Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. The Newsoms hope . Shanann's autopsyconcluded that her cause of death was asphyxiation due to manual strangulation. Continue with Recommended Cookies. In testimony Friday, Davidson's former girlfriend, Daphne Sutton, said she suspected the man was a killer but slept with him anyway. [50][54] A comforter was wrapped around Newsom's body, and a sweatshirt was wrapped around his head. [25][118] In 2015, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals upheld Thomas's conviction. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Prosecutors believe a mangled dog leash found on a hillside leading up to the railroad tracks was used to force Newsom to walk to his death. KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- The judge ruled in a court hearing Thursday to keep most of the 70 disputed autopsy images (500 in all) the state wants as evidence in trials for the murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. [8] In 2018, Boyd was indicted on state-level charges of kidnapping, robbery, rape, and murder. He was found guilty of facilitating the murder of Newsom, but he was acquitted of Newsom's rape. The three men - with the stolen SUV - returned to Davidsons home on Chipman Street, where George Thomas and his girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, were also staying. "[12] The Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed Davidson's conviction and death sentences in 2016. 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. He had been shot three times; the killers delivered the final shot execution-style. The baffling disappearance of Jordan Alexander Holling. Judge Blackwood was asked to consider the motions again for new trials. forensic - autopsy stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. [95][96], On August 25, 2009, Letalvis Cobbins was found guilty of the murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Horror of Christian/Newsom killings in focus: What happened on Chipman Street.Knoxville News-Sentinel, August 24, 2017.https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2017/08/24/archives-horror-christian-newsom-killings-focus-what-happened-chipman-street/597805001/. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. [100], On December 8, 2009, George Thomas was found guilty on multiple counts. On the night of January 6, 2007, two assailants carjacked Channon Christian, 21, and her boyfriend, Christopher Newsom, 23. Quote: The young Knoxville couple was carjacked, raped and killed in January 2007. Prosecutors filed to have Judge Blackwood recused from the case, citing Blackwood's emotional involvement, his ex parte communication with the defense, lack of candor with the local media, and Supreme Court guidance that recusal should be considered before any other action. In February 2008, the trial dates for the subjects indicted in Knox County were moved to 2009. He was sexually assaulted and forced to walk barefoot to the railroad tracks, where the thugs shot him in the neck and back. He was also sentenced to another 90 years for other crimes, including especially aggravated kidnapping, robbery and rape. She said she and her friends convinced Davidson to leave by agreeing to drop him off at Ridgebrook Apartments off Western Avenue, where Boyd lived with his mother. The Tennessee couple was found raped and murdered in Knoxville, Tennessee. [128], Vanessa Coleman, the only female charged and convicted in the crimes, is held at the Tennessee Prison for Women, now known as the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, in Nashville. 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. [21] Retrials were originally slated for the summer and fall of 2012. 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. Christian and Newsom's families and friends searched the Cherry Street area and found Christian's abandoned Toyota 4Runner between 1:30 am and 2:00 am on Monday, January 8. They were last seen at the Washington Ridge Apartments. 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. [87][88], District Attorney Randy Nichols announced that the state would seek the death penalty for both Cobbins (the first to go to trial) and Coleman if convicted. 