Lawyer says Coleman and Price were divorced


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PROVO -- A 911 call released Wednesday afternoon reveals more about what caused actor Gary Coleman's death. It details a head injury, severe bleeding and a woman who was reluctant to help. We also learned Wednesday night, Shannon Price was Coleman's ex-wife.

The divorce was final in 2008, but the case was sealed. Coleman's attorney acknowledged the divorce but says the two continued an on-again, off-again relationship.

We also learned Wednesday night, Gary Coleman had completed an advanced health care directive, allowing his ex-wife to make medical decisions on his behalf if he was unable to do so. It's the latest news in the sad ending to Coleman's life.

Wednesday's release of the 911 call provides a better idea about what happened at Coleman's home.

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"What's the problem? Tell me what's happened," the dispatcher asks Price.

"Um, I had my husband go make me some food downstairs. He just got home. I heard this big bang. I went downstairs, blood everywhere," Price says. "I don't know if he's OK. I'm not down there right now because I have seizures. If I get stressed out, I'm gonna seize."

In what Santaquin police say was a medical call, Shannon Price tries to get help for Gary Coleman by calling 911. Coleman died around noon on Friday, just 47 hours after the call was made.

"Sit down, you need to sit down. Gary sit down!" Price can be heard saying.

While Price is reluctant to provide first aid herself, saying the sight of blood is making her sick, she is worried about Coleman's condition.

"I just don't want him to die," Price tells the dispatcher. "I'm freaking out like really bad, you know?"

Price then interrupts the dispatcher by yelling, "Gary, don't move! Don't move! Stay there, OK? You have to keep pressure on your head. Keep pressure on this, OK? Hold this."

The dispatcher stayed on the line with Price until police and EMTs arrived, about six minutes after the call began. [CLICK HERE to listen to the entire 911 call]

Randy Kester represented Coleman in several cases, and while the couple was legally divorced, he says they maintained a relationship at times.

"I think there were days when they were deeply involved and maybe even in love with each other, and I think there were days when they didn't want to be around each other. It seemed to be a durable relationship, they kept coming back to one another," he said.

Coleman died on Friday, just 47 hours after the call was made. He was placed on life support, which was later removed through a decision made by Price.

Wednesday night Intermountain Healthcare released a statement saying, in part, "Mr. Coleman had completed an advanced health care directive that granted Shannon Price permission to make medical decisions on his behalf if he was unable to do so. An advanced health care directive remains in effect regardless of a patient's marital status, unless modified by the patient."

Kester believes Coleman would be upset about all of the focus on his death, instead of his life.

"I just hope that with all of this controversy and finger pointing, that people will still remember Gary. I don't think he'd be happy with what's going on," Kester said.

Coleman's attorney does not believe that Coleman had a valid will and expects his estranged parents may seek a claim to his estate.

The state medical examiner has confirmed they have an investigation underway into his death.

No specifics about a funeral have been released.

E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com

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