A Tennessee teenager is facing a series of serious charges after police say he brutally attacked a man, poured bleach on his wounds, and kidnapped the victim’s 3-year-old daughter in a disturbing incident that unfolded Sunday morning.
Nineteen-year-old Charles Coffman has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, theft, and tampering with evidence, according to arrest warrants obtained by NBC affiliate WBIR.
Authorities responded to a Knoxville residence around 8:45 a.m. following a 911 call reporting a possible murder and child abduction. Upon arrival, officers forced entry into the home and discovered a naked man inside the bathroom, suffering from a severe head injury and other potential injuries. Officers noted a strong odor of bleach throughout the room.
The investigation led authorities to Sevierville, where local police located Coffman, a woman, and the victim’s 3-year-old daughter in the victim’s car, as stated in the warrants. Coffman later admitted to the violent assault, telling police he got into a fight with the victim after arriving at the home via Uber with a woman.
Coffman reportedly dragged the victim into the bathroom, stripped him naked, beat him with a plunger, shoved the plunger into the victim’s mouth, and poured bleach on his open wounds. The warrants further reveal that Coffman said he took the victim’s car after the attack, claiming his incarcerated mother gave him permission.
He also claimed she had instructed him to retrieve the child. However, in a separate interview, Coffman’s mother denied any involvement. She told authorities she “did not and would not” allow her son to take the child or the car and denied speaking with him during that period.
As part of the investigation, officers requested Coffman write an apology letter to the victim, which he complied with, according to the report. Coffman was booked into the Knox County Jail. As of Tuesday afternoon, his bond had not yet been set.
The victim’s condition has not been publicly updated, but the extent of the injuries described in the police report suggests a prolonged and violent encounter. This case remains under investigation, and further details may emerge as court proceedings begin. Police have not confirmed the relationship between Coffman and the victim beyond the implication that Coffman’s mother may have had a prior connection to the child or the family.