A Horror Story Hidden from National Attention
On Saturday January 6, 2007 Hugh Christopher Newsom, age 23 and Channon Gail Christian, age 21, both students at the University of Tennessee went out on a date.
They were driving in Channon’s Toyota 4-Runner when they were carjacked at gunpoint. Suddenly the crime turned far more savage than an armed car theft. Chris and Channon were kidnapped and driven to 2316 Chipman Street where they were forced into the home at gunpoint. While Channon was forced to watch, her boyfriend was raped prison style and then his penis was cut off. He was later driven to nearby railroad tracks where he was shot and set afire. But Channon’s hell was just beginning. She was beaten; gang raped repeatedly in many ways, had one of her breasts cut off and bleach poured down her throat to destroy DNA evidence—all while she was still alive. To add to Channon’s degradation the suspects took turns urinating on her. They too set her body afire, apparently inside the residence, but for some reason left her body there—in five separate trash bags.
The District Attorney General of Knox County later announced the arrests of the following five suspects and the charges they’d face:
Lemaricus “Slim” Davidson, age 25 faces a total of 46 charges. Davidson was indicated on 16 counts of Felony Murder growing out of rape, robbery, kidnapping and theft of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Two counts premeditated murder of Christian and Newsom, 4 counts especially aggravated kidnapping of Christian and Newsom, 20 counts aggravated rape of Christian and Newsom and 2 counts of theft from Christian and Newsom.
Latalvis “Rome” Cobbins, age 24, faces a total of 46 charges. Cobbins was indicted on 16 counts of Felony Murder growing out of rape, robbery, kidnapping and theft of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Two counts especially aggravated robbery from Christian and Newsom, 4 counts especially aggravated kidnapping of Christian and Newsom, 20 counts of aggravated rape of Christian and Newsom and 2 counts of theft from Christian and Newsom.
George “Detroit” Thomas, age 24, faces a total of 46 charges. Thomas was indicated on 16 counts of Felony Murder growing out of rape, robbery, kidnapping and theft of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Two Counts of premeditated murder of Christian and Newsom, 2 counts especially aggravated robbery from Christian and Newsom, 4 counts especially aggravated kidnapping of Christian and Newsom, 20 counts of aggravated rape of Christian and Newsom and 2 counts of theft from Christian and Newsom.
Vanessa Coleman, age 18, faces a total of 40 Tennessee State charges. Coleman was indicated on 12 Counts of Felony Murder growing out of rape, robbery, kidnapping and theft of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. One count premeditated murder of Christian only, 1 count of especially aggravated robbery of Newsom only, 4 counts especially aggravated kidnapping of Christian and Newsom, 20 counts of aggravated rape of Christian and Newsom and 2 counts of theft from Christian and Newsom.
Eric “E” Boyd, age 24, was arrested in connection with the carjacking, but faces only federal charges as an accessory after the fact.
I wasn’t aware of this incident until a friend brought it to my attention May 9th.
Until then I’d never heard even a single comment regarding this brutal crime mentioned by any of our national news media.
We had the death of Anna Nicole Smith shoved down our throats by ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC and FOX News (if we cared to watch) for hours on end over a period of several weeks. I didn’t give a rat’s ass about some overweight, drugged out, has-been bimbo who was apparently willing to crawl into bed with any man who had anything vaguely resembling a pulse. Yet, I couldn’t turn on the television without some new twist in the Anna Nicole saga being discussed. The only victim in this entire matter is the poor baby who was used as a pawn by everyone with dollar signs in their eyes.
Just about the time the Anna Nicole Smith epic was winding down we had Don Imus and the “Nappy headed hos” comment that grabbed headlines around the world. So, for another two or three weeks we were bombarded with cries of insensitivity and racism while Al Sharpton frantically tried to arouse the fires of racial hatred.
Why wasn’t the nation informed of the brutal rape, mutilation and murder of Christopher Newsom and Channon Christian? Was it because they were white and the suspects black? That certainly seems to be the opinion among thousands who have very angrily commented on this case in daily blogs. There are accusations that the press has a double standard when race is a component of crime. One example given was how often do we hear about a suspect wanted for a crime described as a “white male,” but when the suspect is black no mention of race is made? Like it or not, I’ve heard this quite often from the Baltimore and Washington television stations. Though I will also report that I’ve heard the race given when the suspect is black. I don’t know if it’s station policy or the beliefs of particular reporters broadcasting the news when it comes to the offering of a full description of a suspect or not. But, in my opinion, when you air a broadcast and ask the public to provide information regarding a suspect and his or her whereabouts, you should publish the complete description and that includes race—no exceptions.
