194. Wilma June Nissen: The Woman in the White Go-Go Boots
For 27 years, she was just Jane Doe, a nameless woman found decomposed in an Iowa ditch in 1978. In 2006, a fingerprint match finally gave her a name: Wilma June Nissen, a 23-year-old mother. Wilma's daughter Krissi spent nearly 30 years believing her mother had abandoned her, only to learn the devastating truth that she'd been murdered just after Krissi's first birthday. Now, Krissi is fighting to solve her mother's cold case, and investigators believe they know who did it. This is the story of a woman who was failed by every system that should have protected her. Someone out there knows what happened that summer night in 1978, and Wilma June Nissen deserves justice.To Report Information:Crime Stoppers USA: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)Website: crimestoppersusa.orgCold Case Coalition Tip Line: (385) 258-3313WeTip Anonymous Tip Line: 1-800-78-CRIME (1-800-782-7463)Sioux Falls Crime Stoppers: (605) 367-7007 or toll-free (877) 367-7007Website: crimestopperssiouxempire.comSupport Resources: If you or someone you know has experienced child abuse, neglect, or sexual exploitation:National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888Krissi's Platforms:Justice4WilmaJuneNissen.comwilmasdaughter.substack.comBluesky: @krissihaas1977.bsky.socialTikTok: Krissi_1977medium.com/@justice4wilmaX (Twitter): @MyMomsMurderChange.org petition: https://c.org/7jyxTjGVzCSOURCES:https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/wilma-june-nissen/https://projectcoldcase.org/2025/05/12/wilma-nissen/https://www.nwestiowa.com/news/new-lead-for-lyon-county-cold-case/article_31e9c062-1961-11e6-a014-53443c67e206.htmlhttps://www.the-sun.com/news/14825036/wilma-nissen-cold-case-mom-murdered-krissi-atkisson-iowa/https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/cold-case-spotlight/wilma-nissen-rock-rapids-iowa-homicide-unsolved-rcna232527https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/article_6820cdc8-6145-5524-9fc2-3e96212da18e.htmlhttps://muscatinejournal.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/article_e6a2c980-b20e-5d53-a74c-435d649b4828.htmlhttps://nonpareilonline.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/article_4409d496-4e68-5e8e-b907-f5e1c42decc8.htmlhttps://siouxlandnews.com/archive/arrest-made-in-1978-lyon-county-cold-case-01-26-2016https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2025/05/08/missing-murdered-who-killed-wilma-june-nissen-1978/https://medium.com/@CrimeStoriesNow/unraveling-the-cold-case-the-wilma-june-nissen-mystery-e6908d9e9ed2https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2021/02/14/the-murder-of-wilma-june-nissen/https://seasonofjustice.org/featured/wilma-june-nissen/https://original.newsbreak.com/@fatim-hemraj-561392/2226594487639-who-killed-wilma-june-nissen-help-solve-this-43-year-old-cold-casehttps://medium.com/chameleon/who-killed-wilma-june-nissen-help-solve-this-43-year-old-cold-case-41b784aba10https://www.maryhallbergmedia.com/post/unsolved-the-murder-of-wilma-nissenhttps://synovaink.com/2025/03/12/jane-doe-mother-identified-cold-case-of-wilma-june-nissen/Dakota Spotlight Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/krissis-search-the-murder-of-wilma-june-nissen/id1451783176?i=1000704327368Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reverie-true-crime--4442888/support.Keep In Touch:Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/reveriecrimepodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reverietruecrimeTumblr: https://reverietruecrimepodcast.tumblr.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/reverietruecrimeContact: ReverieTrueCrime@gmail.com Intro & Outro by Jahred Gomes: https://www.instagram.com/jahredgomes_official
193. Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom: Inside the Aftermath of a Knoxville Nightmare (Part IV)