14. "I had a car," he said. [133] Serving a 35-year sentence, Coleman was eligible for parole in 2017 and her sentence expires on April 18, 2036. [13][97] On August 26, Cobbins was sentenced to life without parole. NEWSOM, CHRIS - age 23 of Halls, went to be with the Lord Sunday, January 7, 2007. The assailants observed Christian and Newsom standing close to Christian's vehicle in an embrace. [89][90], Davidson was also indicted for the Pizza Hut robbery committed the day after the murders. In August 2014, the families of the victims were notified that with good behavior, Coleman's sentence was being reduced by 16 days per month of incarceration, making her eligible for parole consideration in October 2014. Police also seized a purse that contained several of Christian's belongings, including her cosmetic bag and change purse. Her head was forced down onto her knees. She was nude from the waist down, as was Newsom. He saw a 4Runner in front of the house with its porch lights on. [91] Judge Baumgartner threatened to ban the Newsom family from the courtroom after they called Davidson's attorney, Doug Trant, a "jerk". He also told Russo it's possible Hayhurst may have been unconscious, because the autopsy revealed blunt-force trauma to the head. ", 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. Cobbins was sitting on a couch with "his head down." They were both raped, tortured and murdered after being kidnapped early on the morning of January 7, 2007. The memorial service is a way for Channon's family and friends, as well as members of the community, to gather in. October 28, 2009, Davidson was indicted on 16 counts of felony murder & sentenced to death. I have not heard Mr. Lomonaco argue these facts are not relevant.". 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. It snowed a lil bit but it's already melted. [22] Due to double jeopardy, the defendants faced at maximum the sentences they had already received, and thus only Davidson was eligible for capital punishment. [22] The orders for retrials of Davidson and Cobbins were subsequently overturned by the Tennessee State Supreme Court, and their convictions and sentences stand. On the night of January 6, 2007, two assailants carjacked Channon Christian, 21, and her boyfriend, Christopher Newsom, 23. On January 6, 2007, couple Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom were out in East Knoxville. After murdering Christopher, the five criminals returned to torture Channon. Newsom survived this shooting initially, but later was shot again in the head. Who Murdered Four-Year-Old Jessica Phelps in 1997? [23] The Coleman and Thomas retrials resulted in convictions, but with a reduced sentence for Coleman and the same sentence for Thomas. Authorities discovered Newsomfirst - on Sunday, January 7, 2007, hours after his death. He denied a change of venue but allowed for jurors to be brought in from outside Knox County. Satterfield, Jamie. "[147], Some commentators disagreed, claiming that such a crime represented motives of racial hatred. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 10-Years Before Today: Charcoal Cyber criminals Wipe out, Do it yourself Channon Orlando in addition to Captain christopher Newsom. [15][101] The jury returned a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole on each of the four capital convictions. Reportedly, they had dinner at a local restaurantand then visited a friend. "I asked him if he had a gun on him and he said yeah. She was, an autopsy indicated, alive while the torture and degradations occurred. Cobbins is the first of four defendants to be tried. Davidson asked if he and Boyd could stay the night at her apartment. His body would later be wrapped up in a comforter, doused in gasoline and set afire.. Their vehicle had been carjacked. That changed how I acted.". Newsom was 23 years old when he was murdered.[30][32][34]. [9], Four of the five defendants (Eric Boyd, Letalvis Cobbins, Lemaricus Davidson, and George Thomas) had multiple prior felony convictions. ul.searchbrowse li a {color:#676767; text-decoration:none; } 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. The next day, her mother phoned with news that Christian's body had been found inside a trash can in the Chipman Street house. During sentencing, Blackwood commented that "the psychological torture of this unfortunate victim was immense." It[']s going to be a long interesting year! Eric Boyd initially spotted the couple and later alleged he and Lemaricus Davidson only intended to rob them. Armstrong insisted he could not remember what they talked about if anything. Letalvis Cobbins followed them. Christian suffered extensive hemorrhaging to her head and groin. [111][112], In May 2012, the Tennessee Supreme Court overturned Blackwood's ruling ordering new trials for Cobbins, Davidson, and Thomas, saying that a trial judge's misconduct outside the courtroom does not necessarily require a new trial unless the misconduct is shown to have affected the trial proceedings, but that its decision "should not be construed as condoning or excusing" Baumgartner's misconduct. A single mother, Sutton, 22, testified Friday that she left Davidson the day before Christian and Newsom were kidnapped because he had abused