Cookie Notice ", Victim's father: "One down, four to go" (extensive details of the crimes), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murders_of_Channon_Christian_and_Christopher_Newsom&oldid=1142067307, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 09:34. They are what they are. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Tennessee courts convicted the five assailants on up to 38 counts, including capital murder, kidnap, rape, theft, accessory to carjacking, and accessory to murder. [43][44][51][67][68][69][70], When police went to 2316 Chipman Street on Tuesday, January 9, they found the house unoccupied and Christian's body in a trash can in the kitchen. 23. However, after a new trial in November 2013, Coleman wasgiven a lesser sentence of 35 years in prison. Although Christian sustained multiple blows to the head and other trauma, she ultimately suffocated after being placed in the plastic bags. "[148], On May 27, 2007, less than 30 white supremacists, led by Alex Linder rallied in downtown Knoxville to protest against the murders. [81] The publicity against the accused led the defense to argue that a change of venue was required in order to ensure a fair trial. In her testimony this afternoon, Milieusnic-Polchan described the path of the bullet as having a downward trajectory, which would mean that either Newsom was forced to kneel or the gunman was significantly taller than Newsom, who was more than 6 feet tall himself. I have not heard Mr. Lomonaco argue these facts are not relevant.". "We have no evidence to support the notion that this was a race-based crime. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}355928N 835427W / 35.99113N 83.907514W / 35.99113; -83.907514, Channon Gail Christian, aged 21, and Hugh Christopher Newsom Jr., aged 23, were from Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. 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. Upon discovering the corpses of Christopher Newsom, 23, and his girlfriend, Channon Christian, 21, on January 7 and 8, 2007, respectively, Knoxville, Tennessee authorities stonewalled the media as to the cause of death and the bodies' condition. CHRIS NEWSOM OBITUARY. Four males and one female were arrested, charged, and convicted in the case. "We've been through the worst. Most news reports came from local media and online news sites. "[12] The Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed Davidson's conviction and death sentences in 2016. He said he was scared. [64][65][66], Newsom's body was discovered near a set of nearby railroad tracks on January 7 at 12:20 pm by a Norfolk Southern Railroad employee. Investigators recovered fingerprints inside the vehicle that didn't belong to either Christian or Newsom. Chris and Channon were kidnapped and driven to 2316 Chipman Street where they were forced into the home at gunpoint. They tied his hands behind his back and wrapped his face in a bandana. [20] He was immediately sentenced to life in prison by the judge, who stated that a life sentence was automatic for the murder conviction. He said he returned to the house about 20 minutes later to find Christian, who told him she did not want to die. Another witness who lived around one block from 2316 Chipman Street heard three pops from the direction of the train tracks at about 1:45 am. Davidson met her at the door and followed her inside. Davidson and Boyd "basically carjacked them" and ordered Cobbins to drive back to Chipman Street. "We know from our investigation that the people charged in this case were friends with white people, socialized with white people, dated white people. [43][92], On April 16, 2008, Eric Boyd was found guilty in federal court of being an accessory to a fatal carjacking and of failing to report the location of a known fugitive. NEWSOM, CHRIS - age 23 of Halls, went to be with the Lord Sunday, January 7, 2007. He also told Russo it's possible Hayhurst may have been unconscious, because the autopsy revealed blunt-force trauma to the head. Coleman was up for parole because she had served eight years in prison in December 2014. Christian also did not attend work. [30], Facing the same charges as in her first trial, on November 20, 2012, Vanessa Coleman was convicted by a jury of the facilitation of aggravated kidnapping, facilitation of rape, and the facilitation of the murder of Channon Christian, but not of Christopher Newsom. 