[56] While the retrial was conducted in Knoxville, the jury for the retrial was selected from Jackson, Tennessee, more than 300 miles west of Knoxville. They are what they are. [13][97] On August 26, Cobbins was sentenced to life without parole. After a radio caller made him aware of the extremely disturbing story of Christopher Newsom and Channon Christian in Knoxville, Tenn., Glenn Beck researched the case and was horrified at what he found. #searchbrowse-left {width:45%; float:left; margin: 0 2%; background: transparent;} The Board of Parole has also denied granting Coleman parole in the past. Boyd's cousin, Kevin Armstrong, who is the brother of another cousin whose testimony implicated Boyd in the slayings, reluctantly testified that Boyd called him to come to Lightfoot's apartment on the night of Jan. 9. Christians ordeal was far worse, if you can imagine. Newsom survived this shooting initially, but later was shot again in the head. Tipton and McKnight pressed him for an alibi. The Horrific Torture & Murders of Channon Christian & Christopher Newsom | by Criminal Matters | Jan, 2023 | Medium 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. When Sutton tried to approach the bathroom from another door, Davidson again blocked her, she said. He is not charged, however, in either the carjacking or the killings. Christian's and Newsom's mothers and Christian's father gave statements to the board opposing parole. The murderers and even the defense argued that Channon and Christopher desired this to happen. [134][135][136][137] At the December 2014 hearing, Coleman was denied parole and her next parole consideration date was set for December 2020. All four men denied culpability in Newsoms death. The couple's friends and families tried to find them, checking local hospitals and filing missing person reports. A single mother, Sutton, 22, testified Friday that she left Davidson the day before Christian and Newsom were kidnapped because he had abused her. "There is absolutely no proof of a hate crime," said John Gill, special counsel to Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols. "This was the worst crime Knoxville had experienced," Hugh Newsom told producers. Christian was then hog-tied and covered with several bags before she was placed in a disposal bin, where she slowly suffocated to death, Mileusnic-Polchan testified. Jamie Satterfield is an award-winning journalist specializing in the law and crime. Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom were raped, tortured and killed on January 6, 2007 (Image: CBS) Inside Newsom was repeatedly sodomized with an object and then blindfolded, gagged, arms and feet bound and his head covered. Conservative political commentator Michelle Malkin repeated this opinion on her blog and on Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor program. [114] Retrials were denied for Cobbins and Davidson, and granted for Thomas and Coleman. [24][115][116], In 2014 the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals denied Coleman's request for a new trial and upheld her sentence. [26][27] Erroneous early reporting made claims of dismemberment and mutilation of Christian's body. The pair were abducted from the Washington Ridge apartment complex in Knoxville, Tennessee. "They just, I guess, a car was coming pushed them in right in the car because dude (Newsom) was giving girl (Christian) a kiss.". "What I hear is (Lomonaco) doesn't like what's coming in (as evidence)," Stone said. Prior testimony has suggested Boyd was at the house while the couple was being held captive. With Bill Graves, Kendra Maples, Scott Brooks, Channon Christian. Sutton said she headed toward the bathroom. Four males and one female were arrested, charged, and convicted in the case. He cited a 2001 report by the Berkeley Media Studies Group, which found that "Blacks and Latinos are underrepresented in news media as victims of crime and significantly overrepresented as perpetrators. [61], On January 11, Thomas, Cobbins, and Coleman were arrested in Lebanon, Kentucky. The BEST of the worst true crime and macabre stories guaranteed to haunt your nightmares. He said Davidson later explained, "They had her tied up in the back room.". [78], A forensic document examiner verified that the handwriting in the entry matched Coleman's handwriting. On Thursday, the pair presented surprise evidence suggesting that Boyd knew about the slayings because he was there at the Chipman Street house when the couple were being held captive and brutalized. [116][140], Cobbins and Thomas were originally incarcerated at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. She went to stay with a co-worker and her girlfriend. [3][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46], Both Christian and Newsom were raped. Quote: The young Knoxville couple was carjacked, raped and killed in January 2007. "The United States did not create the facts in this case. doctor removing sheet - autopsy stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Eventually themen tookNewsom outside and forced him back into the SUV. One of the men sprayed bleach down her throat to destroy DNA evidence. "[147], Some commentators disagreed, claiming that such a crime represented motives of racial hatred. He said Boyd kept quiet during the 20- to 30-minute conversation. [5] Thomas is incarcerated at the Northeast Correctional Complex. [50][72] Also inside the house were several items that belonged to Christian and Newsom, including Christian's purse, clothing she had in her vehicle, Christian's shoes, camera, photographs (which were ripped and burned), and iPod and Newsom's baseball caps and driver's license. 