Originally appeared on E! Online
Gary Coleman’s ex wanted to set the record straight.
That’s why 15 years after the “Diff’rent Strokes” actor’s 2010 death from an apparent fall in their shared home, Shannon Price agreed to participate in A&E’s series, “Lie Detector: Truth or Deception,” in an attempt to end speculation over Coleman’s accident.
“I literally, my whole life, have had the odds working against me,” she explained before taking the test in the series’ forthcoming July 10 premiere, per People. “I’m really hoping, for a good outcome. Not everyone is perfect at taking a polygraph test, but I have a glimmer of hope that this will work out in my favor, and people will be like, ‘Okay, you know what? She’s just a normal girl that had an unfortunate situation happen.’”
During the test, Price was asked three questions by former FBI agent and test administrator George Olivo: “Did you ever strike Gary during your relationship? Did you intentionally decide to withhold help to Gary when he fell? Did you physically cause Gary to fall that day?”
Price answered “no” to all three.
PHOTOS Gary Coleman: A Life in Pictures (1968-2010)
In a conversation following the test, Olivo told Price that the results of the first two questions were inconclusive while the third, which concerned Coleman’s fall, the test found “deception indicated.”
Regarding whether Price could have administered more or better aid to Coleman before first responders arrived — in a recording of the 911 call, previously shared in Peacock’s “GARY” documentary, she can be heard refusing to comply with the operator’s instructions — the former FBI agent had his own suspicions, acknowledging the results “raise a little bit of an eyebrow.”
“Here’s the way I look at it,” Olivo told her. “This question having to do with you doing everything that you could possibly do for Gary when he fell, when you called 911, is an issue that you’ve had in your mind for 14 years, and it’s still not resolved in your mind.”
And while Price admitted she “could have helped him a little bit more,” she also alleged the 911 operator could have better helped by asking “more specific questions” — a claim Olivo took issue with.
“Forget the 911 operator, you were there,” he told the 39-year-old. “Little bit of tough love now. You’re not the victim here, he’s the victim.”
Olivo also drew conclusions based on Price’s results about the day of the former child star’s accident. (Coleman’s death was ultimately ruled an accident and Price was never charged with a crime.)
“You failed the exam regarding Gary’s fall,” he said. “There’s two things I know for sure, Shannon. One, you were not completely honest with me yesterday during this polygraph section. And two, the other thing I know that’s 100 percent certain, is that there is more to this story that hasn’t been told.”
As he put it, “The body never lies. The body always tells the truth. And your body on that lie detector test spoke loud and clear, there’s something that caused you to fail this test.”
Following the results of her test, Price admitted she wasn’t surprised by the results.
“I know where I’m at. I’m at peace,” she told series host Tony Harris. “There is a reason I am not in prison. There is a legit reason for that. It’s because they did a thorough investigation.”
And when she said she hadn’t expected the test to rule in her favor, Olivo replied, “Because you already knew you were gonna fail, and you know why you did.”
“Lie Detector: Truth or Deception” premieres on A&E July 10 at 9 p.m. ET.