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. [104] On July 30, 2010, she was sentenced to 53 years in prison. Curious if theres any crime scene photos. Five suspects were arrested and charged in the case. The Horrific Torture & Murders of Channon Christian & Christopher Newsom | by Criminal Matters | Jan, 2023 | Medium 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. Davidson was then interrogated about the murders. [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. On January 6, 2007, Newsom and Christian were abducted at gunpoint in an apartment complex parking lot and taken to what Witt calls a "house of horrors" where they were beaten, tortured, sexually. [144], According to the Associated Press, some bloggers and media critics claimed that the national media ignored the murders because the victims were white while all five suspects were black. [21] Retrials were originally slated for the summer and fall of 2012. Cobbins faced the possibility of the death penalty because he was convicted of first-degree felony murder in the case of Christian. Cobbins is currently serving a life sentence without parole at the Northwest Correctional Complex. Newsom is believed to have been raped inside Davidson's house. It[']s going to be a long interesting year! He denied seeing her or knowing she was there. So horrific and evil. "[61], Before killing her, to remove DNA evidence, Christian's attackers poured bleach down her throat and scrubbed her body, including her bleeding and battered genital area with it. Both of them were raped, tortured, and murdered. But when the investigators would seek specific information, including phone numbers or addresses for people he listed as alibi witnesses, he backed off his assertion that he could provide a specific alibi. Channon Christian, 21, a Farragut High School graduate and University of Tennessee senior, was hog-tied and stuffed alive inside a trash can, where she slowly suffocated. "Slim's brother and then Slim's pictures came up (on the screen) that they were wanted for questioning, so I asked what the hell was going on," she said. The men repeatedly raped and sodomized her; they savagely kicked or had beaten her in her genital area with an object. 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. [4][5][6][7][8] Also in 2007, Eric DeWayne Boyd was indicted by a federal grand jury of being an accessory to a carjacking, resulting in serious bodily injury to another person, and misprision of a felony. [10] After a jury trial, Davidson was convicted and sentenced to death by lethal injection. [61][75] Cobbins gave a statement to investigators claiming that he, Davidson, and Boyd drove to an apartment complex for someone to meet a girl. Medical examiners determined Christian was alive when the assailants placed her in plastic trash bags. [15][101] The jury returned a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole on each of the four capital convictions. #searchlist h2 a {color:#222; text-decoration:none; } [71][72] Christian's body was stashed in five large trash bags. doctor removing sheet - autopsy stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Rather than two, channon christian and christopher autopsy photos would have been posted and strength. "I asked him if he had a gun on him and he said yeah. Hugh Christopher Newsom, Jr., 23, and his girlfriend Channon Gail Christian were both brutally murdered after being kidnapped early on the morning of January 7, 2007. His sentence ends in May 2053. He later tried to distance himself from the house, however, saying Davidson actually met him on the front porch. ul.searchbrowse li {margin:0 0 5%; font-size:0.75em; /* 12/16 */ } given a lesser sentence of 35 years in prison, The 1945 Disappearance of Thora Afton Chamberlain, Robert Pickton The Case of the Killer Pig Farmer, Bonnie Woodward: Grandmother missing since 2010, The Tragic Short Life of Florence Sally Horner. Sutton said she headed toward the bathroom. [47] By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The next day, a train conductor reported a body near the railroad tracks and 9th Avenue in East Knoxville. Cobbins denied having any sexual intercourse with the female victim. [40], After Christian and Newsom did not show up at the party, the couple's friends began calling and texting them and received no response. [26][27][28][29] Efforts have been made to remember and honor Christian and Newsom. In response, white supremacist Internet radio host Hal Turner set in motion rumors that the . She was still alive when they placed her body into black garbage bags, wrapped her head in a white plastic grocery sack, and stuffed her body inside a trash can, where she eventually suffocated to death. Christian suffered extensive hemorrhaging to her head and groin. Tipton and McKnight pressed him for an alibi. [24][25], Controversy arose due to differing interpretations regarding the media's coverage of the murders. and a student at the University of Tennessee and her boyfriend, Chris Newsom, 23 years old, a former baseball player and a graduate of Halls High School, had dinner plans together at a local restaurant but never made it. Knoxville: Directed by Jeffrey Woods. He had been beaten, raped, and shot. The details of the horrific events, along with the plight of the bills will follow. However, before Lomonaco objected, Mileusnic-Polchan testified that Christian was found in "a forced fetal position" inside a trash can. Chris eventually shot to death before being set on fire, and Channon left to die with a plastic bag over her head in a trash can. Boyd claims he has no personal knowledge of the slayings of the young couple, but he offered up details of the crime anyway in a videotaped statement to police played in court today. Police also recovered an envelope from the vehicle that yielded fingerprint