7 January, 2022. "I said, 'Is Vanessa in there?' Chris was tied up and removed to the train tracks. [91] Judge Baumgartner threatened to ban the Newsom family from the courtroom after they called Davidson's attorney, Doug Trant, a "jerk". "[29] Pitts wrote: "I am [] unkindly disposed toward the crackpots, incendiaries and flat-out racists who have chosen this tragedy upon which to take an obscene and ludicrous stand."[29][150]. He also said, "how people can engage in this type of conduct is just unexplainable" and "there really is no sentence great enough to punish you for the conduct you have been convicted of. Her testimony capped the end of the state's weeklong case against suspect Letalvis Cobbins. NEWSOM, CHRIS - age 23 of Halls, went to be with the Lord Sunday, January 7, 2007. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. [13][14][15][16] Vanessa Coleman was convicted of facilitating the crimes and sentenced to 53 years. ON January 6, 2007, 15 years ago this week, a young White couple, Christopher Newsom and his girlfriend Channon Christian, went to visit a friend in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2014, new laws named after the victims were introduced in Tennessee. The decision to hold retrials for them was affirmed in a two to one decision by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals on April 13. [28][145] The District Attorney denied most of the original reports containing misinformation; the source was a federal deputy US Marshal after the suspects' arrest in Kentucky.[145]. 23. My brother did something.' [I]t's a crazy world these days! [20], All of the state convictions were initially set aside because of misconduct by the presiding judge, who has since been disbarred. After a week of testimony, Eric Boyd was sentenced Tuesday to life with the possibility of . At around 8:00 pm, Christian's friend went to the party, and Christian stayed behind and waited for Newsom to pick her up. She recalled crime-scene footage on an 11 p.m. newscast but insisted she paid it no mind. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. "[28][146] [89][90], Davidson was also indicted for the Pizza Hut robbery committed the day after the murders. In the interview with Knoxville Police Department Investigators Patty Tipton and Greg McKnight, Boyd insisted everything he knew about the fatal carjacking came from Davidson. Newsom was 23 years old when he was murdered.[30][32][34]. Both were forced into the backseat of Christian's SUV at gunpoint, had their hands tied behind their backs, and were taken to Davidson's house at 2316 Chipman Street. I have not heard Mr. Lomonaco argue these facts are not relevant.". [131][132] In March 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court denied Boyd another appeal of his convictions. [98] The jurors unanimously found Davidson should receive the death penalty on the four capital charges, two first-degree felony murder charges, and the two premeditated first-degree murders of Christian and Newsom. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. In the early morning hours of January 7, 2007, Channon Christian, 21, and her boyfriend, Christopher Newsom, 23, were carjacked by three black males who took the young couple to a house on Chipman Street in Knoxville, TN, where the group tortured and killed them. The men repeatedly raped and sodomized her; they savagely kicked or had beaten her in her genital area with an object. "He said he didn't.". A. [42] As Christian was suffocating to death, Davidson left to spend time with his girlfriend and gave her Christian's personal items. Satterfield, Jamie. You took my opportunity to say yes to a young man one day. She will be up for parole again in 2020. "[148], On May 27, 2007, less than 30 white supremacists, led by Alex Linder rallied in downtown Knoxville to protest against the murders. Christian suffered two blows to the head and was dragged into the carpeted living room. A jury imposed two sentences of death on the defendant after convicting him of multiple counts of first degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated . It[']s going to be a long interesting year! A woman accused him of trading legal favors for sex during breaks in court sessions. Tennessee courts convicted the five assailants on up to 38 counts, including capital murder, kidnap, rape, theft, accessory to carjacking, and accessory to murder. Four to go," said Gary Christian, father of Channon Christian, referring to the four suspects who face trials in state court for the killings of Channon, then 21, and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Christopher Newsom. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ordered by a judge for a defendant charged with being. The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported, As Christopher lay paralyzed on the ground, the muzzle of a .22-caliber gun was placed against his covered head and fired. Unlike the other trials, owing to a long passage of time between the murders and this trial, the jury was empaneled in Knoxville and not sequestered. [7][34][154], Channon Christian's father, Gary Christian, speaks at churches proclaiming how, in Spring 2017, he asked God to restore him from his pervasive anger. [10] After a jury trial, Davidson was convicted and sentenced to death by lethal injection. According to Boyd, Davidson, his brother and a friend needed a vehicle because they were being pursued by drug dealers to whom they owed money. There was a blood stain on her shirt and a camisole underneath the shirt. The company's intent was to replace the house with a memorial dedicated to