The man charged in a June 30 fatal stabbing in Bradley County had just been released from prison in November after serving four years for attempted carjacking and escape.
Christopher John Taylor, 28, was initially the subject of a June 30 manhunt but was arrested later the same day on a warrant accusing him of second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Bradley County resident Perry Shawn Freeman, 57, according to Bradley County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Robert Jones. Taylor remains behind bars on a $1 million bond.
As of Thursday, the Bradley County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office said Taylor had no attorney on record. He faces a court appearance July 14.
Taylor had already fled the scene when Bradley County deputies arrived at the home on Lowery Street on June 30 just outside Cleveland, Tennessee’s eastern city limits, according to a court affidavit. Freeman was found with multiple stab wounds to his chest and large lacerations to his neck. He died at the scene. Witnesses at the scene described Taylor to authorities to help in their search.
In June 2022, Taylor pleaded guilty to charges in connection with an incident in Rutherford County, Tennessee, according to Circuit Court records there.
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According to the affidavit filed by Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office detective Joseph Duncan, Taylor was being transported Jan. 12, 2022, to Bradley County by Benton County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer Dalton Grathwell. Taylor had been in Benton County for unrelated charges.
As Grathwell and Taylor were traveling through Rutherford County, about 2.5 hours from Benton County, the affidavit said, Taylor opened the glass partition between the front and back seats of the patrol car and began crawling through, feet first. Grathwell realized Taylor was coming through and drew his stun gun, but Taylor gained control of the stun gun before Grathwell was able to use it.
Grathwell fought with Taylor on the side of the road near the South Church Street exit on Interstate 24, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media statement the day of the incident. An unnamed truck driver had stopped and pulled the two apart. Grathwell was treated for minor injuries, and authorities found Taylor later in the day hiding inside a storm drain.
When the case got to Criminal Court, according to Circuit Court judgment forms, Taylor pleaded guilty to attempted carjacking and escape, while prosecutors said the other two counts, aggravated assault and theft, would not be pursued. Taylor was sentenced by Criminal Court Judge Howard Wilson to four years in prison to be served as ordered.
Tennessee Department of Correction records show Taylor was released from state prison Nov. 21. He had been free about seven months before the fatal stabbing in Bradley County.
Contact Southeast Tennessee reporter Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.