Third murder charge filed against driver accused of killing pregnant woman, son

A Jefferson City, Tennessee, driver accused of intentionally running down and killing a pregnant woman and her 2-year-old son near Carson-Newman University now faces a third murder charge in connection to the death of the unborn child, police said.

William David Phillips, 33, remained jailed without bond Wednesday on charges including three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of expectant mother Sierra Wilson Cahoon, 30, and her son, Nolan.

Phillips told authorities, "a voice told him that he needed to go kill meth addicts so he began driving very fast," arrest warrants state.

The suspect was behind the wheel of a Chevy Impala in downtown Jefferson City on Monday afternoon when he swerved twice onto the sidewalk along East Main Street, initially striking pedestrian Tillman Gunter, 61.

Phillips also faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder against Gunter, who was treated at a local hospital for what authorities described as non-life-threatening injuries.

Phillips continued driving and, less than a mile away, spotted Cahoon walking with her son in a stroller.

"He said the voice told him that the baby stroller had meth in it so he intentionally drove into (the mother and child) ... killing them both," the warrants read. "This act was done with premeditation."

Phillips finally crashed into a building housing a fish hatchery, where an employee inside suffered minor injuries.

Police said the suspect did not know any of the victims.

Cahoon and Nolan were the wife and son of Matt Cahoon, an assistant athletic trainer at Carson-Newman, a Christian school located on a campus less than a quarter mile from the attacks.

The university has established a fund to benefit the Cahoon family. Donations may be made online to the "Randall and Kay O'Brien Benevolent Fund." Donations also may be given by calling the university at 865-471-3233.

A GoFundMe page benefiting the family is available as well.

Phillips is set for arraignment Thursday morning in Jefferson County General Sessions Court.