Newsom and Christian. On Monday, November 12, I drove 250 miles to Knoxville, Tennessee to attend the retrial of Vanessa Coleman for the facilitation of the rape and murder of Channon Christian. "It was kind of like I lied to myself about it. The horrifying rape, torture murder of eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, The 1977 disappearance of Rachel Hanna Ziselman, The mystifying disappearance of 14-year-old Stacy Ann Arras. Horrifying facts and disturbing details about real cases that shocked. At one point, he said he went into the living room where he could see Davidson's girlfriend in the kitchen. Boyd directed them to a vacant house. He's testifying about items recovered from the medical examiner's officer after Channon Christian's autopsy, including the rape kit, the camisol she was wearing, and floral fabric found in the garbage bags with her in the trash can where her body was found. In February 2008, the trial dates for the subjects indicted in Knox County were moved to 2009. Davidson also used Newsom's cellphone and was seen wearing Newsom's shoes. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. This evidence supports the trial court's finding that (Coleman) is a dangerous offender."[117]. In response, white supremacist Internet radio host Hal Turner set in motion rumors that the . Davidson claimed that he did not go past the living room and that he never raped Christian. Although Christian sustained multiple blows to the head and other trauma, she ultimately suffocated after being placed in the plastic bags. Specifically, he sentenced her to 25 years for the facilitation of Christian's murder, six years for the facilitation of kidnapping, and four years for the facilitation of rape. She described the fatal wound as reminiscent of an execution. Four black males and one black female were arrested and charged in the case. On January 7, 2007, the young white coupleChannon was 21, her boyfriend Chris was 23was abducted, beaten, raped, tortured, and murdered. They were kidnapped by five Blacks (four males and one female), who then took them to a house where . Inside the vehicle was a pack of Newport cigarettes, even though neither Christian nor Newsom smoked them. Cobbins is the first of four defendants to be tried. Their vehicle had been carjacked. To do the things they did, they would have to hate them to do that. She also testified that Newsom had bruising and swelling around the anus. He described the Jan. 7, 2007, encounter between the carjacking suspects and slain couple as entirely random. "I had decided they were gonna leave because I was scared the police would come to my house," she testified. Let's talk about adventures! "His eyes were really big, like he knew what she was telling me.". [19][143] Boyd is incarcerated at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex. After killing Newsom, the assailants set his body on fire. Just watched and read about the case. They were on their way to a birthday party when two unknown, armed assailants carjacked them for Christian's Toyota 4-Runner in the parking lot of her friends apartment complex. Chris and Channon were kidnapped and driven to 2316 Chipman Street where they were forced into the home at gunpoint. Browse 5,356 autopsy stock photos and images available, or search for autopsy table or autopsy reports to find more great stock photos and pictures. Newsoms killers had stuffed a sock in his mouth and bound his ankles with his belt. Sutton testified that she suspected Davidson when she learned that Newsom's body had been discovered beside railroad tracks within sight of the Chipman Street house. [3][51], Several items were missing from Christian's vehicle, including a teddy bear and photographs Christian kept there and her phone charger and iPod. Christopher Newsom was either forced to walk barefoot or partially dragged with his ankles bound to the scene of his death, Knox County's acting medical examiner testified late this afternoon.. [ 19 ] [ 97 ] on August 26, Cobbins and Thomas were originally incarcerated at the while... Entry matched Coleman 's handwriting Lomonaco argue these facts are not relevant... Door, Davidson channon and chris autopsy blocked her, she said 117 ] the train tracks,,! Was dragged into the home at gunpoint. `` [ 117 ] technologies to provide you a! 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Removed to the head and other trauma, she ultimately suffocated after being placed in the plastic.., new laws named after the victims were introduced in Tennessee like he knew what she telling! He knew what she was telling me. `` though neither Christian nor Newsom smoked them they! Favors for sex during breaks in court sessions create the facts in this case seen Newsom... Of four defendants to be tried was dragged into the living room where could. Guaranteed to haunt your nightmares plastic bags her tied up and removed to the train tracks shot again in head. Slain couple as entirely random he said Davidson later explained, `` they had her tied in! Entirely random Newsom survived this shooting initially, but later was shot again in.! A week of testimony, Eric Boyd was sentenced to life without parole trauma, she said chris! In 2014, new laws named after the victims were introduced in Tennessee our use... Life without parole to find them, checking local hospitals and filing missing reports. Originally incarcerated at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville smoked them heard Mr. argue... 26, Cobbins and Thomas were originally incarcerated at the Northeast Correctional Complex said, 'Is Vanessa in?!
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