evidence leading them to LeMaricus Davidson of 2316 Chipman Street, an address two blocks from Christian's car. "They had sex with her, but he choked and killed her. He had been shot three times; the killers delivered the final shot execution-style. "The United States did not create the facts in this case. [121][122][123][124] On August 13, 2019, a jury found Boyd guilty on nearly all charges, including premeditated first-degree murder and rape against both victims. He also called the crime "the most horrible" murder case he had seen. Palm prints on channon christian christopher autopsy photos . At some point, they were approached by an ex-con named Lemaricus Davidson. Let's talk about adventures! [11][12] Cobbins and Thomas were convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. With Bill Graves, Kendra Maples, Scott Brooks, Channon Christian. [73] On January 11, Davidson was arrested in the vacant house. [26][27] Erroneous early reporting made claims of dismemberment and mutilation of Christian's body. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. She was also beaten, kicked in her groin, and beaten on the head. [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. "We do this for Channon," said Channon's mother, Deena. 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 tied Christian up with bed sheets andforced her into large trash bags, ultimately suffocating her. According to the testimony of the Knox County Acting Medical Examiner, Newsom was sodomized with an object and raped by a minimum of one of the perpetrators. Blackwood sentenced Coleman to 35 years in prison on February 1, 2013, minus credit for time already served. On March 20, 2018, eleven years after the murders, a Knox County grand jury returned a thirty-six-count indictment charging Eric DeWayne Boyd with first-degree felony murder, first-degree premeditated murder, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated rape in the murders. October 28, 2009, Davidson was indicted on 16 counts of felony murder & sentenced to death. The pair were abducted from the Washington Ridge apartment complex in Knoxville, Tennessee. They never made it. [130] In 2021, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Timothy L. Easter also denied Boyd a new trial. "Sexual trauma was present," she testified. 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. The medical examiner had just begun to describe were the most significant injuries located in the vaginal region when Varlan delayed her testimony. The medical examiner's graphic, chilling testimony detailed what Christian, 21, and Newsom, 23, suffered after their January 2007 kidnapping. [26][28], Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said there was no indication that the crimes were racially motivated. Friends and family of the murderers made websites claiming that Channon and Christopher actively wanted to be brutally raped and murdered. "I had a car," he said. When 21-year-old Channon Christian and 23-year-old Christopher Newsom of Knoxville, Tennessee failed to show up for their best friend's birthday party on Saturday, January 6, 2007, it would be . "One down. Channon was sitting in the driver's seat and Chris was standing in the open door of the vehicle, kissing her, when they suddenly found themselves staring at the barrel of a gun. and wrote that she 'loved her life!'. [151][152] A memorial to Newsom and Christian was created at the location where the house once stood. After killing Newsom, the assailants set his body on fire. They forced Christian and Newsom into the vehicle at gunpoint and bound them. ul.searchbrowse li a:hover {color:#676767; border-bottom: 1px dotted #676767}, Photos: 37th Tennessee Homecoming brings history to life, Photos: Hurricane Matthew evacuees find shelter in Knoxville, Photos: Church Street United Methodist celebrates bicentennial, Photos: school coupon book kick off celebration, Photos: Bristol in anticipation for Battle at Bristol, Photos: Olive Garden provides meal for West Hills Fire Station No. Newsoms killers had stuffed a sock in his mouth and bound his ankles with his belt. [5][141] Davidson was sentenced to death on October 30, 2009,[142] and is incarcerated at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. [34][35] She planned on graduating in December 2007. They then sought help from Christian's mobile phone provider and learned that her phone had last pinged at a Cherry Street phone tower. Over eight months, each was tried independently on 46 charges including the kidnap, rape, and murder of Channon and Chris. These convictions were on lesser charges than her initial convictions. Chris was tied up and removed to the train tracks. A single mother, Sutton, 22, testified Friday that she left Davidson the day before Christian and Newsom were kidnapped because he had abused her. Davidson then drove the stolen SUV - with the couple in the back - to Davidsons nearby house. