Inside wicked homicide of couple raped, tortured with bleach and set on fireplace
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom were kidnapped before their bodies were discovered days later in a crime so horrific investigating cops needed therapy
Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom(Image: -)
One of America’s darkest crimes was so depraved cops investigating it were left traumatised and needed therapy. Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23, were murdered in brutal fashion in 2007.
The couple, of Knoxville, Tennessee in the US, had been dating for three months and were planning on going out for dinner with pals on January 6. But they never turned up and could not be reached the next day, when Channon did not turn up for work.
The following day, a railway worker found Christopher’s naked corpse, which showed he had been sexually assaulted, shot in the spine and torched. His wrists were tied and garments had been wound around his skull and secured with bootlaces.
Christopher’s remains were in such an appalling state that his heartbroken parents were urged not to view them. Two days later, Channon’s corpse was found stuffed inside a wheelie bin at a house displaying a sale notice.
A post-mortem examination later revealed she had been encased in plastic sacks and dumped in the container while she was still breathing.
The investigation revealed that Channon and Christopher had been carjacked, kidnapped, sexually assaulted, tortured and ultimately murdered. Christopher was taken to a railway track, shot and set on fire, but Channon suffered two days of unspeakable torment.
She was repeatedly assaulted, tied her to a chair and subjected to horrific sexual abuse. They poured bleach into her body, wrapped bags around her and forced her into a bin – while she was still conscious. She eventually suffocated to death.
Cops were led to her remains after finding her deserted car, which revealed fingerprints from Lemaricus Davidson. Her body was found near Davidson’s house, making him a prime suspect.
Cops then identified additional suspects, including his brother Letalvis Cobbins and their associate George Thomas. Eric Boyd, a fourth suspect, was arrested while Cobbins’ girlfriend Vanessa Coleman also emerged as a person of interest.
Police said the couple had endured sexual assault at a residence where they had been forcibly taken. Davidson, Cobbins, Boyd, and Thomas transported Christopher to the railway tracks, where he was shot dead.
During the early morning hours, he was forced into a vehicle while gagged and blindfolded and then dragged to the tracks.
Thomas was compelled to shoot first, the bullet piercing his neck, before a second round struck his back. Davidson then discharged a third shot, hitting the victim in the head, before the assailants doused him in petrol and ignited him.
The gang then returned to the residence, where Channon was abused before her attackers tried to eliminate evidence using bleach.
Davidson, Cobbins and Thomas found guilty on numerous counts including murder. Davidson, thought to be the ringleader, was sentenced to death while the others received life imprisonment.
Boyd was later convicted of murder, robbery, kidnapping and rape-related offences and handed two life sentences. Coleman received 53 years for her involvement in Channon’s death.
She had stayed with Channon while the others escorted Christopher to the tracks. A later retrial saw her sentence reduced to 35 years behind bars.
