A 19-year-old Tennessee man is behind bars after allegedly attacking a man with a plunger, causing serious injuries, and kidnapping a toddler. Charles Coffman is now facing a range of charges, including attempted second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, theft, and tampering with evidence.
The violent incident unfolded early Sunday morning in Knoxville, sending police on a frantic search for the child and the suspect.
The Crime Scene
On Sunday morning, around 8:45 a.m., local police responded to a request for a welfare check at a home on Mercer Street in Knoxville. The caller feared that the man inside the house might be dead, and that the man’s 3-year-old daughter had been abducted.
Upon forcing entry into the home, officers discovered the victim in the bathroom, severely injured, naked, and suffering from a head wound. The home also had a strong smell of bleach, and the child was nowhere to be found.
The authorities also noticed that the alleged victim’s Ford Expedition was missing, raising more concern about the child’s safety. A short while later, after the police issued a car alert, the vehicle was found. Coffman, along with an unnamed woman and the missing child, was inside.
The Attack
According to the police report, Coffman explained that he had been instructed by his mother, who was in jail, to retrieve the child from the home. Coffman claimed that he and the woman had taken an Uber to the house, where he got into a violent physical altercation with the man who lived there.
Coffman allegedly confessed to brutally attacking the victim, saying he slammed him to the ground, punched him in the face multiple times, and even used a toilet plunger to strike the man.
He reportedly shoved the plunger into the victim’s mouth before dragging him into the bathroom, stripping him naked, and pouring bleach on his wounds. Coffman also admitted to stealing the victim’s vehicle but claimed that he had received permission from the child’s mother to do so.
The Kidnapping and Search
After the attack, Coffman and the woman took the child and fled in the stolen vehicle. The woman, who was with Coffman, later told police that when she entered the home, she saw the victim lying on the floor. Coffman reportedly handed her the child, and the two left together.
She also overheard a phone conversation in which Coffman mentioned the fight and seemed unsure whether the victim was still alive or dead.
Meanwhile, the victim was taken to a nearby hospital and diagnosed with a subdural hematoma, a type of brain injury, along with other serious injuries. Due to his condition, police were unable to speak with him at the time of the report.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Coffman was arrested on Monday and booked into the Knox County Jail. He now faces multiple charges, including attempted second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, theft, and tampering with evidence. His bond hearing is scheduled for Friday, as the investigation continues.
This horrifying incident highlights the extreme violence that can erupt from domestic disputes and the dangers faced by vulnerable children in such situations. Coffman’s brutal actions left the victim with life-threatening injuries and resulted in the kidnapping of a toddler.
The case has raised serious questions about the safety of children in environments affected by criminal behavior and violence. Authorities are continuing to investigate, with Coffman facing serious charges in the coming days.