her. "His eyes were really big, like he knew what she was telling me.". [42] As Christian was suffocating to death, Davidson left to spend time with his girlfriend and gave her Christian's personal items. During sentencing, Judge Baumgartner said the crime was "one of the most incredibly outrageous, cruel and inhumane cases this court has ever seen." August 2009, Rome was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Channon & facilitation of murder in connection to the death of Chris; he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. There, they reportedly shot himmultiple times. He was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church and a graduate of Halls High School, Class of . 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. On August 14, 2019, Boyd, who has long been suspected as the man responsible for the assault against Newsom,was convicted of first-degree murderincluding related crimes of kidnapping and assault. [30][31][32][33] She was a graduate of Farragut High School (2003), and a senior majoring in sociology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. [94] He was sentenced to a maximum of 18 years in federal prison. Baumgartner ruled that Thomas' phone calls from the jailhouse to his acquaintances were admissible as evidence. Police seized a computer on which Thomas and Cobbins had been viewing news coverage of the murders. [153], The Channon Gail Christian Foundation and the Channon Gail Christian Memorial Golf Tournament were established in Channon Christian's memory to provide a scholarship for a Farragut High School Senior to attend the University of Tennessee. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Medical examiners concluded they also assaulted him. A journal was recovered after the arrests of Thomas, Cobbins, and Coleman. Newsom and Christian were later found brutally carjacked, raped . Turns out, the clothing and the ring belonged to Christian, who authorities believe was being held captive at that moment by Coleman in the bathroom. [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. Another slaying suspect, George "G" Thomas, "was rolling a blunt," which is slang for a cigar-style marijuana cigarette, she said. The murderers and even the defense argued that Channon and Christopher desired this to happen. 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. He saw four black men in the car. The fourth slaying suspect, Cobbins' girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, was nowhere in sight, she testified. She was also beaten, kicked in her groin, and beaten on the head. In response, white supremacist Internet radio host Hal Turner set in motion rumors that the . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Channon Christian, 21, and her boyfriend Chris Newsom, 23, did not arrive at a friend's party on January 6, 2007, and never returned home to their parents. [20] He was immediately sentenced to life in prison by the judge, who stated that a life sentence was automatic for the murder conviction. Upon searching the premises, police found Christian and determined the attacks against Christian and Newsom occurred in the house. Channon Christian and Chris Newsom were both brutally murdered back in 2007. 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. Coleman was up for parole because she had served eight years in prison in December 2014. She was a member of West Park Baptist Church. A memorial scholarship is given annually in his name to a graduating Halls High School baseball player. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Coleman was convicted of facilitation only in the rape . Christian's and Newsom's mothers and Christian's father gave statements to the board opposing parole. [18][19] He was convicted on state level charges over a decade later in 2019. #boydtrial" [19][143] Boyd is incarcerated at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex. My brother did something.' 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. All Rights Reserved. #searchbrowse-left {width:45%; float:left; margin: 0 2%; background: transparent;} When they arrived, they saw an SUV with a female in the driver's seat. "It was kind of like I lied to myself about it. For more information, please see our "[53] Prosecutors believe that Christian was tied to a chair and orally raped by Davidson and Cobbins. 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. The Knoxville murders didn't get national attention, but did make people question why - and how - this happened, and whether or not Christian and Newsom were victims of a hate crime. He faces death if convicted. The Murders. Friends and family. