Columbia, Ill. — Christopher Coleman, whose wife and two young sons were found murdered in their bedrooms last week, has resigned from his position with Joyce Meyer Ministries, one of his attorneys confirmed Thursday.

Coleman had worked in security for several years for the worldwide television evangelist organization, which is based in Jefferson County.

William Margulis, one of Coleman's attorneys, said Coleman resigned Wednesday as a result of a meeting that afternoon with a spokesman for Joyce Meyer Ministries at Coleman's parents' home in Chester, Ill. Neither Coleman nor the spokesman, Roby Walker, could be reached Thursday for comment.

Walker told the Belleville News-Democrat: "After an internal inquiry, it was discovered that Chris Coleman had failed to follow a ministry policy during his employment. During discussion with Mr. Coleman on Wednesday he submitted his resignation." He would not provide any details on what policy Coleman had violated, the newspaper reported.

Sources close to the investigation told the Post-Dispatch that Coleman had met up with a Florida woman described as his girlfriend while on trips for the ministry.

Meanwhile, Jeff Connor, deputy commander of the St. Louis Area Major Case Squad, said Thursday that his detectives were still working the case. Connor said he was still deciding whether to disband the group of 20 investigators looking into the case while Monroe County State's Attorney Kris Reitz considers prosecution.

No charges were filed Thursday; Reitz has deferred a decision on charges while awaiting further forensic testing.

Connor said that only "a few" detectives would work the case today.

The squad turned over evidence to the prosecutor Wednesday and announced that one lone killer, whose name was not revealed, had been identified.

Detectives said that, as of late Wednesday afternoon, they had ceased their surveillance of Coleman, who has been staying with his parents in Chester. Police have not said Coleman is a suspect but had been closely tracking his movements and on Monday got a court order to take his fingerprints.

Coleman's wife, Sheri, 31, and sons, Garett, 11, and Gavin, 9, were found dead in their Columbia Lakes subdivision home early May 5.

Police said Christopher Coleman left the house, at 2854 Robert Avenue, about 5:45 a.m. that day to work out at a gym in St. Louis County, and called police shortly before 7 a.m. because he could not reach his family by phone. Officers found the bodies. Neighbors said police had told them the victims had been strangled.

Neighbors also said Coleman had told them in the past of receiving threatening letters related to his work for Joyce Meyer.

The investigation has led detectives to search along a stretch of Interstate 255 near the Jefferson Barracks Bridge, where Connor said they believed evidence had been discarded. That would be along Coleman's route to the gym.

The investigation also has led detectives to Florida. The Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that police had interviewed a woman in Largo, Fla., whom they said was Coleman's girlfriend. The woman, a friend of Sheri Coleman's since at least high school and a former hostess at a men's club, has not responded to messages left by the Post-Dispatch.

Coleman's attorneys have declined to comment on whether he had a girlfriend, and Sheri Coleman's relatives have said they were unaware of an affair.