Gary Coleman died a divorcee

Los Angeles: The sudden death of actor Gary Coleman has taken a new twist with his attorney revealing that Shannon Price, who had taken the decision to turn off his life support system, was already divorced from the `Different Strokes` star at the time of his demise.

The former child star and Price legally divorced on August 12, 2008. The couple kept the filing secret, sealing the documents and using the names John Doe and Jane Doe, reported a news website. "I can confirm they`ve been divorced since August 12, 2008. At the time of Gary`s death, they were not married," said attorney Randy Kester, who handled the split. The papers cite "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for divorce and state that no alimony was awarded, with all property going to Coleman. The report throws into question Price`s right to make the decision to end life support to Coleman, 42. "We had no indication that the information Shannon gave us was false. She portrayed herself as his wife," said a spokesperson for Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where Coleman died. The star`s adoptive parents, Sue and Willie Coleman, who had been estranged from their son for more than a decade, are demanding to know the exact circumstances surrounding his death. An investigation is still open, but a police source insists it is not being treated as suspicious. Coleman suffered a brain hemorrhage after a fall last Wednesday at his Salt Lake City home. He was lucid until midday Thursday when he slipped into a coma. Coleman died after being taken off life support on Friday. PTI