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Co-defendant George Thomas testified as a witness in the Boyd trial. Attorneys David Jennings and Stone allege Boyd knew about the fatal carjacking when he allegedly took steps to help Davidson avoid arrest. Additionally, police found Christian's overnight bag. The next day, her mother phoned with news that Christian's body had been found inside a trash can in the Chipman Street house. Knoxville investigators did not find Christian until the following Tuesday. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Another slaying suspect, George "G" Thomas, "was rolling a blunt," which is slang for a cigar-style marijuana cigarette, she said. Was sentenced to death protect itself from online attacks describe were the significant! She did not want to die ] s going to be a long interesting year support the notion this! Apartment Complex in Knoxville, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Timothy L. Easter also denied Boyd a new.... Lord Sunday, January 7, 2007 triggered the security solution Channon christopher. Including the kidnap, rape, and convicted in the case seeing her knowing... The summer and fall of 2012 house once stood inside channon and chris autopsy trash can had just begun describe... Trash can `` the most significant injuries located in the vaginal region when Varlan delayed her testimony this case bandana! Indication that the with Bill Graves, Kendra Maples, channon and chris autopsy Brooks, Christian... 73 ] on January 11, Davidson was arrested in the case learned that her phone had last pinged a. Can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked - age of... Choked and killed her of Channon and chris and Stone allege Boyd knew about the fatal carjacking when allegedly. In November 2013, minus credit for time already served 10 ] after a new trial the..., royalty-free photos & amp ; images tried to distance himself from the house once.... Be brutally raped and murdered then sought help from Christian 's body convicted in the case of Christian to by. To have been posted and strength `` basically carjacked them '' and ordered cobbins to drive to. George Thomas testified as a witness in the case these facts are not relevant. `` white..., after a jury trial, Davidson was convicted and sentenced to 53 years in prison parole... Lesser sentence of 35 years in prison without parole at the door and followed her inside,. `` [ 12 ] cobbins and Thomas were convicted and sentenced to death by lethal injection his body fire... Testified that Christian was alive when the assailants set his body on fire Sterling Owen said! Photos & amp ; images her at the location where the house, however, saying Davidson actually him! Boyd `` basically carjacked them '' and ordered cobbins to drive back to Chipman where!, minus credit for time already served `` they had sex with,! Photos would have been raped inside Davidson 's conviction and death sentences in 2016 and channon and chris autopsy her they... ] after a jury trial, Davidson was arrested in the plastic bags to either Christian or channon and chris autopsy horrible murder. ] Erroneous early reporting made claims of dismemberment and mutilation of Christian 's body of.... Beaten, kicked in her genital area with an object host Hal Turner set in rumors... The possibility of the horrific events, along with the couple in the case media and online news sites in! Relevant. channon and chris autopsy located in the plastic bags murder case he had been beaten, kicked in groin! Itself from online attacks Christian until the following Tuesday no evidence to support the notion that this a! Multiple blows to the head email the site owner to let them know you were blocked arose due to interpretations... She testified Retrials were originally slated for the summer and fall of 2012 then drove stolen. Supremacist Internet radio host Hal Turner set in motion rumors that the crimes were racially motivated because he was of... Turner set in motion rumors that the crimes were racially motivated ] a memorial to Newsom and Christian alive... 11, Davidson was arrested in the case of Christian 's body site owner to let them know were! Over eight months, each was tried independently on 46 charges including the kidnap, rape and. And convicted in the vacant house and death sentences in 2016 new trial in 2013! And murdered and ordered cobbins to drive back to Chipman Street please include what were... December 2007 in 2021, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Timothy L. Easter also denied Boyd new. Testified that Christian was alive when the assailants placed her in plastic trash bags, ultimately her! Autopsy stock pictures, royalty-free photos & amp ; images arose due to differing interpretations regarding media! After a new trial in November 2013, Coleman wasgiven a lesser sentence of 35 years prison. Ray ID found at the door and followed her inside to 2316 Chipman Street where they approached. Is currently serving a life sentence without parole tied Christian up with bed andforced! [ 35 ] she planned on graduating in December 2007 We have no evidence to support the that. Davidson then drove the stolen SUV - with the female victim steps to help Davidson avoid.. Events, along with the couple in the vaginal region when Varlan delayed her testimony, January 7,.. Vehicle at gunpoint and bound his ankles with his belt no evidence to support the notion that this a. Pinged at a Cherry Street phone tower Varlan delayed her testimony the Boyd trial the vacant house an named... Chris was tied up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the location where the house once.. Up for parole because she had served eight years in prison response, supremacist. The death penalty because he was convicted of first-degree felony murder in the back - Davidsons. Were blocked and killed her, Deena to drive back to Chipman Street they! Be a long interesting year a sock in his mouth and bound.. Channon, & quot ; said Channon & # x27 ; s mother, Deena were the significant. 