Vanessa Coleman, Murder: C. Christian/Chris Newsom 6/08
UPDATE: New suspect, new charges in Knoxville double murder By: Katie Allison Granju, Producer Date created: 2/1/2007 11:55:39 AM Last updated: 2/1/2007 11:04:49 PM Four of the suspects in the deaths of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom are now facing state charges. Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols released the 46-count indictment late Thursday. "We're about to embark on our best efforts to see that this case moves to trial on the first day that it is set," Nichols said. "We will be prepared, and we anticipate putting our best foot forward and seeking conviction on every count levied in this indictment." Last month, police say Christian and Newsom were carjacked, kidnapped and murdered. Newsom's shot and burned body was found near railroad tracks off Cherry Street. Days later, Christian's body was found inside a Chipman Street house. The three male suspects -- Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas -- are facing 46 counts each in the indictment. They are: - 16 counts of felony murder, which carries possible penalties of death, life without parole or life with parole. - 2 counts of premeditated murder, which carries possible penalties of death, life without parole or life with parole. - 2 counts of aggravated robbery, a Class A felony carrying a possible penalty of 15 to 60 years. - 4 counts of aggravated kidnapping, a Class A felony carrying a possible penalty of 15 to 60 years. - 20 counts aggravated rape of Christian and Newsom, a Class A felony carrying a possible penalty of 15 to 60 years. - 2 counts theft. The latest suspect, 18-year-old Vanessa Coleman, was arrested Wednesday night in Lebanon, Ky. She is the woman who was identified in search warrants as saying she saw Channon Christian alive in the Chipman Avenue house where her body was eventually found last month. Coleman also allegedly told investigators she saw Christian's mouth being washed out with some sort of household cleaning solution. Coleman additionally said she saw blood-stained clothing that smelled like gasoline being placed in the house's washing machine. Coleman is facing 40 counts in the indictment. They are: - 12 counts felony murder, carrying possible penalties of death, life without parole or life with parole. - 1 count premeditated murder in the death of Channon Christian, carrying possible penalties of death, life without parole or life with parole. - 1 count aggravated robbery of Chris Newsom, a Class A felony carrying a possible penalty of 15 to 60 years. - 4 counts aggravated kidnapping, a Class A felony carrying a possible penalty of 15 to 60 years. - 20 counts aggravated rape of Christian and Newsom, a Class A felony carrying a possible penalty of 15 to 60 years. - 2 counts theft. Vanessa Coleman is expected to be extradited to Tennessee within one week. All of the suspects are expected to be arraigned on the new charges within seven to 10 days. District Attorney General Randy Nichols says he does not yet know whether he'll seek the death penalty. The other suspect, Eric Boyd, is not named in the indictment. However, he is still facing federal charges of being an accessory to a crime. Davidson, Cobbins and Thomas also are facing federal charges. http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=41845