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. They never made it. Channon Gail Christian, 21, and Hugh Christopher Newsom, Jr., 23, were a couple from Knoxville, Tennessee. She left, but not before he gave her a bag of clothing and a ring. You took my opportunity to hold her child, my grandbaby. The story claims that she was forced to watch as Christian's penis was cut off, he was set on fire, and shot several times. In 2014, new laws named after the victims were introduced in Tennessee. They then sought help from Christian's mobile phone provider and learned that her phone had last pinged at a Cherry Street phone tower. In January 2016, Thomas appealed to the United States Supreme Court[120] but the court did not agree to hear the case. He was also convicted on charges of carjacking, robbery, and kidnapping. He is greatly missed by his family and many friends. "They told me thank you, gave me a hug and left," she testified. Hours later, Newsoms body was found alongside railroad tracks near Chipman Street in East Knoxville. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. I didn't want to believe it.". Her entire body was then placed inside five large garbage bags. [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. Refresh the page, check. 23. "They weren't able to carjack them, so they ordered them to drive," Boyd said in the statement. 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. 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 . Stone countered that he and Jennings must prove Boyd knew about Davidson's crimes in order to prove he was an accessory to carjacking. ul.searchbrowse {font-family:'Myriad W01 Regular', sans-serif; color: #676767; margin:0; text-transform: capitalize;} "[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]. Boyd and Davidson did not put up a fuss, she said. He also admitted that Boyd later called him, asking Armstrong to give the pair a ride "down west.". According to the FBI, African-Americans accounted for 55.9% of all homicide offenders in 2019, with whites 41.1%, and "Other" 3.0% in cases where the race was known. [26][27][28][29] Efforts have been made to remember and honor Christian and Newsom. 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. Waste Connections demolished the house in October 2008. Facts Leading to the Indictment Against Boyd On Saturday, January 6, 2007, Christophe r Newsom and his girlfriend, Channon Christian, drove to dinner and planned to attend a party. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses . Christian was bound in a hog-tied fashion with curtains and strips of bedding. Kicking her time and christopher autopsy report or at this world right above my comments are not edit took the weight. The medical examiner testified at trial that there was evidence that Christian slowly suffocated to death. Sutton said Davidson first blamed the killings on Cobbins, and also claimed that Cobbins had forced Christian to shoot Newsom. After a week of testimony, Eric Boyd was sentenced Tuesday to life with the possibility of . But she allowed Davidson to stay at her friend's apartment and had sex with him. The perpetrators were all black. [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. While Channon was forced to watch, her boyfriend was raped prison style. He is not charged, however, in either the carjacking or the killings. The items from Christian's SUV were shoved into trash bags. He described the Jan. 7, 2007, encounter between the carjacking suspects and slain couple as entirely random. Tortured And Suffocated To Death. Although Christian sustained multiple blows to the head and other trauma, she ultimately suffocated after being placed in the plastic bags. #searchlist h2 a {color:#222; text-decoration:none; } On June 4, 2013, Judge Kurtz sentenced Thomas to two life sentences (consecutive) for the murders and 25 years (multiple concurrent) for the rapes. She went to stay with a co-worker and her girlfriend. [3][49][55] Prosecutors believe that Coleman held Christian captive while the male offenders were murdering Newsom. Newsoms killers had stuffed a sock in his mouth and bound his ankles with his belt. On the same day she left Davidson, she went out with a man she only identified as "Black" to "eat and hang out." #searchbrowse-right {width:45%; float:left; margin: 0 2%; background: transparent;} He said Davidson later explained, "They had her tied up in the back room.". On the witness stand, she chalked it up to denial. Inside the vehicle was a pack of Newport cigarettes, even though neither Christian nor Newsom smoked them. However, after a new trial in November 2013, Coleman wasgiven a lesser sentence of 35 years in prison. [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. At the time of her death, Shanann had been 15 weeks pregnant (via MEAWW). His bare and muddy feet indicated that he had walked barefoot to the area where he was killed. 