A 19-year-old Tennessee man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he violently assaulted another man, covered him in bleach, and then abducted the victim’s child.
According to Sevierville police, Charles Coffman has been charged with aggravated kidnapping, attempted second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and theft following the disturbing incident that unfolded early Sunday morning.
Officers responded to a wellness check around 4 a.m. and discovered the male victim in the bathroom of a residence, naked and suffering from severe head injuries. Police said the man appeared to have been beaten and was in need of immediate medical attention. A 3-year-old child and the man’s vehicle were also reported missing from the scene.
Investigators later located the victim’s car with both Coffman and the missing child inside. When questioned, Coffman allegedly told police that the child’s mother had asked him to pick the child up. However, authorities later confirmed that the mother denied ever giving Coffman permission to take her child and stated that she had never communicated with him at all.
According to the police report, Coffman admitted to attacking the victim, claiming a fight broke out during the encounter. He allegedly slammed the victim to the ground, punched him multiple times, beat him with a toilet plunger, and even forced the plunger into the man’s mouth.
Coffman also confessed to dragging the injured man into the bathroom, stripping him naked, and pouring bleach on his wounds. The motive behind the assault remains unclear.
The victim was transported to University of Tennessee Medical Center. His current condition has not been released.
The case is under active investigation, and further charges may be filed pending the victim’s recovery and additional witness interviews.
Reference: 19-year-old beats man with plunger, covers him in bleach then kidnaps his child, police report says