Kenneth Dehart, Jr. Appears in Court on Charges of First-Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder After Reportedly Shooting Two Blount County Deputies During a Traffic Stop

Kenneth Dehart, Jr. Appears in Court on Charges of First-Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder After Reportedly Shooting Two Blount County Deputies During a Traffic Stop

February 15, 2024

Kenneth DeHart, Jr, the man accused of fatally shooting Blount County Deputy Greg McCowan makes his first court appearance today (Thursday) since being arrested Tuesday in connection to that shooting, he will be held with no bond.

The preliminary hearing for his case is set for February 20th at 9 a.m. and that his brother Marcus’ appearance has been rescheduled, he is charged with accessory after the fact for reportedly helping his brother evade police.

DeHart is facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and felon in possession of a weapon in relation to a shooting that left McCowan dead and Deputy Shelby Eggers injured last Thursday night following a traffic stop.

Marcus Dehart’s next court appearance has been reset for March 25th.

Carrie Matthews, Kenneth’s girlfriend is also charged with accessory after the fact for reportedly helping him. She is out on bond.

Fallen Deputy Greg McCowan was laid to rest yesterday (Wednesday) and several law enforcement agencies across East Tennessee, the State and other states honored him at his funeral and during a procession. Hundreds of people also lined Alcoa Highway to honor Deputy McCowan.

Early Voting Begins Today for March 5th Presidential Preference Primary and Knox County Primary Election Underway

Early Voting Begins Today for March 5th Presidential Preference Primary and Knox County Primary Election Underway

February 14, 2024

Early voting begins today (Wednesday, February 14) at eleven (11) locations across Knox County, including two NEW locations.

The locations are:

  • NEW – WEST KNOX SENIOR CENTER (239 Jamestowne Boulevard, Farragut). THIS LOCATION REPLACES THE CLOSED FARRAGUT TOWN HALL.
  • NEW – CLEAR SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH (7350 Tazewell Pike, Corryton)
  • Downtown West (1645 Downtown West Blvd., Unit 40)
  • Eternal Life Harvest Center at Five Points (2410 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.)
  • Knoxville Expo Center (5441 Clinton Highway)
  • Meridian Baptist Church (6513 Chapman Highway)
  • New Harvest Park (4775 New Harvest Lane)
  • Karns Senior Center (8042 Oak Ridge Highway)
  • Halls Recreation Center (6933 Recreation Lane)
  • Carter Senior Center (9036 Asheville Highway)
  • City County Building, Small Assembly Room (400 Main Street)

Hours are generally 10 am to 6 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday. There are a handful of exceptions to the standard hours, and all details can be viewed at: https://knoxcounty.org/election/2024elections/pdfs/2024-03-05-EVDailySchedule.pdf

The first day (Wednesday, February 14), all locations except Clear Springs Baptist Church and Meridian Baptist Church will be open until 7 pm.

BALLOT

The Republican ballot will be two pieces of paper and will be a total of three pages (front and back on the first sheet and front only on the second sheet. The republican ballot will feature:

  • Candidates for President (vote for One (1))
  • Delegates at-large (vote for up to fourteen (14)
  • Delegates, 2nd Congressional District (vote for up to three (3))
  • Criminal Court Judge, 6th Judicial District, Division II (vote for One (1)) 
  • County Commission – only for residents of Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 (vote for One (1)) 
  • Assessor of Property (vote for One (1))
  • County Law Director (vote for One (1))
  • Board of Education – only for residents of Districts 2, 3, 5, and 8 (vote for One (1))

The Republican ballot is very long, and the Election Commission encourages voters to preview the ballot prior to entering the polling place.

The Democratic ballot will be one piece of paper with contests only on the front side of the ballot. The Democratic ballot will feature:

  • Candidates for President (vote for One (1))
  • Criminal Court Judge, 6th Judicial District, Division II (vote for One (1)) 
  • County Commission – only for residents of Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 (vote for One (1)) 
  • Assessor of Property (vote for One (1))
  • County Law Director (vote for One (1))
  • Board of Education – only for residents of Districts 2, 3, 5, and 8 (vote for One (1))

Sample ballots can be previewed on the home page of https://knoxcounty.org/election/

For more information on elections, visit the Election Commission at https://knoxcounty.org/election/ or call 865-215-2480.

Officials Identify Two People Found Dead on a Property in Greene County

Officials Identify Two People Found Dead on a Property in Greene County

February 14, 2024

Chuckey, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 2/14: The Greene County Sheriff’s Department has identified the two people found dead on the same property in the Chuckey area.

GCSD officials say 69-year-old Roberta Welch-Peters was found inside the home in the 500 block of Choctaw Drive around 1:00 p.m. last Thursday, February 8.