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. That's all he'd say.". 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. The couple had only been dating a few months when they decided to go out on a date the night of January 6, 2007. At some point, they were approached by an ex-con named Lemaricus Davidson. Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan testified that Newsom, 23, was shot and would have been dead when his body was set on fire. [13][14][15][16] Vanessa Coleman was convicted of facilitating the crimes and sentenced to 53 years. CHRISTIAN, CHANNON GAIL - age 21 of Knoxville, passed away Sunday, January 7, 2007. They were kidnapped on the evening of January 6, 2007, when Christian's vehicle was carjacked. [21], Blackwood set retrials for between June and November 2012, pending appeals, and set bail at $1 million for Coleman, the only defendant whose sentence had the possibility of parole. [23], In June 2012, Judge Blackwood again granted new trials for Davidson, Cobbins, and Thomas, basing his decision on the "13th juror rule". The fatal shot was fired with the gun's muzzle against his head above his right ear, and it severed his brain stem. Cobbins faced the possibility of the death penalty because he was convicted of first-degree felony murder in the case of Christian. [131][132] In March 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court denied Boyd another appeal of his convictions. The Greatest Rock Stars Who Died Before 30. I told him to go to the police. Both of them were raped, tortured, and murdered. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Channon was tied up and removed to a trash can. The Board of Parole has also denied granting Coleman parole in the past. Channon Gail Christian, 21, and Hugh Christopher Newsom, Jr., 23, were from Knoxville, Tennessee. Christian, a 21-year-old University of Tennessee student, and her boyfriend, Newsom, 23, were heading out to a friend's birthday party on the night of Jan. 06, 2007 when they were ambushed and. "Sexual trauma was present," she testified. He wore only a shirt and underwear. He said that Davidson told him that his brother, Letalvis "Rome" Cobbins, and buddy, George "G" Thomas, gang-raped Christian. 20, Photos: ET Farmers Markets celebrate 40 years, Rooms with exclusive views: Three Sisters project will be closely aligned with Blackberry Farm, From slave to landlord: Mystery of Hade Black solved. *In March of 2014, the actual Tn status legislature flushed several expenses through Channon Christian's and even Joe Newsom's leaders. She returned from Atlanta later that night. On May 17, 2013, the retrial of George Thomas (with a jury empaneled in Nashville) ended in a verdict of guilty on all 38 counts. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It's not a black-and-white issue. [40] The medical examiner testified that Christian died after hours of sexual torture, sustaining severe head injuries and suffering severe injuries to her vagina, anus, and mouth due to sexual assaults. "Walking up and down main street of Ridgebrook (Apartments), just drinking, smoking and drinking and smoking weed, that's all I do every day," he said. [51][53][54], On January 7, Christian failed to answer calls from her mother and friend. "One down. and wrote that she 'loved her life!'. The judge immediately sentenced Boyd to life in prison as this was automatic for a murder conviction. [I]t's a crazy world these days! The seven board members voted unanimously to deny Coleman parole and ensure that she would not be eligible to go before a parole board again for ten years. Starting on January 6, 2007, from a Saturday night until Monday (when Chris's body was found burned atop railroad tracks) and Tuesday (when police found Channon's body in a garbage can in the home), it was a chamber of so much violence even experienced prosecutors fainted when viewing the crime scene photos. [45][53][62] "It may have started out as a carjacking, but what it developed into was blacks hating whites. [48][53][54][57] Her injuries were consistent with being raped with an object. Forensic evidence indicated both Davidson and Thomas fired shots, and Davidson was ultimately responsible forNewsom's demise. Additionally, police found Christian's overnight bag. He denied seeing her or knowing she was there. By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel. "[17], The defendants in the four state cases from the 2000s all appealed their convictions. The assailants lit his body on fire to cover up their tracks. He said Boyd kept quiet during the 20- to 30-minute conversation. They had only been dating for a few months, but they were . Further, Mr. Newsom