More than a decade after the death of beloved child actor Gary Coleman, new controversy has emerged—this time reignited by his ex-wife Shannon Price’s appearance on A&E’s explosive special Lie Detector: Truth or Deception. In the latest episode, which aired this week, Price failed multiple key questions related to the 2010 incident that led to Coleman’s tragic passing, sparking renewed speculation, media outrage, and online debate among fans.
During the high-stakes polygraph segment, Shannon Price was asked a series of pointed questions about the circumstances surrounding Coleman’s death, including whether she was directly responsible for the fall that caused his fatal head injury. When asked, “Did you push Gary Coleman before he fell?”, the lie detector indicated deception in her denial. She also failed a follow-up question about whether she delayed seeking medical help.
Price, now 38, visibly distressed during the taping, maintained her innocence despite the results. “I loved Gary. I would never hurt him. This test doesn’t prove anything. It’s not the full story,” she said, holding back tears. However, forensic experts and show analysts claim the results cast doubt on her long-standing narrative that Coleman fell accidentally while alone.
Gary Coleman, best known for his iconic role as Arnold Jackson in Diff’rent Strokes, died in May 2010 at age 42 from a brain hemorrhage after allegedly falling down the stairs at his Utah home. At the time, Price was with him, but no charges were filed, and the incident was ruled accidental. However, questions about her actions and intentions have loomed ever since, particularly due to her reportedly erratic behavior and legal battle over Coleman’s estate.
This new development has sparked a fresh wave of online speculation. Fans and critics are demanding a reinvestigation into Coleman’s death, pointing to inconsistencies in Price’s past statements and the dramatic results of the lie detector test.
A&E producers have teased that more revelations could surface in upcoming episodes, hinting that other individuals from Coleman’s inner circle may come forward. Meanwhile, social media has exploded with hashtags like #JusticeForGary and #GaryColemanTruth, with fans divided between outrage and support.
Whether this newly televised test will lead to official action remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Shannon Price’s lie detector failure has pulled Gary Coleman’s mysterious final chapter back into the spotlight—and the world is once again asking: What really happened that night?