UPDATED: 4:40 P.M.

COLUMBIA, Ill. — The Major Case Squad has been given an extension to investigate the triple homicide in Columbia.

Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards said the agency will work the case through Monday. Normally, the squad has five days to perform its investigation.

Police had no new information to release on Friday afternoon. They will continue investigating over the weekend.


Earlier story:

Police reported progress Thursday toward solving the murders of a mother and her two sons here but gave no details. Officials said neighbors should not be afraid because the victims were targeted.

"We are not going to reveal anything to jeopardize the case," St. Louis Area Major Case Squad leader Jeff Connor said during a brief late afternoon news conference outside the Columbia police station.

He refused to say whether police have a suspect or know a motive for the slayings of Sheri Coleman, 31, and her sons, Garett, 11, and Gavin, 9. They were found dead in their home at 2854 Robert Drive about 7 a.m. Tuesday. Neighbors said police told them the victims were strangled.

Connor said police "have no reason to believe that anybody else is a target."

Christopher Coleman, who told police he was working out at a Gold's Gym in south St. Louis County when his wife and sons were slain, had previously reported to police that they had received some kind of threats.

Neighbors said he told them it involved his work in security at the Joyce Meyer Ministries, based across the Mississippi River in Jefferson County.

The two-story house remained a focus of police activity into a third day Thursday, with 10 detectives in gloves making a visit Thursday afternoon. Investigators also walked stretches of Interstate 255 near the Jefferson Barracks bridge on Wednesday and Thursday, checking the roadsides for something.

Connor said police are not asking for public help in looking for a suspect but asked that anyone with relevant information about the Colemans call at investigators at 618-281-5151.

Police would not give details of what Christopher Coleman said in interviews. They previously said he called officers Tuesday morning, alarmed that he had been unable to reach his family by phone. Police found the bodies.

A law enforcement source said Coleman told detectives he had left home about 5:30 a.m. The source also said someone had painted the words, "I told you this would happen," on a wall inside the house.

Roby Walker, a spokesman for Joyce Meyer Ministries, a worldwide operation with a television program, said Thursday, "We're not making any comments that would hinder any investigation..." Asked whether the slayings are causing particular alarm there, he said, "I see this as an isolated incident."

Services for Sheri, Garett and Gavin Coleman will be in Chester, Ill., which is Christopher Coleman's hometown. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today at Grace Church Ministries, 2100 State Street, where Christopher Coleman's father, the Rev. Ronald Coleman, is a pastor.

The funeral service Saturday will be private, with the burials at Evergreen Cemetery in Chester, according to the Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home there, which is handling arrangements.