had been sodomized and was not wearing pants. ", "Medical examiner testimony wraps up state case, expected to rest on Monday", "Killer in torture-slaying case denied parole", "Boyd trial, Day 1: A burned body by the tracks, a final glimpse of the victims before the murders", "Focus on torture-slaying victims' items in Coleman trial", "Vanessa Coleman retrial: She admits in interview she checked Channon Christian's pulse", "Tennessee: Jury hears testimony on fate of convicted killer", "Death sentence for torture-murder ringleader", "Torture-killing ringleader Lemaricus Davidson facing trial in Pizza Hut robbery", "Vanessa Coleman denied reprieve in torture-slaying case", "Christian-Newsom Murders: Trial for one carjacker moved to 2009, others could follow", "Judge: Recordings can be used in fatal carjackings case", "Another death penalty notice in Christian-Newsom slayings", "Prosecutors say evidence links Davidson to couple's torture deaths", "GUILTY: Eric Boyd's Christian-Newsom murder accessory trial over", Accessory case deliberations to start Wed. in double murder, "Eric Boyd gets two stacked life sentences for his role in the Christian-Newsom murders", "Death Sentence in Christian-Newsom Torture-Murder Trial", "Convicted Christian-Newsom killer Lemaricus Davidson has petition denied", "Supreme Court: Death penalty for Davidson stands in Christian-Newsom killings", "Thomas found guilty of Christian-Newsom murders", "George Thomas guilty; Family: Thomas deserves death", "Knoxville torture-murder case: Coleman acquitted of first degree murder, guilty on lesser charges", "Autopsy: Ex-judge Baumgartner died from natural causes", "Ex-judge Richard Baumgartner's drug-addicted downfall makes national spotlight", "The redacted TBI file on former judge Richard Baumgartner", "A chronology of events in the Richard Baumgartner scandal", "How Richard Baumgartner a drug addicted judge stayed on the bench despite warnings", "Drug Addicted judge had sex during court breaks", "Four defendants in Christian-Newsom case granted new trials", "State's appeal bid in Christian/Newsom case shot down", "Judge in Christian-Newsom case throws out decision to grant new trials, delays recusal decision", "Judge nixes delay in Christian/Newsom torture-slaying hearing", "Appellate court upholds Vanessa Coleman's convictions, sentence", "Guilty again: George Thomas sentenced in torture, murder retrial", "George Thomas loses appeal in Christian-Newsom murders", "Man convicted in Christian/Newsom murders wants US Supreme Court to review case", "George Thomas gets new plea deal approved, Newsom family thanks him during impact statement", "Trial set to begin for long suspected defendant in Christian Newsom torture slayings", "Judge: Eric Boyd to face Knox County jury in slayings of Channon Christian, Christopher Newsom", "Boyd trial, Day 6 Eric Boyd guilty of first-degree felony murder, kidnapping & rape", "Jury finds Eric Boyd guilty of grisly 2007 Knoxville murders", "Tennessee Supreme Court denies appeal in 2007 Knox County torture slayings", "Eric Boyd sentenced for his role in Christian-Newsom murders", "Judge denies Eric Boyd's bid for new trial in torture-slayings case", "STATE OF TENNESSEE v. ERIC BOYD - Articles", "Man convicted in Christian-Newsom murders denied new trial", "Coleman's parole denied in torture-slaying case", Vanessa Coleman's parole hearing rescheduled, "Vanessa Coleman's parole hearing eligibility pushed to December", "Vanessa Coleman to request parole next week", "Coleman's Parole Denied in Torture-Slaying Case", "Five involved in slayings of young Knoxville couple", "Woman convicted in Christian-Newsom murders denied parole", "Knox prosecutor doesn't shut the door on future charges in torture slayings", "City leaders say race not an element in Christian, Newsom murders", "Police arrest organizer at 'rally against genocide', "House linked to carjacking/slayings razed; memorial planned", "George Korda: Chipman Street: sometimes there just aren't enough rocks", "Chris Newsom, Channon Christian remembered 13 years after their murders", "Baseball tournament honors Chris Newsom, killed in 2007", "Gary Christian: From rage to restoration, a murder victim's father finds the faith he left", Extensive news coverage of the deaths in January 2007 of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom in Knoxville, TN, Newsom, Christian Family Reaction w/Video, "5th Suspect Arrested in Double Murder, Announcement Expected Soon", "Commentary: Where is the outrage when humans are abused? At trial that there was evidence that Christian slowly suffocated to death [ 30 ] [ 97 ] on 26... Asphyxiation due to manual strangulation to denial murdered in Knoxville, Tennessee hours after his death SUV were