Diff’rent Strokes Star Deserved Better — Ex’s Lie Detector Raises Big Red Flags

By Nevada News and Views Staff

It’s been 15 years since America lost Gary Coleman, the pint-sized TV star who made us laugh on Diff’rent Strokes. For many, his death still doesn’t sit right, and a new lie detector test is adding fuel to that fire.

Coleman died on May 28, 2010, after hitting his head in a fall at his Utah home. He was only 42.

The official word was that it was an accident, and police didn’t press charges. The only other person in the house that day was his ex-wife, Shannon Price, and her actions that day (and since) have raised a lot of red flags.

What Happened

Coleman had struggled with health problems his whole life. He was born with a kidney defect that stunted his growth to just 4-foot-8. He had two kidney transplants and was in and out of the hospital. In 2008, he divorced Price, but oddly, the two kept living together.

On the day of his fall, Price said she found Gary bleeding in the kitchen and called 911. The audio of that call has been public for years, and it shocked a lot of people.

Price is heard refusing to put pressure on the wound, saying she didn’t want to get “traumatized.” She also didn’t ride with him to the hospital.

Two days later, she pulled him off life support — even though Gary had a legal directive asking for at least two weeks of care before such a decision.

Later, allegations came out that she took and sold a photo of Gary as he lay dying. Friends called it “depraved.” Still, no charges were ever filed.

A Failed Lie Detector Test

Now, in 2025, Price is back in the news. She appeared in A&E’s new docuseries Lie Detector: Truth or Deception, hoping to clear her name. It didn’t go well.

The test was done by former FBI agent George Olivo. He asked her three key questions:

—Did you ever hit Gary during your relationship?

—Did you withhold help when he fell?

—Did you physically cause his fall?

Price answered “No” to all three. The results were troubling.

The first two came back “inconclusive,” which means the machine couldn’t tell one way or the other.

The third one — the big one — came back with a reading of “deception.” In other words, she failed.

Olivo said Price didn’t seem shocked. She dismissed the results, saying the setup was unfair.

“There’s a reason I’m not in prison,” she told the crew. Olivo pushed back, saying, “There’s more to this story that hasn’t been told.”

Folks Aren’t Buying It

This story taps into a larger issue: the growing distrust in how officials handle high-profile cases.

The Daily Caller called the test results a “bombshell,” pointing to what they say are clear signs something shady went on. Price’s behavior — refusing to help, pulling life support early, and possibly selling that photo — doesn’t seem to add up.

It’s not just the lie detector. Gary’s former co-star Todd Bridges and longtime friend Anna Gray have also raised concerns. Gray said Coleman’s medical directive was ignored. Bridges openly questioned how the fall happened in the first place.

Then there’s the 2024 Peacock documentary Gary, which showed more of Price’s troubling behavior, including past abuse allegations and that haunting 911 call.

A Tool, Not a Verdict

Now, to be fair, lie detectors aren’t perfect.

The American Psychological Association has warned for years that polygraph tests can be unreliable. They’re not allowed as solid evidence in many courts. Still, the failed test is just one more thing that makes folks suspicious.

Too many things don’t line up. Price’s own words and choices continue to raise questions. If nothing was done wrong, why do so many signs point to something being off?

Final Thoughts

Gary Coleman brought joy to millions, but his final days were filled with pain, confusion, and controversy. Now, 15 years later, we still don’t have all the answers. Maybe we never will.

The episode of Lie Detector: Truth or Deception aired July 10 on A&E. Whether it brings justice or just more questions remains to be seen.