The murders of Chris Newsom and Channon Christian have brought a firestorm of criticism directed toward the national media and rightly so. There are glaring gaps in the reporting of crimes when race is an issue. We need only to look at Duke University and the accusations leveled against members of the lacrosse team. The media went wild in reporting the alleged rape of a black woman by white team members. The press couldn’t wait to put Duke University, the players, the lacrosse team coach and the white race in general on trial for this reported atrocity. Not only did the press put them on trial, but also convicted everyone involved before all the evidence had been collected and analyzed and the investigation completed. Of course, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton couldn’t wait to jump in front of any and all cameras available and go on the attack. This was their moment to shine once again by standing tall for the rights of the “victim” and scream racism. They had the privileged white boys of Duke in their sights and were going to mow them, their families and friends down. And seizing the opportunity to hype his political aspirations was District Attorney Mike Nifong. He declared the players guilty and the media was damn near choking on their exuberance to build the gallows and braid the hangman’s noose. Plastered on every televised news report and on the front page of every newspaper across the nation are the photographs and names of the accused players. By God, there’s a good old fashioned lynching brewing and those privileged white boys are gonna be hangin’ by their rich necks. Oops. It seems somebody forgot the evidence. You know, the proof needed to confirm beyond a reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused players. Crystal Gail Mangum, the alleged victim of the rape, had seven different DNA samples on her body and clothing and none of the DNA belonged to even one of the Duke Lacrosse players. The repercussions from the false allegation of rape by Mangum are still reverberating throughout the entire community. But media attention dwindled to almost nothing very quickly when the “race card” died and there was nothing left for them to sensationalize. To the lacrosse players and Duke University the media said, “screw you and the fact that we did our best to ruin your reputations. Our ratings skyrocketed and that’s all that matters.”
As far as the rape, mutilation and murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, some in the media are saying this case doesn’t represent a hate crime. Well, it sure as hell doesn’t symbolize a night of love and bonding between the young couple and those who butchered them. Was the cutting off of Chris’ penis an act of human kindness? Was the cutting off of Channon’s breast and pouring bleach down her throat an act of compassion and love? This was pure hatred, nothing less. How could any person of sound mind and thinking look at this case and say with absolute certainty that hate wasn’t involved in the commission of the atrocities against Christian and Newsom?
Reading over dozens of pages on the Christian and Newsom murders and other cases I noted many angry comments one of which said the media has a recent history of “blacking out” certain news stories when race is involved. The Wichita Massacre was referenced as one of these. The Carr brothers executed four white victims, after forcing them to kneel naked in a frozen field in Kansas. A fifth intended victim lived when a bullet fired toward her head knocked her unconscious instead of killing her. She was able to identify her attackers who were arrested and charged with other violent crimes as well.
Yet, their vicious crimes were treated to a media “black out.” Here cries of bias are raised because the murder of James Byrd, a black man, dragged to death by three white men received top media billing. But the Byrd case was only one of the examples used to point out the disparity in reporting.
I won’t attempt to write a lengthy commentary on this issue. Instead I’ll refer you to the various web sites that can be found detailing all of these cases. You need only enter the names Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom to open the dozens of sites and blogs that tell of and talk about these crimes. But be forewarned that you will find some shocking and sickening incidents of violence. And maybe your views will be similar to mine after you read about these events—the perpetrators, white and black, are indeed a subhuman culture and should be erased permanently from society. They should become nothing more than a bad memory in a faded photograph.
I’ve always believed the motto “No one is above the law, nor is anyone below it.” I’ve held a belief that the law was and is for everyone, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background and when it comes to crime and justice everyone should be treated equally. I don’t care if a person accused of a crime is considered privileged because of wealth and fame or they’re from a row home in the city, the law should apply equally.
I feel the same about media coverage of crimes. If you’re going to beat the drums
loudly, point fingers and cry racism or hate, do it without bias. Bang your drums and point your fingers, but make sure you cover all races with equal fervor. When the media tires to play the game of “politically correct” by concealing facts regarding the race of suspects in a case, they are guilty of inciting racial prejudice. We can find enough of that in our society without the media further fanning the flames of bigotry.
Maybe Doctor Martin Luther King said it best. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
UPDATE 7-14-07
This post is getting a ton of attention so I figured I would update it with what’s new. Which isn’t a whole lot. The killers attorneys appeared in court five days ago:
Attorneys for the four suspects in the brutal rape and murder of a Knoxville couple appeared in court Monday.