In this final episode, we learn where the killers are today (spoiler: they're all still in prison and likely always will be), the two laws passed in Channon and Chris's names that protect future victims, the families' ongoing fight to ensure they're never forgotten, a little about the families and some personal struggles they’ve faced, the racial controversy that surrounded the case, and more.Resources and Support For Survivors of Sexual Violence:RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)RAINN Online Chat: online.rainn.orgFor Crime Victims and Families:National Center for Victims of Crime: 1-855-4-VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)Parents of Murdered Children: www.pomc.orgFor Mental Health Support:National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357IN LOVING MEMORYChannon Gail Christian April 29, 1985 - January 9, 2007 Beloved daughter, friend, student, golfer, and beautiful soul.Hugh Christopher Newsom Jr. September 21, 1983 - January 7, 2007 Beloved son, carpenter, baseball player, and kind heart.They were loved. They are remembered. They will never be forgotten.Sources:https://www.newspapers.com/ (Historical archive - subscription required)https://www.knoxnews.com/ (Search "Christian Newsom" for extensive archive)https://abcnews.go.com/ (Search "Channon Christian")https://www.cnn.com/ (Coverage of trials and scandal)https://www.foxnews.com/ (Michelle Malkin coverage 2007)https://www.wbir.com/ (WBIR-TV extensive trial coverage)https://www.wate.com/ (WATE 6 On Your Side)https://www.wvlt.tv/ (WVLT Local 8 News)https://www.tncourts.gov/ (Tennessee State Courts)https://www.tsc.state.tn.us/ (Tennessee Supreme Court opinions)https://www.knoxcounty.org/criminal/ (Knox County Criminal Court)https://law.justia.com/cases/tennessee/ (Tennessee case law database)https://scholar.google.com/ (Search: "State v. Davidson" "State v. Cobbins" etc.)https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts (Federal case records)https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ (Public Access to Court Electronic Records - fee required)https://www.capitol.tn.gov/ (Tennessee General Assembly)https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0962.pdf (Chris Newsom Act - SB 2552/HB 2658)https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0963.pdf (Channon Christian Act - SB 2553/HB 2659)https://www.rainn.org/ (RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)https://www.pomc.org/ (Parents of Murdered Children)https://victimsofcrime.org/ (National Center for Victims of Crime)University of Tennessee Foundation: https://www.utfi.org/"The Christian-Newsom Murders: 10 Years Later" - Knoxville News Sentinel Special Reporthttps://www.aetv.com/ (A&E "Injustice with Nancy Grace")https://www.oxygen.com/ (Oxygen Network coverage)https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/ (Investigation Discovery features)https://www.aafs.org/ (American Academy of Forensic Sciences)https://www.forensicscienceeducation.org/ (Forensic science education resources)https://www.ncjrs.gov/ (National Criminal Justice Reference Service)https://bjs.ojp.gov/ (Bureau of Justice Statistics)https://apps.tn.gov/foil-app/ (Tennessee Felon Offender Information Lookup)Search names: Davidson, Cobbins, Thomas, Coleman, Boydhttps://www.tn.gov/correction/sp/death-row.html (Tennessee Death Row information)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (January-February 2007)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (Trial coverage)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (March-December 2011)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (Coleman & Thomas retrials)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (August 2019)https://www.tba.org/ (Tennessee Bar Association resources)https://www.knoxcounty.org/ (Knox County government)https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/ (City of Knoxville)https://www.britannica.com/place/Knoxville-Tennessee (Knoxville history)https://www.utk.edu/ (University of Tennessee)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reverie-true-crime--4442888/support.Keep In Touch:Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/reveriecrimepodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reverietruecrimeTumblr: https://reverietruecrimepodcast.tumblr.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/reverietruecrimeContact: ReverieTrueCrime@gmail.com Intro & Outro by Jahred Gomes: https://www.instagram.com/jahredgomes_official
192. Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom: The Judge, the Drugs, and the Retrials (Part III)
