Yvonne Coleman, 15

Jan. 22, 1986

Yvonne Coleman, 15, was found strangled in Imperial Park near 118th Street and Yukon Avenue in Inglewood on Jan. 22, 1986.

Coleman was a student at Morningside High School in Inglewood. She was on her way home when she was killed.

In 2008, a cold-hit DNA link tied Coleman’s homicide, as well as the killings of three other women, to Michael Hughes. A decade earlier, Hughes had been convicted of first-degree homicide in the deaths of four women in the South L.A. area.

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10 reader comments

I met Yvonne in elementary school. She had a big smile and brown skin, wavy wild hair like mine, and a gleam in her eye. I wasn't from Sacramento and only stayed in that area for a short time. I was from Virginia, which I missed greatly, California was tough for me, but Yvonne made is bearable, her friendship gave me lasting memories. We hung out with Corey, around our neighborhood and just did what kids do. I never forgot her and her family, sisters, Sparkey (Yolonda) and Jimmie Lynn. I had some difficult years as a young person, and life took it's course. I thought about her most recently a couple of years ago, and went to social media to try and find her, and ended up finding Corey Layton. I was hoping to reconnect and wanted to know she was okay, maybe with kids and a husband, or just to reminisce about those early days. So, saddened to hear from Corey her passing and terrible demise. Nearly, 30 years later, I grieved as if it just happened and I was there. I still tear up to think of it. I will never forget that part of my life with Yvonne. She got me through a difficult time in my childhood just with her friendship and for that, I will always be thankful. God Bless you baby girl. Your memories still live and the short time you had here with us, still resonates with many. God save our children from these monsters.

— Cristy Oct. 14, 2019 at 11:21 a.m.

Every day I'm terrified of leaving my house... For years I slept under my parents bed waiting for this monster to find me!! He took my sister from me and ripped my family apart!!!!! I can't wait for the day he dies,....I wish I could make him feel the hurt and pain he put on our family and others... But he has no heart!!!!! I'm gonna be 40 next year and I still can't get over the hurt he has caused it makes me physically ill.... They say no profanity or personal attacks.... Fine,.... I close with this than because Im petty ticked off n hurt STILL eveyday I wake up & my BESTFRIEND is still DEAD..she cant feel the warmth of the sun or gaze upon a star filled night.....why should he?!?!?!! Maybe the "Christian' thing to do is to forgive n forget.......guess Im not Christian enough...Give us..the famillies he STOLE LIFE from 24 hrs alone with that thing..Purge style!!!! I still want to see him fry for what he's done.

Romans 12:19
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God's wrath!for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, O will repay, says the Lord.
#fyi..to a 9 y/o.. That means fond him n get vengeance!!!! Ijs

— Jimi Lynn Coleman Aug. 21, 2015 at 12:07 p.m.

My name is Yolanda, Yvonne Coleman was my younger sister. I was around 18 and she was 15 days away from turning 16 at the time of her murder. We miss her dearly. She was so young and strong. This monster must have caught her off guard. Our Daddy was a black belt and he taught us how to defend ourselves. Yvonne who we call "Sissy" was very strong. I prayed for this day to come that we'd find out who murdered my sister. I remember in 1986 as Sissy's friends were exiting the funeral home a friend of Sissy's was screaming, "We are going to find who did this to you Sissy...She could hardly speak through her tears and anger... praise God we got him! Thanks to the man hours spend on putting this thing behind bars. I don't want his family hurt the way our family hurt. I wonder if it has a daughter? How would this thing feel if someone did what he did to "its" daughter. I even forgive it. I still want justice to be served. A very special "Thank you" to the man who found Sissy and to DA B. Silverman. Thank you to the state of California. They kept all of her evidence from her case which is how we were able to link this serial killer to my sister's death.They had so many wonder advocates surrounded our family and the other grieving families. To comfort us. I feel like its time for me to pay it forward. I think the toughest part was seeing the crime scene pictures. I wasn't expecting to see them or her in the morgue. The coward never looked up to look at the picture of what HE DID TO MY BABY SISTER!!!. The nerve.

— Yolanda Jan. 15, 2012 at 12:06 a.m.