Lemaricus Davidson; his brother, Letalvis Cobbins; and George Thomas were indicted on 46 counts, including first-degree murder.
Vanessa Coleman was indicted on 40 counts, also including murder, in connection with the deaths of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom.
The suspects won’t be in court until July 30th and only one trial date has been set so far. That one is for Letalvis Cobbins and the date for that one is May 12th, 2008.
Crossposted from Baltimore Reporter
@Joey: Their is a race war comming,and it’s way over due.
INFIDEL
YOU say there is a race war coming an it’s long overdue,
I have read that it will be coming straight from the democrats in the WHITE HOUSE LEADER,
THEY WANT TO USE THE RACE CARD TO WIN THE ELECTION FOR THEM AND OBAMA,
they better change their mind on it, the whole of AMERICAN will be watching because this became public, and it won’t pass as easy as they think, they have played this card all theses years, but it won’t get them elected. this time,
the people are smarter this time and won’t play
@ilovebeeswarzone: Semper Fi that
WHYTE CRACKAS OWNED! EVERY SINGLE WHYTE IN AMERICA SHOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING TRAYVON DID AT THE HANDS OF THAT WHITE RACIST.
AMERICA FIRST
THE WHITES DID EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU SAY, NOT SO LONG AGO, IN THAT SCHOOL WITH A BLACK TEACHER TELLING THE BLACK CHILDREN TO HATE THE WHITES, AND THERE WAS A FEW MINORITY OF WHITE KIDS IN THAT SCHOOL WHO GOT BEAT UP AND GASOLINE SPREAD ON ONE TO MAKE HIM INTO A TORCH, GOOD THAT YOUNG WHITE KID HAD THE BRAIN TO LIFT UP HIS COAT OVER HIS HEAD AND SUCCEED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE
BUT HE CARRIED SCAR ON HIS FACE FOREVER HE WAS 13 YEAR OLD, AND THIS IS ONLY ONE STORY OUT OF MANY.
YOU HAVE TO SEE WHAT LIFE IS ON BOTH SIDES AND LEARN TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN AND LEAVE YOUR HATE BEHIND, IT’S WHAT KILL AT THE END. NOTHING ELSE DOES
YOU MUST REFUSE TO LISTEN TO ANYONE TALKING OF HATE THE WHITES, SAME AS THE WHITES BEING TOLD TO HATE THE BLACKS AND HATE ONLY THE CRIMES DONE BY ANY COLOR,
BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE WRONG IS
“Old Soviet style justice for these pieces of filth, 9 mm in the back of the head, and make them buy the bullet.”
I would not torture anyone ..I don’t believe in it period. It is not that I am concerned for them but for those who would be brought into that evil world by such actions.
However your method of execution if they are convicted and sentenced to death is far to quick clean and painless. Walk out and get shot in the back of the head.. Nothing to it. The execution method for dissidents and patriots who are far more honorable than this scum.
They should be tried and if convicted they should be hung.. with all that entails. They will know full well what they did and what is coming..
Soviet Style Justice in this case is far to Honorable, it has been applied to too many innocent people for it to be an appropriate punishment for such villains.
America First: First of all dummy, learn to spell! Apparently a solid grasp of the English language is not only an issue experienced by the hispanics! Next, your fearless African American leaders, as they always do, jump in head first before gathering all facts! Zimmerman is more latino than caucasian (look at the pic, read his demographic information), obviously your eyesight is as powerful as your IQ! Lastly, I can’t imagine why the prison population in this country is flodded with your kind; protest the death of the kid by rioting against the local business owners who keep your lousy communities afloat? Genious! Prisons are like big toilet bowls full of shit; just flush it down, remove the problem (you)!
@AMERICA FIRST: Are you serious…? The guy that shot Trayvon IS NOT EVEN WHITE!!!! People like you are the problem…. your so racist that you jump at this bullshit and blame whites just to cause drama. Whites didnt even have anything to do with the whole story. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT YOU RACIST IDIOT!
@AMERICA FIRST:
…….. Are you seriously that f****n ignorant lmao there is a special place for you to try to justify a hate crime with another crime is severly obsurd. The story you read was indeed an act of racism a hate crime and just down right wrong if it were a group of white men who did these things to anyone other race of people it would be labeled racist.. you need 2 things 1.EDUCATION 2.God
ill pray for you
@AMERICA FIRST:
You gotta respect, see he is telling you he wants to kill you sos you no where yous stand.
Many years ago I had a black friend and he said it will always be black first, right or wrong they will always pick there own over us. He was a gentleman and true to form even he turned.
