2 women charged with using Snapchat to lure victims in North Knoxville carjacking, kidnapping

KNOXVILLE (WATE) – Two women have been charged in connection with a carjacking and kidnapping.

According to court records, Tiffany Cozart, 37, of Knoxville and Lashaundra Bowman, 18, of Lenoir City contacted two victims using Snapchat. Police said Cozart and Bowman met the victims at 7:50 p.m. Sunday at a Pilot Gas Station on Broadway and Washington Pike and told the victims to follow them to a house at 415 E. Oldham.

Once at the house, the victims were taken inside, told to sit down, then four black male suspects came out the kitchen with three rifles and a pistol and beat them with the guns, according to court records. They said the suspects took off the victims pants, took their money, keys and wallets and covered them with a blanket.

The two men told police they were dragged outside and put in the trunk of one of the victim’s 2007 Cadillac, according to police. The car drove off, but the men were able to escape using the emergency latch inside the trunk. The two victims jumped out of the vehicle on the off-ramp to Interstate 275 South on Heiskell Road and were able to flag down a vehicle and get a ride home.

Officers said the men were able to lead investigators back to the house. Also, one of the victims was able to identify Bowman through Facebook to officers.

Cozart and Bowman each are charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery and carjacking. A preliminary hearing was set for October 17.