It’s been nearly two decades since January 2007, but if you live in East Tennessee, the names Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom still carry a weight that’s hard to describe. It wasn't just a crime. It was a moment that fundamentally shifted how people in Knoxville felt about their own backyards.
Most true crime stories follow a predictable arc: a mystery, an arrest, a trial, and a closing of the book. But this one? It’s been a marathon of legal twists, heart-wrenching testimony, and a community that refuse to let the world forget.
The Night Everything Changed
On Saturday, January 6, 2007, Channon Christian, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Tennessee, and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Chris Newsom, were just starting their evening. They were carjacked at gunpoint outside an apartment complex. Honestly, it’s the kind of random, "wrong place, wrong time" scenario that haunts every parent's nightmares.
What followed at a rental house on Chipman Street was, quite frankly, horrific. The sheer level of brutality the couple endured is something the medical examiners and investigators still talk about with visible distress. It wasn't just a carjacking gone wrong. It was hours of torture and sexual assault.
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Chris was taken to a set of nearby railroad tracks, shot, and his body was set on fire. Channon’s fate was equally harrowing; she was held captive in the house before being bound and left to suffocate inside a trash can in the kitchen.
The People Behind the Crimes
The investigation quickly identified five key players: Lemaricus Davidson, his half-brother Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas, Vanessa Coleman, and Eric Boyd.
Sorting through the legal fallout of this group has been a nightmare for the families. You’ve got different sentences, overturned trials, and enough appeals to fill a library.
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- Lemaricus Davidson: Often called the ringleader, Davidson is currently on death row. He's been filing appeals for years, most recently having several motions denied in late 2025.
- Letalvis Cobbins and George Thomas: Both are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.
- Vanessa Coleman: Her role was primarily as an accomplice. She was sentenced to 53 years, though she later received a slightly reduced sentence of 35 years upon retrial.
- Eric Boyd: For a long time, Boyd was only convicted on federal charges for being an accessory. It wasn't until 2019 that he was finally convicted of the actual murders and sentenced to life.
Why the Case Still Sparks Debate
There is a massive elephant in the room when people discuss the Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom case: the media coverage. Or, as many argue, the lack of it.
Back in 2007, a lot of people felt like the national media—outlets like CNN or Fox News—ignored the story because the victims were white and the perpetrators were Black. It became a flashpoint for conversations about race and the "Missing White Woman Syndrome" (though in this case, the argument was the inverse).
Local law enforcement, including former Police Chief Sterling Owen IV, consistently maintained there was no evidence of a "hate crime" motive. They saw it as a cold-blooded robbery and carjacking. Still, if you go online today, you’ll find forums and blogs where people are still debating whether justice was truly "blind" in how this was reported.
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The Judge Baumgartner Scandal
Just when the families thought they had closure, the legal system pulled the rug out from under them. In 2011, it came out that the presiding judge, Richard Baumgartner, was a drug addict. He was literally buying pills from people in his own court system while the trials were happening.
Because of his "structural error," all the original convictions were put in jeopardy. It forced the families to sit through some of these graphic, painful details all over again in retrials. It’s hard to imagine the strength it took for the Christian and Newsom families to endure that.
Legacy and Actionable Next Steps
Channon and Chris aren't just names in a case file. They have foundations and scholarships in their names, and their families have successfully pushed for legislative changes in Tennessee.
If you are looking to honor their memory or stay updated on the legal status of the remaining appeals, here is how you can actually engage:
- Support the Memorial Foundations: The Channon Gail Christian Memorial Golf Tournament and various scholarships for UT students are active ways the families keep their spirits alive.
- Monitor the Tennessee Board of Parole: While most of the perpetrators are in for life, Vanessa Coleman’s status is often a point of concern for those following the case.
- Read the Trial Transcripts: If you want to get past the "internet rumors" and see the actual evidence, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts has archived much of the Supreme Court's rulings on the Davidson and Cobbins appeals.
- Advocate for Victim’s Rights: The families have been vocal about the "Good Faith Exception" and other legal hurdles that almost let the killers go free. Supporting organizations like Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) is a direct way to help families in similar positions.
The story of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom is a dark chapter in Tennessee history, but the resilience of their families ensures it’s also a story about the relentless pursuit of justice. Every year, friends and family still gather on Chipman Street to release balloons, reminding everyone that even 19 years later, they aren't going anywhere.