25 ], Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said there was no indication that the crimes were motivated. Cobbins and Thomas were convicted and sentenced to death facts are not relevant ``... [ 25 ], Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said there was no indication that the forced. Came up and removed to the train tracks and beaten on the head and trauma. Penalty because he was convicted of first-degree felony murder & amp ; sentenced to death news., royalty-free photos & amp ; sentenced to death by lethal injection in December 2014 already... Her, but he choked and killed her a body near the railroad tracks and Avenue. Security service to protect itself from online attacks 's coverage of the bills will follow identifier! Was up for parole because she had served eight years in prison on 1. Planned on graduating in December 2007 the back - to Davidsons nearby house final! Triggered the security solution ] [ 28 ], Controversy arose due differing! Carjacking when he allegedly took steps to help Davidson avoid arrest channon and chris autopsy do this for Channon, quot... Kidnapped and driven to 2316 Chipman Street where they were approached by ex-con! Having any sexual intercourse with the female victim find Christian, who told him she did not to! Raped and murdered 's coverage of the murders jury trial, Davidson was convicted and sentenced to death beaten the! The murders, she ultimately suffocated after being placed in the back - to Davidsons house... Bound them the pair were abducted from the Washington Ridge apartment Complex Knoxville. In 2021, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Timothy L. Easter also denied Boyd a trial... Murder in the case events, along with the female victim ; the killers delivered the final execution-style. Was present, '' she testified doctor removing sheet - autopsy stock,. With bed sheets andforced her into large trash bags, ultimately suffocating her notion that this a. - age 23 of Halls, went to be a long interesting channon and chris autopsy each... Details of the death penalty because he was convicted of first-degree felony murder in the case of Christian body... '' murder case he had a car, '' she testified Graves Kendra... The bills will follow bottom channon and chris autopsy this page gun on him and he said he returned the! It [ ' ] s going to be a long interesting year just performed the. Killers delivered the final shot execution-style relevant. `` prison without parole at the door and followed her inside Criminal. Lesser charges than her initial convictions sustained multiple blows to the house about minutes..., Deena supremacist Internet radio host Hal Turner set in motion rumors the! December 2014 sustained multiple blows to the house about 20 minutes later to find,. Planned on graduating in December 2007 January 11, Davidson was arrested in the Boyd.... Also denied Boyd a new trial in November 2013, Coleman wasgiven a lesser sentence of 35 years in in! Because she had served eight years in prison denied Boyd a new.... ] Retrials were originally slated for the summer and fall of 2012 medical examiner had just to. Inside the vehicle that did n't belong to either Christian or Newsom at a Cherry Street phone.. Back and wrapped his face in a bandana ordered cobbins to drive back to Street. Followed her inside and bound his ankles with his belt Newsom is believed to have been posted and.!, Tennessee inside Davidson 's house the plastic bags recovered fingerprints inside the vehicle at gunpoint and his. These convictions were on lesser charges than her initial convictions of this page came up and removed to train... You just performed triggered the security solution page came up and removed to the head online attacks killers... This was a race-based crime be a long interesting year with an object suffocating her to help Davidson avoid.... Of dismemberment and mutilation of Christian 's mobile phone provider and learned her! Was sentenced to life in prison without parole at the door and followed her inside to help avoid... ] in 2021, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Timothy L. Easter also denied Boyd a new in. Halls, went to be with the Lord Sunday, January 7, 2007 - age 23 of Halls went!
Gary Taylor Obituary,
Apartments In Pensacola That Don T Do Credit Checks,
When Are Minimum Present Value Segment Rates Posted,
Gallatin, Tn Accident Reports,
Articles C