By January 2007, all five suspects were in custody. Prosecutors had charged them with 46 counts including murder, rape, kidnapping, and robbery. Between 2008-2010, four separate trials resulted in convictions. It seemed like justice had finally been served and the families could breathe. Then a scandal involving the judge, who presided over the trials, would rock their worlds. Because of his demons, the families would have to go through it all over again.Support ResourcesFor Survivors of Violence:https://www.rainn.org/ - RAINN (1-800-656-4673)https://www.thehotline.org/ - National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)https://www.crisistextline.org/ - Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741)https://988lifeline.org/ - 988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFor Families of Murder Victims:https://www.pomc.org/ - Parents of Murdered Childrenhttps://victimsofcrime.org/ - National Center for Victims of Crimehttps://www.ncvc.org/ - National Crime Victim Law InstituteSources:https://www.newspapers.com/ (Historical archive - subscription required)https://www.knoxnews.com/ (Search "Christian Newsom" for extensive archive)https://abcnews.go.com/ (Search "Channon Christian")https://www.cnn.com/ (Coverage of trials and scandal)https://www.foxnews.com/ (Michelle Malkin coverage 2007)https://www.wbir.com/ (WBIR-TV extensive trial coverage)https://www.wate.com/ (WATE 6 On Your Side)https://www.wvlt.tv/ (WVLT Local 8 News)https://www.tncourts.gov/ (Tennessee State Courts)https://www.tsc.state.tn.us/ (Tennessee Supreme Court opinions)https://www.knoxcounty.org/criminal/ (Knox County Criminal Court)https://law.justia.com/cases/tennessee/ (Tennessee case law database)https://scholar.google.com/ (Search: "State v. Davidson" "State v. Cobbins" etc.)https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts (Federal case records)https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ (Public Access to Court Electronic Records - fee required)https://www.capitol.tn.gov/ (Tennessee General Assembly)https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0962.pdf (Chris Newsom Act - SB 2552/HB 2658)https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0963.pdf (Channon Christian Act - SB 2553/HB 2659)https://www.rainn.org/ (RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)https://www.pomc.org/ (Parents of Murdered Children)https://victimsofcrime.org/ (National Center for Victims of Crime)University of Tennessee Foundation: https://www.utfi.org/"The Christian-Newsom Murders: 10 Years Later" - Knoxville News Sentinel Special Reporthttps://www.aetv.com/ (A&E "Injustice with Nancy Grace")https://www.oxygen.com/ (Oxygen Network coverage)https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/ (Investigation Discovery features)https://www.aafs.org/ (American Academy of Forensic Sciences)https://www.forensicscienceeducation.org/ (Forensic science education resources)https://www.ncjrs.gov/ (National Criminal Justice Reference Service)https://bjs.ojp.gov/ (Bureau of Justice Statistics)https://apps.tn.gov/foil-app/ (Tennessee Felon Offender Information Lookup)Search names: Davidson, Cobbins, Thomas, Coleman, Boydhttps://www.tn.gov/correction/sp/death-row.html (Tennessee Death Row information)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (January-February 2007)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (Trial coverage)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (March-December 2011)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (Coleman & Thomas retrials)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (August 2019)https://www.tba.org/ (Tennessee Bar Association resources)https://www.knoxcounty.org/ (Knox County government)https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/ (City of Knoxville)https://www.britannica.com/place/Knoxville-Tennessee (Knoxville history)https://www.utk.edu/ (University of Tennessee)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reverie-true-crime--4442888/support.Keep In Touch:Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/reveriecrimepodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reverietruecrimeTumblr: https://reverietruecrimepodcast.tumblr.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/reverietruecrimeContact: ReverieTrueCrime@gmail.com Intro & Outro by Jahred Gomes: https://www.instagram.com/jahredgomes_official
191. Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom: 36 Hours in Hell (Part II)