A shame when they crumble under peer pressure.
We have to start giving our own ultimatums.
stick with us no matter what color we defend you.
Stab us and America in the back and
WE WILL DISPOSE OF YOU!
@AMERICA FIRST: Niqqa please.
All the more reason to always carry a gun with you, because there will always be lowlifes like these out there that can do you harm.
I recommend all whites lock an load or become a victim. Your racist press is baiting the race war. And all Blacks will participate .Evin though we greatly out number them, a lot of whites will cower and hide or run. Don’t run or hide. Stand up to this trash once and for all. Your future depends on it.. As well as your grand kids.
@****TRUTHSERVED***: Just because you don’t spell out the entire word doesn’t mean God doesn’t know what you said. And you said it. Many people need GOD, even you and me and everyone else on this site.
God knows more than you think!
hi,
YES GOD KNOW EVERY THING YOU’RE RIGHT
I think TRUTHSERVED, KNOW IT VERY WELL, BECAUSE HE DID NOT PUT THE WHOLE WORD SO TO NOT OFFEND GOD,
BYE
@AMERICA FIRST: Let the courts decide! I believe he was a thug!
Pingback: The Rape, Torture and Murder Of Christopher Newsom and Channon Christian
I don’t care where you stand (Black or White), call a spared a spared- This nothing but a hate crime.
No matter how you feel about the other person, suck it up and shove it in ur ass period…
I’m as black as black could be yet color blind and this is pure evil!
The black race (the sons of Ham) ruled the earth after the flood. They built the tower of Bable .Nimrod the son of Cush(Ethiopia) was responsible for establishing Baal worship in the earth. Baal worship entails bisexual orgies,pedophilia,homosexuality,lesbianism,slavery,racial supremacy,and cannibalism(footnote.the word comes from kanna baal ie.. priest of baal) . Blacks Canaanites (Canaan was Ethiopias brother)inhabited sodom and gomorrah admah zeboim and zoar and their attrocities were so great Jesus destroyed the entire valley and whereas it was as the garden of Eden for beauty it is now the Dead Sea. When the Israelites(the sons of Shem ..white people) crossed jordan the abominations of the Canaanites(black people) was so great Jesus( the son of God,the creator of the universe):told Moses and Joshua to slay everything that breathed in that land.Black people more than any other race are
responsible for establishing lucifers kingdom in this earth and have a very terrible history to give an account for in the judgement. They have enslaved more people in the history of this earth than shem or japheth combined. Their entire history is steeped in devil worship. All the giant races after the flood were sons of Ham none were of Shem or Japheth(the brown skinned people..Indians or Hindians) . Japheth name means enlarged, they are the most numerous. Noah cursed Hams race and blessedvShem and Japheth
Ancient Babylon is the type for modern(spiritual) Babylon that will finally control the scarlet colored beast the united nations. Babylon is all false religion she is a whore she is lucifers bride. Blacks by lucifers power established Babylon anciently they will be instrumental in re establishing her on last time. .”.Thus with violence shall Babylon that great city be thrown down..” Rev.18:21. On more thing, Atlanta shall fall just like Jericho. You sons and daughters of Ham had better repent. Sharpton, Jackson,Waters,Lee ,and your whole racist communist ilk,you will be condemned before God for inciting hate crimes and murder against innocent people. Your mentor michael king was a racist pagan homosexual who was a group sex practitioner. He was in bed with three hookers the night before Jesus gave him his ounce of lead for his crimes. He beat the stew out of one of those hookers as well.King was a communist and was one of the most vile men in the history of this country. King was financed by the KGB, this is all documented by the FBI and The Pentegon yet is kept supressed from the white public.
First of all, I would like to express my sympathy to their families. This is such a tragedy. These two fine young people had their lives taken away for no apparent reason. I agree that this should not be about race. Any type of violence should be punished appropriately based on the crime. This was horrific and it seems that it should have gotten national attention from the media, but it got none. What is wrong with a world that gives some people justice and others get nothing. Had this happened to a celebrity or an african-american couple, or any couple other than white, there is no doubt that it would be on every channel on TV. I am appalled at the behavior towards this senseless crime. I intend to do some research about this case, but I bet that I find the sentences for these five criminals doesn’t fit the crime. Shame on America for allowing this to happen.
I am not sure why this detestable crime did not receive any media attention, but it has nothing to do with race. There are thousands of crimes (white on black, white on white, black on black ) that never make the news. There have been over 100 murders in Chicago already this year and they haven’t made the news. An off-duty black cop was shot 28 times by white cops and that didn’t make the news. There was no public outcry.
