Channon Christian & Christopher Newsom

There needs to be more attention put on this case!

Missing woman found dead in N. Knox house Police identify victim, 21, as girlfriend of slain man, 23

By DON JACOBS,
jacobs@knews.com
January 10, 2007

Police confirmed Tuesday night that a body found in a North Knoxville house was that of a missing woman whose boyfriend had been killed and left along railroad tracks. Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk said police determined the body is that of Channon Christian, 21, of West Knox County.

Authorities discovered Christian's body about 2 p.m. at 2316 Chipman St., near where the body of 23-year-old Christopher Newsom was found over the weekend.

Newsom's body was found at 12:24 p.m. Sunday by a Norfolk Southern railway employee who saw it along tracks between Ninth Avenue and Cherry Street, DeBusk said. The spokesman said an autopsy was performed on Newsom's body, but he declined to say how the Halls High School graduate was killed.
"We're not discussing the manner of death or the condition of the body when found," DeBusk said.

Sgt. Tim Snoderly, who commands the KPD investigative unit, declined to say how authorities targeted the Chipman Street residence for a search.

The KPD Special Operations Squad, which is trained to smash into hostile environments, was sent into the house first. Snoderly said the special unit was called "as a precautionary measure."

Snoderly said the residence where Christian's body was found is a rental property. No one was home when police entered, he said.

"We don't know if they're going to come home or not," Snoderly said.
Police seized a Toyota Camry from near the house and had it towed to an impound lot, DeBusk said.

"It was just a vehicle in the area that we thought might be important," DeBusk said.

He declined to say if investigators found any drugs or weapons in the house.
Newsom's father, Hugh Newsom, said Tuesday night that the family had hoped Christian would be found alive.

"It was a letdown when the body was found," Hugh Newsom said.

"We sympathize so much with her family because we've been through this."
Hugh Newsom said he had met Christian several times. He called Christian, a senior at the University of Tennessee, "a fantastic person."

"Chris was just crazy about her," he said.

Police on Monday found Christian's silver 2005 Toyota 4-Runner two blocks from the house where the body was discovered. The vehicle had been abandoned at a stop sign at the intersection of Glider Avenue and Chipman Street.

About four hours after Newsom's body was found Sunday, Christian's mother filed a missing-person report with the Knox County Sheriff's Office, records show. Denna Gail Christian told investigators her daughter probably was with her boyfriend, Newsom.

Denna Christian told the KCSO she had last spoken with Channon Christian about 12:35 a.m. Sunday. At that time, Denna Christian told authorities, her daughter was planning to visit friends on Washington Pike.

Denna Christian told the KCSO that her daughter had no drug or alcohol problem and had not had a recent confrontation with anyone.

Chris Newsom and Channon Christian had been dating since November.
After Denna Christian filed the missing person report, she contacted the Newsoms.

"At that time, we were aware of a body being found, but we had no idea it was Chris," Hugh Newsom said.

By midday Monday, Hugh Newsom said, Snoderly notified the family of their son's death. Snoderly, who is a friend of the Newsoms, was able to identify the body, Hugh Newsom said.

DeBusk declined to say when the couple had been to see their friends at the Washington Pike apartment. He said investigators determined the couple planned to have dinner and then watch movies with friends.

"We're trying to build a timeline of their activities," DeBusk said.

Carl Hunley, who lives next door to the house where the body was found, said a man, a woman and her two preschool-age children moved into the house about three months ago. Behind the house Tuesday were several children's toys, including a tricycle.

Hunley said he didn't speak much to his neighbors. About three weeks ago, he said, there was a drive-by shooting at the house. Police were called about the shooting, Hunley said.

About two weeks ago the woman left with her two children, Hunley said.
"It's been like Grand Central Station since then," he said of numerous visits by people at all hours of the night to his neighbor's residence.

Hunley said he and his family were not at home this weekend when Christian and Newsom went missing.

Misty Boshears, 31, who lives on Chipman Street, said her neighborhood bears the scars of being located next to an industrial area. Police already busted a crack house and a residence used for prostitution in the area, she said.

"I'm shocked, but I'm not shocked," said Boshears, the mother of a girl not allowed to play outside because of the danger.

"If you come down here, you're either visiting someone or you're buying drugs," she said.

The KCSO joined KPD officers during the search for Channon Christian because the missing-person report was filed in the county. DeBusk said Sheriff's Office detectives will continue to assist as police search for those responsible for the two slayings.

DeBusk said KPD is being careful about what is released to the public about the slayings.

"We've got a very active investigation, and we don't want to jeopardize the investigation, so we're being very careful about what we release," he said.
Don Jacobs may be reached at 865-342-6345.

http://tinyurl.com/26yked


Here are more links about this story.
http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/tag/channon-christian/

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=41276&provider=top

http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/5133501.html

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=5930690

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channon_Christian_and_Christopher_Newsom_Murder