EDWINA-Four men are being held in the Cocke County Jail on robbery and aggravated assault charges in connection with the severe beating of Lacie Vernon Moore, no age or address given, who was allegedly bound and dragged by a pickup truck along O'Neil Road.

According to a report by Cocke County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Armando Fontes, "Four young girls found the victim on their way home and called 911." Moore was, "Found to be severely injured with trauma to his entire body." Moore reportedly regained consciousness when deputies arrived and was able to provide a description of his alleged assailants and the blue 1981 Ford F-150 pickup driven by the suspects.

Moore told deputies he was beaten by four individuals he went camping with in Cosby and blacked out from the assault. Moore reportedly did not know how he arrived on O'Neil Road.

Deputies went to a popular camping spot known as "The Denton Hole" and found four suspects and a vehicle matching Moore's description. Deputies then conducted field interviews with the suspects, all of whom reportedly gave conflicting stories. Fontes reported that shortly after speaking to the suspects, two individuals admitted to being with Moore but didn't know his name.

Deputies had the four suspects plus two females follow them to the Cocke County Jail for further interviews. Fontes and Deputy Joseph Owings were told that the suspects, listed as Jacob M. Reynolds, 21, 7021 Armory Road, Newport; Charles C. Reynolds, 44, same address; James A. Murphy, 19, 329 Prospect Ave., Newport, and Mitchell L. Lutz, 23, 508 Sugme Way, Newport, reportedly met Moore at the Cosby Highway Mobile gas station where the victim cashed a pay check in the amount of $200 to $300.

Moore bought beer and left with the suspects around 10 to 10:30 p.m. The group arrived at the campsite and "were drinking together." According to one of the suspects, Moore "began messing with their girlfriends by making comments and trying to hug them." Moore reportedly walked away from the campsite and was followed by Lutz, Murphy and Jacob Reynolds, all of whom reportedly "jumped the victim and severely beat him." The trio reportedly told Charles Reynolds to bring the truck from the campsite to load Moore in the vehicle's bed.

Both Lutz and Jacob Reynolds rode in the cab of the F-150 with Charles Reynolds while James Murphy stayed in the bed with Moore. The men drove Moore to O'Neil Road, tied a rope to his body and attached it the rear of the F-150. The suspects then dragged Moore for an undetermined distance with the pickup along the gravel road.

After the men dragged Moore, they left him on O'Neil Road. The men took approximately $200 to $280 from the victim before leaving the scene. Fontes and Owings arrested Charles Reynolds, Lutz, Murphy and Jacob Reynolds on charges of aggravated assault and robbery. All four are currently being held without bond in the Cocek County Jail.

Moore suffered numerous scratches and abrasions on his back, shoulders, buttocks, legs and arms in addition to a serious head injury. One of the suspects reportedly had a broken leg. Moore is reportedly in University of Tennessee Medical Center's Critical Care Unit.