While I don’t play into the race baiters from either side of the political or racial aisle, I think when we see crimes against HUMANITY in ANY form, we should see to it that justice is served. To sit around and say “if this had been XYZ there would have been outcry” does nothing more than continue to poison an already sickening state of race relations in this country. We spend too much time pointing the finger at “the other guy” instead of standing together as a united front saying we will not accept this type of behavior from ANYONE. PERIOD.
There are too many crimes against HUMANS, regardless of race. People are targeted for religion, gender, race, sexual orientation….when does it end? As long as we exclude people from being accountable or make one crime less heinous because of race or any other arbitrary factor, we will never get past the despicable state of race in America.
My prayers go out to the families and I pray these monsters are locked up away from society for the rest of their lives.
Wakka Wakka,
Your “white on black” attack example “victim” is accused of first opening fire upon several white police officers and a black police officer and I understand that he now faces prison time. It’s a controversial case which really doesn’t compare very well to this one. Why don’t you just cite an example of a national-news-media-ignored case involving something like a group of white perps kidnapping an innocent young black couple, torturing them for an extended period of time, and raping them, and finally murdering them, and then mutilating their bodies and throwing them out like trash. Surely you can do that since there are so many murder cases to choose from.
Just saw this story for the first time on the Own network. Hate crimes on any race is sad. Neither the two young adults mention above nor TreVon deserved to have their lives shorten. Why do we as people who bleed the same color, who was effected by 911, and live in a country that other races DIE to come too, purly hate one another? Earth is pure hell and I hope those young people are in true Heavenly paradise. R.I.P. Channon, Chris, and TreVon.
As far as I can tell from the news accounts, TreVon caused his own demise by attacking a chubby man who was 6 inches shorter than him but unfortunately for TreVon, the short man was armed. To imply that a case which seems to be of a violent attacker getting what he deserved is somehow similar to the kidnapping/rape/torture/murder/mutilation of Channon and Chris is incredibly stupid and asinine. Channon and Chris deserve much better than that.
yhu got 2 be sum type of racist to say some stuff like that . black or white either it was wrong.
yhu got 2 be sum type of racist to say this was rite n black ppl deserved dis or trevon is da reason trevon died . we all no dats not true so lets stop pretendin.either way black,yellow,blue,pink or red, race doesnt matter it was still wrong.this young couple didnt deserve 2 die ang niether did trevon
like if yhu can be real with yhur self n no dis true
These A-HOLES, piece of SH-T’s should be sentenced to the same fate as there victims!! They need to be tortured, raped, and mutilated!! I believe an eye for an eye, don’t waste time in a trial, jail, that’s already way more than they deserve!! They need to experience the same hell on earth as they did to Channon and Christopher! God Bless Channon and Christoper, and there families for having to live this tragedy!! May both Channon and Christopher be in a place far more beautiful than we could ever imagine!!
@AMERICA FIRST:
Are you suggesting every “white cracker” should grab a gun and knock off every black person walking down the street?
Man you are to stupid to recognize how stupid you are!
http://www.change.org/petitions/cnn-msnbc-fox-news-and-all-other-major-news-outlets-cover-the-story-of-what-happened-to-channon-christian-christopher-newsom PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION AND PASS IT ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW…
@ The perpetrators of this horrendous crime: I don’t hate you cos you black: I hate you cos you wack! :O
AS I HAVE ALWAYS STATED “THERE ARE BLACKS AND THERE ARE NIGGERS” and these my friends
are niggers!! I do not consider myself a racist by any means, I have black friends, smart, good credit,
work hard, pay taxes.
And the Problem is 90% of the time they choose their brothers and sisters over the Whitey
They choose color over right and wrong
We are Postjudiced, we judge folks after the Facts.
@AMERICA FIRST: Wow….That statement makes you no better than the guys who murdered Christian and Newsome… Very cold statement… I would never wish something so hateful on any race….even you.. I hope one day you realize we are all people and just because a person of a certain race commits a crime does not mean there whole race should suffer….I don’t care what color you are,if I see you and you are in need of help ..I will help you ! Remember there are a lot of good people from every race in this world…..
lacy
you are superb, your answer is of a sound judgement, as transpararent as crystal,
you would make a thrusted JUDGE IN DIFFICULT CASE, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE WHAT AMERICA
IS MADE OF AND YOU HAVE COMPASSION IN YOUR WORDS, IT SHOW QUITE A NICE PACKAGE
BEST TO YOU