Between January 6-9, 2007, Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom were held captive, tortured, raped, and murdered by five perpetrators at a house on Chipman Street in Knoxville, Tennessee.The details are documented through court testimony, medical examiner reports, and forensic evidence are among the most horrific ever presented in an American courtroom. Prosecutors, judges, and jurors struggled to maintain composure. This episode documents what happened during those 36 hours. It is extremely difficult to hear but their families insisted the world know the truth because only by understanding the full horror can we appreciate why justice mattered so much.In memory of Channon and Chris, whose families demanded the truth be told.Support ResourcesFor Survivors of Violence:https://www.rainn.org/ - RAINN (1-800-656-4673)https://www.thehotline.org/ - National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)https://www.crisistextline.org/ - Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741)https://988lifeline.org/ - 988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFor Families of Murder Victims:https://www.pomc.org/ - Parents of Murdered Childrenhttps://victimsofcrime.org/ - National Center for Victims of Crimehttps://www.ncvc.org/ - National Crime Victim Law InstituteSources:https://www.newspapers.com/ (Historical archive - subscription required)https://www.knoxnews.com/ (Search "Christian Newsom" for extensive archive)https://abcnews.go.com/ (Search "Channon Christian")https://www.cnn.com/ (Coverage of trials and scandal)https://www.foxnews.com/ (Michelle Malkin coverage 2007)https://www.wbir.com/ (WBIR-TV extensive trial coverage)https://www.wate.com/ (WATE 6 On Your Side)https://www.wvlt.tv/ (WVLT Local 8 News)https://www.tncourts.gov/ (Tennessee State Courts)https://www.tsc.state.tn.us/ (Tennessee Supreme Court opinions)https://www.knoxcounty.org/criminal/ (Knox County Criminal Court)https://law.justia.com/cases/tennessee/ (Tennessee case law database)https://scholar.google.com/ (Search: "State v. Davidson" "State v. Cobbins" etc.)https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts (Federal case records)https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ (Public Access to Court Electronic Records - fee required)https://www.capitol.tn.gov/ (Tennessee General Assembly)https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0962.pdf (Chris Newsom Act - SB 2552/HB 2658)https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0963.pdf (Channon Christian Act - SB 2553/HB 2659)https://www.rainn.org/ (RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)https://www.pomc.org/ (Parents of Murdered Children)https://victimsofcrime.org/ (National Center for Victims of Crime)University of Tennessee Foundation: https://www.utfi.org/"The Christian-Newsom Murders: 10 Years Later" - Knoxville News Sentinel Special Reporthttps://www.aetv.com/ (A&E "Injustice with Nancy Grace")https://www.oxygen.com/ (Oxygen Network coverage)https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/ (Investigation Discovery features)https://www.aafs.org/ (American Academy of Forensic Sciences)https://www.forensicscienceeducation.org/ (Forensic science education resources)https://www.ncjrs.gov/ (National Criminal Justice Reference Service)https://bjs.ojp.gov/ (Bureau of Justice Statistics)https://apps.tn.gov/foil-app/ (Tennessee Felon Offender Information Lookup)Search names: Davidson, Cobbins, Thomas, Coleman, Boydhttps://www.tn.gov/correction/sp/death-row.html (Tennessee Death Row information)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (January-February 2007)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (Trial coverage)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (March-December 2011)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (Coleman & Thomas retrials)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (August 2019)https://www.tba.org/ (Tennessee Bar Association resources)https://www.knoxcounty.org/ (Knox County government)https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/ (City of Knoxville)https://www.britannica.com/place/Knoxville-Tennessee (Knoxville history)https://www.utk.edu/ (University of Tennessee)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reverie-true-crime--4442888/support.Keep In Touch:Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/reveriecrimepodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reverietruecrimeTumblr: https://reverietruecrimepodcast.tumblr.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/reverietruecrimeContact: ReverieTrueCrime@gmail.com Intro & Outro by Jahred Gomes: https://www.instagram.com/jahredgomes_official
190. Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom: Two Stars Lost in the Tennessee Night (Part I)