Double murder suspect will have extradition hearing in Ky. February 2, 2007 MARION COUNTY, Ky. (WATE) -- The only woman charged in the double murder of a young Knoxville couple wants a hearing on whether she'll be extradited to Knoxville. Vanessa Lynn Coleman, 18, was in court in Marion County, Kentucky Friday morning. She has hired a private attorney and requested a hearing on extradition. That hearing is scheduled for February 5. Her bond is set at $1 million. Coleman was arrested Wednesday night in Lebanon, Kentucky on a warrant as a fugitive from justice in another state. She's being held in the Marion County, Kentucky Detention Facility. She was indicted in Knox County Thursday night for the kidnapping, rape and murder of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Coleman faces 40 counts including 12 counts of felony murder, one count of premeditated murder, one count of especially aggravated robbery, four counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, 20 counts of aggravated rape and two counts of theft. Coleman is one of three suspects arrested in this case in Lebanon, Kentucky. Letalvis Cobbins and George Thomas were also arrested there. She is from Springfield, Kentucky, just outside of Lebanon. Court records indicate Coleman worked at a fast food restaurant in Lebanon. She's also the girlfriend of Letalvis Cobbins. Coleman was identified but not charged in an affidavit and search warrant released to the public on January 25 as part of federal charges. 6 News did not reveal her identity at that time because she was not charged. (In the affidavit attached to this report, her name is covered.) The murdered couple was last seen on a date on the night of January 6. They were carjacked by sometime early the next morning. Christopher Newsom's body was found the next day. It was bound, shot and burned, along the railroad tracks near 9th Ave. Investigators say Newsom's body smelled of gasoline. Channon Christian's body was found three days after the couple disappeared. Investigators say it was in a large plastic garbage can in Davidson's house on Chipman Street. Her body was in five separate dark trash bags. There was evidence that Christian had been bound, physically assaulted and raped. Also, the Knox County medical examiner found apparent carpet fibers in her hair. Vanessa Coleman told investigators she was at the Chipman Street house while Christian was being held there. She said she witnessed Christian's mouth being cleaned with a bottle of some type of cleaner. Coleman also told investigators she saw clothes that were stained with blood and smelled of gas being put in the washing machine at the house. A judge signed the warrant directing investigators to search the Chipman Street house for carpeting, an empty trash bag box, a washer and dryer and cleaning supplies used during the murders of Newsom and Christian. http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6028072

Female suspect arraigned in Channon Christian, Chris Newsom murders By: Katie Allison Granju, Producer Date created: 4/18/2007 12:08:24 PM Last updated: 4/18/2007 1:13:35 PM Vanessa Coleman was arraigned in Knox County Criminal Court Wednesday for the murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom.Advertisement Coleman appeared before a grand jury on indictments that included aggravated rape and first degree murder. Coleman is the only woman charged in the case, and the last suspect to be arraigned. She was arrested in Kentucky, and unsuccessfully fought extradition. Coleman is charged in the murders, along with Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, and George Thomas. All four are scheduled to be back in court May 17 for a status hearing. http://www.wbir.com/news/regional/story.aspx?storyid=44337&provider=rss

More Evidence As Christian-Newsom Murder Suspects Appear In Court Posted: 11:25 AM Oct 11, 2007 Last Updated: 8:52 PM Oct 11, 2007 Reporter: Rob Pratt Knoxville (WVLT) -- They stand accused of one of the most disturbing crimes in recent memory. On Thursday, the four suspects in the car-jacking and murder of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom were back in court. Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman appeared before the judge to learn about the latest development in the case. Attorneys for the four suspects were supposed to have all of the state's evidence by now, but on Thursday morning, new evidence was still pouring in, causing a delay. Accused murderer George Thomas was the first of four to enter the courtroom. He was followed by Lemaricus Davidson, Vanessa Coleman and Letalvis Cobbins. One at a time, each suspect heard the latest developments in the case. It was supposed to be the deadline for the state to provide all evidence to defense attorneys, but the prosecutor still needs more time. “We received two more banker's boxes yesterday afternoon from the federal authorities,” said Attorney General Randy Nichols. “We have been most diligent in our discovery efforts, but it is voluminous." With two boxes of evidence ending up in prosecutor's hands just yesterday, none of the four defense attorneys made any objections to the state's request for more time. Judge Richard Baumgartner set the new deadline to January 10. That will fall exactly a year and three days after a railroad worker found Chris Newsom's body along the tracks between Ninth and Cherry Streets. It would be another two days before Channon Christian’s body was found two blocks away in a rental home on Chipman Street. Once defense attorneys receive the evidence they will begin filing motions. DNA evidence is expected to play a role in the case and defense experts will have plenty of work ahead of them. While the judge had no problem extending the discovery deadline, he made it clear that he wants the trials to take place on the current schedule if at all possible. Cobbins trial is set to go May 12th followed by Davidson’s on May 19th, Coleman’s on June 16 and Thomas’s on August 11, 2008. One of the suspects was arraigned on a new charge this morning. Davidson now faces charges in a separate robbery case. The state has filed a motion to have that case consolidated with the murder trial. Davidson's lawyer said he would need time to respond to that motion. http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/10455687.html