"Lemaricus Davidson decided to run a story off me about something his brother did that he was in a jam. They were kidnapped the evening of January 6, 2007 when Christian's vehi Show more Show more. Thanks to lobbying from the families of the victims, two new laws were introduced in 2014 as a result of the case: Murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 09:34, Pellissippi State Technical Community College, Federal Correctional Institution, Yazoo City, Federal Correctional Institution in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Federal Correctional Institution, Beckley, "Grand jury presentment in Christian/Newsom case", "5 things to know about the Christian-Newsom torture slayings", "Murders of Christopher Newsom and Channon Christian", "Transcript: Davidson says he told Christian he would 'make sure she got out', "10 years later: Remembering Christian-Newsom", "Fifth person charged in gruesome 2007 murders of young Knoxville couple", "Fourth suspect arrested in corpse-burning case", "4 death sentences for LeMaricus Davidson in Christian-Newsom murders", "Lemaricus Davidson gets 80 more years in torture-slaying case", "Cobbins convicted of first-degree murder", "Torture-slayings trial, Day 9: Victims' families: Jury 'let us down' with Letalvis Cobbins verdict", "The verdicts in the George Thomas trial", "George Thomas gets life without parole for Christian-Newsom murders", "Coleman gets 53 years; judge rejects innocent defense", "Newsoms thank George Thomas for testifying against Eric Boyd as judge approves reduced sentence", "LIST: Here's what Eric Boyd was found guilty of in deaths of Channon Christian & Chris Newsom", "Special judge grants new trials for torture-slaying defendants, cites Baumgartner's conduct", New trial dates set for Channon Christian/Chris Newsom defendants in Knoxville, "Tennessee Supreme Court overturns new trial rulings in Christian-Newsom murders", "Judge sentences Vanessa Coleman to 35 years", "Judge's order ensures George Thomas will die in prison for 2007 torture-slayings", "Christopher Newsom and Channon Christian Brutally Murdered As the Nation Looks on", "Critics say news media ignoring Knoxville couple slaying", "Media criticized in slayings with racial overtone", "Time no cure for pain in torture slayings of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom", "From rage to restoration, murder victim's father finds faith", "Christian, Newsom memorialized with scholarships", "The Last Suspect: 'I've Always Had a Mother's Instinct That He Was The One Who Murdered My Son', "Judge warns victim's family about comments to defense attorneys", "Timeline of the Channon Christian-Christopher Newsom murders", "TENN. MAN FACING FOUND GUILTY OF 36 CHARGES IN HORRIFIC 2007 KIDNAPPING, RAPE AND MURDER OF YOUNG COUPLE", "In torture slaying trial, each side interprets evidence differently", "Consent argued in torture-slaying trial", "Graphic details emerge in Christian-Newsom killings", "Christian-Newsom Torture Murder Case: Attending Vanessa Coleman's Retrial", "Horror of Christian/Newsom killings in focus: What happened on Chipman Street", "Guilty again: New trial, similar outcome for Coleman in slaying", "Young Couple, Gruesome Murder, Was it A Hate Crime? Both of them were raped, tortured, and murdered. 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. It was days before police found Christians body. Evil at Sea: The Disappearance of Amy Bradley. 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. [14], On October 28, 2009, Lemaricus Davidson was found guilty. Prosecutors conceded Baumgartner had been impaired during Coleman's trial but appealed the decision to retry Davidson, Cobbins, and Thomas. When Newsom was murdered, his hands were bound behind his back, and his feet were bound together. 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. Newsom arrived, and he and Christian went to the apartment complex parking lot. If you want to know what they look like, Google them. He pleaded guilty to official misconduct. He was later driven to nearby railroad tracks where he was shot and set afire. Davidson met her at the door and followed her inside. At the time of her death, Shanann had been 15 weeks pregnant (via MEAWW). "The guy was wantin a ride," Armstrong said. 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. Eventually themen tookNewsom outside and forced him back into the SUV. He was also convicted on charges of carjacking, robbery, and kidnapping. Then, they covered his head with a sweatshirt that they fastened around his neck with shoestrings. Another slaying suspect, George "G" Thomas, "was rolling a blunt," which is slang for a cigar-style marijuana cigarette, she said. The fatal shot was fired with the gun's muzzle against his head above his right ear, and it severed his brain stem. "If this wasn't a hate crime, then I don't know how you would define a hate crime," said Newsom's mother. In January 2016, Thomas appealed to the United States Supreme Court[120] but the court did not agree to hear the case. Her neck muscles had been bruised and the manner of death was deemed a homicide. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1745f29e39c2e6 She agreed. [47][48][49] Christian was also anally and vaginally raped. When none of Christian's friends and family heard from her, they became worried and alerted the authorities. "What I hear is (Lomonaco) doesn't like what's coming in (as evidence)," Stone said. Cookie Notice The victims families notified authorities the next day about the missing couple. CHRIS NEWSOM OBITUARY. The thugs responsible for this crime are: The murders did not receive as much media attention as they should have, partly because the rape story at Duke University took precedence.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'truecrimediva_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_11',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-truecrimediva_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); I REFUSE to put pictures of the killers in this post. "I had decided they were gonna leave because I was scared the police would come to my house," she testified. She was nude from the waist down, as was Newsom. [3][7], Channon Gail Christian (born April 29, 1985, in Nacogdoches, Texas) moved from Louisiana to Tennessee with her family in 1997. Her thighs were bound to her chest with a pink curtain. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. His bare and muddy feet indicated that he had walked barefoot to the area where he was killed. 23. [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. True Crime Diva covers missing persons and unsolved cases around the globe. Her face was tightly covered with a small trash bag, and her body was stashed in five large trash bags. In testimony this afternoon, Danielle Lightfoot said that Boyd and Davidson showed up on her Ridgebrook Apartments doorstep late on Jan. 9, a Tuesday. The autopsy report said that Shanann had a "history of being reported missing and subsequently found unresponsive in obvious state of death in a shallow grave." The cause of death was. 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. They were met by more than 300 law enforcement officers. On December 8,2009, George Thomas was sentenced to life . ul.searchbrowse li a {color:#676767; text-decoration:none; } Sutton said Davidson first blamed the killings on Cobbins, and also claimed that Cobbins had forced Christian to shoot Newsom. [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. May 19, 2016 - Explore Maria Narvaez's board "Channon Christian & Christopher Newsome Murders" on Pinterest. Over eight months, each was tried independently on 46 charges including the kidnap, rape, and murder of Channon and Chris. That's all he'd say.". Christian also did not attend work. Thomas was granted the motion and was scheduled to go on trial on August 11, 2008. Three days later, the body of his 21-year-old girlfriend, Channon Christian was found stuffed inside a trash can in a nearby. The next day, a train conductor reported a body near the railroad tracks and 9th Avenue in East Knoxville. Attorneys David Jennings and Stone allege Boyd knew about the fatal carjacking when he allegedly took steps to help Davidson avoid arrest. Update 8/13/19:Eric Boyd was found guiltyof Channon and Christophers 2007 murder. Unfortunately for Christopher, the neck gunshot didn't work, and he suffered through the sharp pain as they fatally shot him in the head. Those who committed this crime were unjust in doing so, and they should pay the penalty. A woman accused him of trading legal favors for sex during breaks in court sessions. It's not a black-and-white issue. Let's talk about adventures! 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. Reportedly, they had dinner at a local restaurantand then visited a friend. They tied his hands behind his back and wrapped his face in a bandana. Photographs of the crimes caused some people in court to pass out. [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. Newsom survived this shooting initially, but later was shot again in the head. [25][118] In 2015, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals upheld Thomas's conviction. A small white plastic bag was pulled over head. "This was the worst crime Knoxville had experienced," Hugh Newsom told producers. 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.. In February 2008, the trial dates for the subjects indicted in Knox County were moved to 2009. Sutton testified. 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. The foundation holds an annual memorial baseball tournament at the Halls Community Park. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Baumgartner ruled that Thomas' phone calls from the jailhouse to his acquaintances were admissible as evidence. autopsy later revealed that Christopher Newsom had been shot three times, once on the right side of the head, once on the right side of the neck, and once in the back. 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. He said he returned to the house about 20 minutes later to find Christian, who told him she did not want to die. This will be the gruesome autopsy photos. "[148], On May 27, 2007, less than 30 white supremacists, led by Alex Linder rallied in downtown Knoxville to protest against the murders. #searchbrowse-left {width:45%; float:left; margin: 0 2%; background: transparent;} [5] Eric Boyd, who had been serving his sentence of 18 years at Federal Correctional Institution, Beckley, a medium-security prison near Beaver, West Virginia, was potentially eligible for release in 2022, but found guilty on charges of rape and first-degree murder on August 13, 2019. He said that Davidson told him that his brother, Letalvis "Rome" Cobbins, and buddy, George "G" Thomas, gang-raped Christian. Privacy Policy. "Something was bothering him. 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. Blackwood sentenced Coleman to 35 years in prison on February 1, 2013, minus credit for time already served. Davidson and Boyd "basically carjacked them" and ordered Cobbins to drive back to Chipman Street. [77], Coleman's lawyers argued that she should receive a 20-year sentence, while prosecutors asked for the maximum sentence of nearly 50 years. The medical examiner's graphic, chilling testimony detailed what Christian, 21, and Newsom, 23, suffered after their January 2007 kidnapping. While Channon was forced to watch, her boyfriend was raped prison style. Friends and family. They had only been dating for a few months, but they were . Armstrong reluctantly acknowledged that he feared he might become a carjacking victim. Letalvis Cobbins followed them. Boyd and Davidson did not put up a fuss, she said. The trial continues Monday. 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. [134][135][136][137] At the December 2014 hearing, Coleman was denied parole and her next parole consideration date was set for December 2020. Knoxville: Directed by Jeffrey Woods. [149], After the protest, columnist Leonard Pitts dismissed claims that the crime was under-reported. For more information, please see our Horrifying facts and disturbing details about real cases that shocked. "Starting a petition to indict Eric Boyd for his part in those horrible murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom, I thought it was the right thing to do," said Cowans. doctor removing sheet - autopsy stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Forensic evidence indicated both Davidson and Thomas fired shots, and Davidson was ultimately responsible forNewsom's demise. Five suspects in total - Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas, Eric Boyd, and Vanessa Coleman - then assaultedand killed Christian and Newsom. Update 2/10/15: One of my readers commented below that Coleman had a new trial and was re-sentenced. On the night of January 6, 2007, two assailants carjacked Channon Christian, 21, and her boyfriend, Christopher Newsom, 23. Cobbins denied having any sexual intercourse with the female victim. [45][53][62] Armstrong insisted he could not remember what they talked about if anything. [13][97] On August 26, Cobbins was sentenced to life without parole. Four black males and one black female were arrested and charged in the case. "She said, 'Oh, my God, Daphne, they found a body in your house.' The couple's friends and families tried to find them, checking local hospitals and filing missing person reports. [105][106][107][108] It was held that his ability to conduct trials had been impaired during his prior two years on the bench, and he was disbarred in September. [133] Serving a 35-year sentence, Coleman was eligible for parole in 2017 and her sentence expires on April 18, 2036. "We've been through the worst. In testimony Friday, Davidson's former girlfriend, Daphne Sutton, said she suspected the man was a killer but slept with him anyway. The witness later observed the 4Runner drive slowly by him. Medical examiners determined Christian was alive when the assailants placed her in plastic trash bags. `` I had decided they were gon na leave because I was scared the police would come to house... Ultimately responsible forNewsom 's demise families notified authorities the next day, a train conductor reported body... Found stuffed inside a trash can in a bandana of carjacking, robbery, kidnapping. Decided they were kidnapped the evening of January 6, 2007 when Christian #. 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