On January 6, 2007, Channon Christian (21) and Christopher Newsom (23) went on a date. They were young, in love, and planning to attend a friend's birthday party.They never arrived. What happened to Channon and Chris over the next 36 hours is known as one of the most brutal crime sprees in Tennessee history. But before we discuss the horror, we need to know who they were, the real people behind the headlines, the beloved children whose families would spend 18 years fighting for justice.This four-part series tells their complete story: the victims, the crimes, the trials, the judicial scandal that forced retrials, and the lasting legacy. In this episode, let's learn who Channon Gail Christian and Hugh Christopher Newsom Jr. were. Not as victims, but as the vibrant, beautiful people they were.Support ResourcesFor Survivors of Violence:https://www.rainn.org/ - RAINN (1-800-656-4673)https://www.thehotline.org/ - National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)https://www.crisistextline.org/ - Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741)https://988lifeline.org/ - 988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFor Families of Murder Victims:https://www.pomc.org/ - Parents of Murdered Childrenhttps://victimsofcrime.org/ - National Center for Victims of Crimehttps://www.ncvc.org/ - National Crime Victim Law InstituteSources:https://www.newspapers.com/ (Historical archive - subscription required)https://www.knoxnews.com/ (Search "Christian Newsom" for extensive archive)https://abcnews.go.com/ (Search "Channon Christian")https://www.cnn.com/ (Coverage of trials and scandal)https://www.foxnews.com/ (Michelle Malkin coverage 2007)https://www.wbir.com/ (WBIR-TV extensive trial coverage)https://www.wate.com/ (WATE 6 On Your Side)https://www.wvlt.tv/ (WVLT Local 8 News)https://www.tncourts.gov/ (Tennessee State Courts)https://www.tsc.state.tn.us/ (Tennessee Supreme Court opinions)https://www.knoxcounty.org/criminal/ (Knox County Criminal Court)https://law.justia.com/cases/tennessee/ (Tennessee case law database)https://scholar.google.com/ (Search: "State v. Davidson" "State v. Cobbins" etc.)https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts (Federal case records)https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ (Public Access to Court Electronic Records - fee required)https://www.capitol.tn.gov/ (Tennessee General Assembly)https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0962.pdf (Chris Newsom Act - SB 2552/HB 2658)https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/108/pub/pc0963.pdf (Channon Christian Act - SB 2553/HB 2659)https://www.rainn.org/ (RAINN - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)https://www.pomc.org/ (Parents of Murdered Children)https://victimsofcrime.org/ (National Center for Victims of Crime)University of Tennessee Foundation: https://www.utfi.org/"The Christian-Newsom Murders: 10 Years Later" - Knoxville News Sentinel Special Reporthttps://www.aetv.com/ (A&E "Injustice with Nancy Grace")https://www.oxygen.com/ (Oxygen Network coverage)https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/ (Investigation Discovery features)https://www.aafs.org/ (American Academy of Forensic Sciences)https://www.forensicscienceeducation.org/ (Forensic science education resources)https://www.ncjrs.gov/ (National Criminal Justice Reference Service)https://bjs.ojp.gov/ (Bureau of Justice Statistics)https://apps.tn.gov/foil-app/ (Tennessee Felon Offender Information Lookup)Search names: Davidson, Cobbins, Thomas, Coleman, Boydhttps://www.tn.gov/correction/sp/death-row.html (Tennessee Death Row information)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (January-February 2007)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (Trial coverage)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (March-December 2011)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (Coleman & Thomas retrials)https://www.knoxnews.com/archives/ (August 2019)https://www.tba.org/ (Tennessee Bar Association resources)https://www.knoxcounty.org/ (Knox County government)https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/ (City of Knoxville)https://www.britannica.com/place/Knoxville-Tennessee (Knoxville history)https://www.utk.edu/ (University of Tennessee)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reverie-true-crime--4442888/support.Keep In Touch:Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/reveriecrimepodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reverietruecrimeTumblr: https://reverietruecrimepodcast.tumblr.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/reverietruecrimeContact: ReverieTrueCrime@gmail.com Intro & Outro by Jahred Gomes: https://www.instagram.com/jahredgomes_official