A Boulder man was charged with felony attempted deliberate homicide after allegedly becoming interested in the TV drama "Dexter," which is about a man who is a police forensic technician and vigilante serial killer.
![Michael Lee Coleman](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/mtstandard.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/7f/07f4555a-3d7b-11ef-ad30-6fb8abed7cc3/668c6ac986a39.image.jpg?resize=1763%2C1175 2008w)
Michael Lee Coleman
Michael Lee Coleman, 19, was charged after a deputy responded to a call for service on June 2 from the defendant's grandfather, who said Coleman arrived at his residence at the 400 block of Cactus Road in the northwest Helena Valley around 1 a.m.
Video surveillance showed Coleman walking around the residence and appearing to be looking for a way to get inside, according to court documents. He was carrying a large knife, so the deputy went to the 700 block of Darby Street in Helena where Coleman lived with his mother.
Court documents state the deputy spoke with Coleman, who said he was at his grandparents' residence to ask for advice about the knife in the video which he received from his father, who lived at the Cactus Road residence.
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The Lewis and Clark County sheriff's deputy learned that Coleman recently became interested in the TV show "Dexter," which ran on Showtime from 2006-2013 and featured a main character who was considered a "blood-splatter specialist" for law enforcement, documents state.
The reports state he switched his career goal from becoming an electrician to the specialist. Coleman changed his wardrobe to be nearly identical to the main character of the TV show.
Coleman's mother told the deputy her son was "infatuated" with the show after a recent breakup with his girlfriend and started secluding himself, court documents state. Coleman's father told the deputy he spoke with his son's therapist, who told him he admitted to having homicidal thoughts and a plan in April or May.
The defendant did not return to therapy after this admission and stopped taking his medications, court documents state.
On June 7, his mother said she had a recent phone call with her son where he said "I wanted you dead," so she told him she would leave and not tell him where she was going. He replied, "I understand, you have to protect yourself."
Court records state Coleman told the deputy he had murderous intent toward his parents and tried to kill his mother twice and father once before the June 2 incident.
Coleman's father told the deputy he was sure if his son entered the residence on June 2 there would have been four dead bodies, which his son nodded in agreement, according to court documents.
Coleman said the only sense of emotion he felt was from "choking a kid" and "killing animals."
The deputy searched the defendant's bedroom where he found a duffle bag containing 19 sterile blades for a scalpel, five knives, vinyl gloves and rags.
Charges were filed July 2. Coleman faces a possible term of up to 100 years or life imprisonment and not less than 10 years. His bond was set Friday at $75,000. He was listed as an inmate Monday at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center.
If you or someone you know are in a mental health crisis, the Montana Crisis Lifeline is free and staffed 24 hours by trained crisis responders who answer every call and text message. Dial 988. Online: https://dphhs.mt.gov/suicideprevention/988