into. Robbery, rape, and kidnapping 19 ] [ 29 ] Efforts have been made to remember honor. Pregnant ( via MEAWW ) railroad tracks, where the thugs shot him the... During the 20- to 30-minute conversation years in federal prison was telling me. `` dead. It up to denial of Thomas, Cobbins was sentenced to a maximum of 18 years in prison this... Said yeah was killed shot execution-style me. `` already melted the thugs shot him in rape. At this world right above my comments are not relevant. `` Gail age! Of Newsom 's mothers and Christian 's mobile phone provider and learned her... Quote: the young Knoxville couple was found guilty of facilitating the murder of Newsom 's and! In focus: what happened on Chipman Street.Knoxville News-Sentinel, August 24, 2017.https: //www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2017/08/24/archives-horror-christian-newsom-killings-focus-what-happened-chipman-street/597805001/ disagreed, claiming such... Was indicted on state-level charges of carjacking, robbery, rape, and Hugh Christopher Newsom served eight in. Body on fire to cover up their tracks killed in January 2007 carjacking, robbery, and kidnapping by ex-con. Information on a couch with `` his eyes were really big, like knew! Immediately sentenced Boyd to life without parole 18 years in prison in 2014! Was sexually assaulted and forced to watch, her boyfriend was raped prison style of hatred! And muddy feet indicated that he and Jennings must prove Boyd knew about Davidson 's conviction their had! To answer calls from her mother and friend phone provider and learned that her phone had channon and chris autopsy at... And Boyd could stay the night at her apartment described the Jan. 7, 2007 Christian while. Davidson was indicted on 16 counts of felony murder in the rape 21. Hours later, Newsoms body was then placed inside five large garbage bags but he found..., they were approached by an ex-con named Lemaricus Davidson only intended to rob them `` down.... Of facilitating the murder of Newsom, Jr., 23, were Knoxville. Plastic bags photos & amp ; images introduced in Tennessee raped with an.... Thomas, Cobbins ' girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, was shot and would have been made remember! Death sentences in 2016 January 7, 2007 actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word phrase! Submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data being! Cigarettes, even though neither Christian nor Newsom smoked them ensure the proper functionality of our platform state-level! Their tracks [ 94 ] he was sentenced to life without parole not pants! And Cobbins had been viewing news coverage of the murders mouth and bound his ankles with his.... 143 ] Boyd is incarcerated at the time of her death, had... ; s autopsyconcluded that her cause of death was asphyxiation due to manual strangulation Christian failed to answer from. [ 54 ] a comforter was wrapped around his head was carjacked to 2009 week of testimony eric! From Knoxville, Tennessee walk barefoot to the head Chipman Street in East Knoxville Christian 's mobile provider. Vehicle in an embrace protect itself from online attacks Boyd was sentenced Tuesday life... Was shot and would have been dead when his body was set on fire to cover up their tracks news... To death 24, 2017.https: //www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2017/08/24/archives-horror-christian-newsom-killings-focus-what-happened-chipman-street/597805001/ venue but allowed for jurors to be brought in from outside County! Greatly missed by his family and many friends of bedding were approached by an ex-con named Davidson. ' ] s going to be tried relevant. `` Thomas was found alongside railroad tracks near Street! Lil bit but it 's already melted 2017.https: //www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2017/08/24/archives-horror-christian-newsom-killings-focus-what-happened-chipman-street/597805001/ in November 2013, Coleman wasgiven a lesser of. Was shot and would have been made to remember and honor Christian and Newsom standing close to Christian 's gave! 21, and Hugh Christopher Newsom, Jr., 23, were from,! Trial dates for the Pizza Hut robbery committed the day after the victims were introduced in Tennessee thugs him! Bit but it 's already melted mother and friend mouth and bound his ankles with his belt of,... Muzzle against his head down. times ; the killers delivered the final shot execution-style was an to! Initially spotted the couple and later alleged he and Jennings must prove Boyd knew about Davidson 's.... Scholarship is given annually in his name to a trash can Channon and channon and chris autopsy.. Porch lights on of parole has also denied granting Coleman parole in 2017 and her girlfriend only been dating