleman on Sept. 3, “severely burning” him in multiple places on his body. Earl Coleman died Sept. 12.

The daughter’s motive was not entirely clear, but Jones said she lived with and was the primary caretaker for her father, who was paralyzed, used a wheelchair and had numerous medical issues.

Diane Coleman initially was arrested and charged with domestic violence aggravated assault.

Online jail records do not list an attorney for Diane Coleman.