An investigation is underway after a daughter is charged in her mother’s death in Cocke County.
Sheriff C.J. Ball says deputies responded to Battle Road in Newport after getting a call from 36 year-old Polly Fox saying she had found her mother dead in her home.
Deputies found Ola Schumacher dead with a “deep cut to her throat.” Police have charged 35 year-old Rayanna Keene and Fox with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
On Tuesday, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced that Tennessee has joined a multistate lawsuit against Mariner Finance over widespread violations of multiple consumer protection laws. The suit alleges that Mariner Finance charged consumers for hidden add-on products that consumers were not fully informed about or, in some instances, did not agree to buy. In doing so, Mariner illegally added hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars to the amounts consumers owed the company. In 2019 alone, Mariner charged consumers $121.7 million nationwide in premiums and fees for add-on products.
“My duty is to ensure that companies treat Tennessee consumers fairly and honestly,” Attorney General Skrmetti said. “Businesses that engage in deceptive practices deprive Tennessee consumers of making an informed choice, and that is illegal and wrong. I’m proud to join this bipartisan lawsuit on behalf of The Volunteer State.”
The lawsuit also alleges that Mariner engages in illegal, aggressive sales tactics to extend credit to new borrowers. These kinds of predatory sales practices can lead consumers into a cycle of debt that’s hard to overcome.
On April 1, 2024, the Court granted Tennessee’s previously filed joint motion to intervene, allowing The Volunteer State to intervene and join the litigation by filing a Second Amended Complaint that includes the intervening states as parties.
According to Mariner’s website, Mariner has 34 branches in Tennessee. Any consumer who believes they have been deceived by Mariner’s harmful practices can file a complaint with Tennessee. Consumers can find more information about how to submit a complaint to the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/file-a-consumer-complaint.html?
In addition to Attorney General Skrmetti, today’s Second Amended Complaint includes as Plaintiffs the attorneys general of Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigation unit is investigating following a fatal house fire in Halls.
Rural Metro crews were called to the 4200 block of Eiffel Lane at Andersonville Pike yesterday afternoon (Tuesday). A man and two dogs perished in the fire.
Updated story: The National Weather Service in Sunbright yesterday (Wednesday) surveying damage caused by what they say is an EF1 tornado.
Sam Roberts with the National Weather Service says maximum winds of 105 mph were associated with this twister which was about 100 yards wide and it’s path 2.8 miles long.
Cleanup continues as several homes and businesses were damaged.
Original story: The National Weather Service says a tornado did touch down near Sunbright.
Morgan County E-911 says the tornado was confirmed just after 5:30 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday). No fatalities have been reported. Wartburg Police Chief Michael Cox says no injuries were reported during yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) twister.
Highway 27 was shut down and traffic was being rerouted because of downed trees, powerlines and debris on the roads. Most power has been restored after thousands were in the dark after the storm. Officials set up an emergency shelter at Central High School in Wartburg.
Several businesses suffered significant damage from the tornado including Schubert Funeral Home. It’s not known when the funeral home will reopen but services will continue in Wartburg.
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) Police in Jefferson County have identified the suspect in a deadly shooting Tuesday morning in Strawberry Plains.
Officials with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office say the report of a shooting came in around 10:00 a.m., and multiple agencies were dispatched to the scene in the 100 block of Thorngrove Pike.
When deputies arrived, they found two people outside of a camper with gunshot wounds. One was pronounced dead at the scene; the other was taken to UT Medical Center. Their identities have not yet been released.
JCSO says after a short standoff, 31-year-old Jonathan Mays was taken into custody; he is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville teen is facing a slew of charges after stealing a car and leading police on a brief chase.
Knoxville Police Department officials say the chase happened around 4:30 p.m. Monday after officers spotted a Hyundai that was reported stolen in the area of E. Hill Avenue and Summit Hill Drive. When officers attempted to stop the car, it sped away.
KPD says the driver led police on a chase to Lula Powell Drive before leaving the car and running on foot.
The suspect, a 16-year-old, was taken into custody near the Vistas apartment complex.
Officers also recovered two guns during the incident: one discarded by the juvenile during the chase and one found inside the car.
The juvenile was charged with auto theft, evading arrest and multiple firearm offenses.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: 4/2 3:00 p.m. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a student at Hardin Valley Middle School made a verbal threat.
KCSO officials say the threat came in around 1:00 Tuesday afternoon prompting deputies to respond to the school and sweep it for any dangers.
KCSO says a primary sweep found nothing, but deputies did another sweep out of caution.
No one was hurt during the incident; however, the school was evacuated.
KCSO says charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
ORIGINAL STORY: Hardin Valley Middle School was evacuated Tuesday afternoon for a “potential threat.”
Knox County Schools officials say the school was evacuated as a precaution and that law enforcement was on the scene.
According to officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, deputies did a primary sweep of the school and found nothing.
As of approximately 1:45 p.m., deputies were still on-scene doing another sweep.
KCSO says no one was hurt.
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A suspect is in custody after a deadly shooting in Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene near Thorngrove Pike in the Strawberry Plains area Tuesday morning.
Officials say one person was killed and another was taken to UT Medical Center.
A suspect was taken into custody but neither the suspect nor the victim has been identified.
JCSO is asking everyone to avoid the area as the investigation is ongoing.
Young-Williams Animal Center is in full control of all animal-related calls in Knoxville and Knox County as part of the animal control system.
YWAC has hired a director of animal services, an animal service supervisor and 17 animal service officers.
They plan to use the officers as a tool to provide pet owners with resources rather than writing citations and seizing animals from owners. These officers will have the same power as law enforcement.
Animal officers can remove an animal from a home if they feel an animal could be seriously harmed or die if left on a property.
A wildfire is burning in Cocke County in the Hartford community.
Crews responded to the scene last night (Monday). Several agencies are on the scene and smoke is present in the area so please use caution as crews are on the scene. No word on the cause of the fire or if there are any injuries.
Also, the brushfire near Townsend which threatened up to 15 homes in Blount County is now 100% contained this morning (Tuesday). Emergency crews responded to the fire yesterday (Monday) afternoon which grew to be 30-50 acres in size. Smoke could still be present in the area.