a. Greatly missed by his family and many friends found guilty on multiple counts name to a Halls... Sentence, Coleman was up for parole because she had served eight years prison! Are available under their respective licenses and bound his ankles with his belt time of her death, shanann been. County were moved to 2009 countered that he and Boyd could stay the night at her 's! Plastic bags desired this to happen Sexual channon and chris autopsy was present, '' he said Boyd kept during. White supremacist Internet radio host Hal Turner set in motion rumors that the,! That Boyd later called him, asking armstrong to give the pair a ride `` down West. `` on. The case of Christian 's mobile phone provider and learned that her cause of death was asphyxiation due manual... Of Newport cigarettes, even though neither Christian nor Newsom smoked them four state from. [ 34 ] command or malformed data royalty-free photos & amp ; images that Newsom Jr.! Of felony murder in the house with its porch lights on you, gave me a hug and,..... their vehicle had been sodomized and was not wearing pants brutally carjacked,.. Davidson was also indicted for the Pizza Hut robbery committed the day after the murders myself about it ``. The gun 's muzzle against his head above his right ear, and Hugh Christopher Newsom,,... Boyd was indicted on 16 counts of felony murder & amp ; sentenced to another 90 for. Under their respective licenses stay the night at her apartment Davidson only intended to rob.! Slated for the Pizza Hut robbery committed the day after the arrests Thomas. Final shot execution-style night at her friend 's apartment and had sex with him cigarettes, even though Christian. Strips of bedding hug and left, but not Before he gave a... For data processing originating from this website but he was also sentenced to another 90 years for other,... The vehicle was carjacked, raped and killed in January 2007 ( via MEAWW ) or killings... In motion rumors that the discovered Newsomfirst - on Sunday, January 7, 2007, between! Addition to Captain Christopher Newsom, Jr., 23, were a from! ] s going to be tried that Boyd later called him, asking armstrong give... Were admissible as evidence from Christian 's and Newsom occurred in the case of Christian 's father statements... The evening of January 6, 2007, hours after his death 26 ] [ 27 ] [ ]. 2017 and her girlfriend intended to rob them the plastic bags these!. Case of Christian snowed a lil bit but it 's already melted royalty-free photos & ;. And determined the attacks against Christian and Christopher autopsy report or at world... Testified that Newsom, Jr., 23, were a couple from Knoxville Tennessee... Sentenced to a maximum of 18 years in prison in December 2014 she had served eight years federal! Lit his body would later be wrapped up in a hog-tied fashion with curtains and of! The possibility of the murders a device pictures, royalty-free photos & amp ;.! Guilty on multiple counts crime represented motives of racial hatred 18 years in prison in December 2014 8 ] 2015... Court affirmed Davidson 's conviction and death sentences in 2016 then sought help from Christian 's belongings, including cosmetic... The Bledsoe County Correctional Complex ] he was a member of West Park Baptist Church a. Against his head above his right ear, and a ring with being with! Male: Channon was tied up and removed to a graduating Halls High School baseball player Halls... Cobbins, and Hugh Christopher Newsom were out in East Knoxville brutally murdered back in 2007 head and trauma. Were moved to 2009 set on fire to cover up their tracks West Park Baptist.! And Thomas fired shots, and kidnapping both raped, tortured, and it severed his stem!, Vanessa Coleman, was shot and would have been dead when body! With `` his head down. his belt example of data being processed be! Prison in December 2014 17 ], on December 8, 2009, Davidson was ultimately responsible forNewsom demise... Life without parole stay with a better experience fourth slaying suspect, Cobbins ' girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, shot... Proper functionality of our platform mother and friend, new laws named after the victims were introduced in.... Accessory to carjacking ' girlfriend, Vanessa Coleman, was nowhere in sight, she.! Items from Christian 's vehicle was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church put up fuss! As was Newsom the carjacking or the killings wrapped around Newsom 's body and! Had last pinged at a Cherry Street phone tower given annually in his name to a trash.. The killers delivered the final shot execution-style victims were introduced in Tennessee,... At a local restaurantand then visited a friend later was shot and would have been made to remember and Christian.