Officials say the GCSD and TBI searched the wooded area behind the home Friday morning with the help of K9 units, finding the body of Welch-Peters son, 50-year-old Thomas J. Welch.

No other information has been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.

ORIGINAL STORY: Law enforcement authorities in Greene County are investigating after bodies are found in Chuckey.

Officials with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department say deputies together with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation responded around 1:00 p.m. Thursday to a home in the 500 block of Choctaw Drive where the body of a woman was found.

Officials say the GCSD and TBI searched the wooded area behind the home Friday morning with the help of K9 units and found the body of a man.

GCSD says both bodies have been sent in for autopsy, and there is no continuing danger to the public.

Man Accused of Killing Blount County Deputy Caught in Knoxville

Man Accused of Killing Blount County Deputy Caught in Knoxville

February 13, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The man accused of killing Blount County Deputy Greg McCowan and injuring Deputy Shelby Eggers is apprehended Monday afternoon in Knoxville.

Officials with the Knoxville Police Department confirming Kenneth Wayne DeHart, Jr. was taken into custody at a home on Linden Avenue.

DeHart was wanted for first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting which occurred following a traffic stop on Sevierville Road Thursday night.

Blount County Sheriff’s Office officials say DeHart was stopped for driving erratically, then things escalated, leading to the shooting.

“Kenneth Wayne DeHart was taken into custody a short time ago in Knoxville! Now the judicial process will take place in the court system. Thanks to all of our law enforcement partners and our community,” BCSO officials said.

DeHart’s arrest follows the arrest of two others in the case: his girlfriend, Carrie Matthews, and his brother, Marcus DeHart, who were both charged with accessory after the fact.

Morgan County Man in Custody after Firing Shots at Animal Shelter, Police Say

Morgan County Man in Custody after Firing Shots at Animal Shelter, Police Say

February 13, 2024

Morgan County, TN (WOKI) A man in Morgan County is in custody after firing shots at an animal shelter.

Officials with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office say the incident happened around 4:30 Monday afternoon at MOCO Muts, a non-profit shelter in the Sunbright area of Morgan County.

The suspect reportedly fired shots into the building while trying to get inside.

MCSO says the man ultimately got inside the building by breaking a window, and responding MCSO deputies then dragged the suspect out the broken window.

The two deputies were cut by the window and treated on the scene, while the man was taken to the hospital before being released to police custody.

Billboards Up Across the Southeast for Fugitive on TBI’s Most Wanted List, Kenneth Dehart, Jr. who is Wanted in Connection to the Shootings of Two Blount County Deputies – Fatally Wounding Deputy Greg McCowan

Billboards Up Across the Southeast for Fugitive on TBI’s Most Wanted List, Kenneth Dehart, Jr. who is Wanted in Connection to the Shootings of Two Blount County Deputies – Fatally Wounding Deputy Greg McCowan

February 13, 2024

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has teamed up with Lamar Advertising to put Blount County murder suspect Kenneth DeHart Jr.’s face all over the southeast.

DeHart is accused of shooting Blount County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Shelby Eggers and killing Deputy Greg McCowan during a traffic stop Thursday night. He is still on the run, and law enforcement says he is considered armed and dangerous.

So far, there has been no word from investigators on where DeHart could be, but they have not indicated that he could be outside East Tennessee yet.

A $100,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to his arrest.

Anyone with information is being asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

The Girlfriend of the Man Suspected of Shooting Two Blount County Deputies, Killing One, is Out on Bond Following Arrest for Reportedly Helping Him Avoid Custody

The Girlfriend of the Man Suspected of Shooting Two Blount County Deputies, Killing One, is Out on Bond Following Arrest for Reportedly Helping Him Avoid Custody

February 13, 2024

The girlfriend of Kenneth Dehart, Jr. is out on bond following her arrest for reportedly helping him avoid capture following a shooting involving two Blount County deputies, fatally injuring Deputy Greg McCowen.

Carrie Matthews was taken into custody in Sevier County charged with accessory after the fact for reportedly warning him when police went to her home.

Matthews has been issued a $350,000 bond and is required to wear an ankle monitor. Matthews posted bond yesterday and was released from jail last night (Monday). She’ll be back in court on March 15th.

Marcus DeHart is the suspect’s brother who is also charged with accessory after the fact. He is being held on a one million dollar bond. A bond hearing is set for Friday.

The manhunt for Kenneth Dehart continues. He is suspected of shooting two Blount County deputies, fatally injuring Deputy Greg McCowan and Deputy Shelby Eggers was shot in the leg but is recovering at home. She was able to return fire on Dehart who reportedly shot at the deputies following a traffic stop Thursday night.

A Blue Alert remains active for Dehart by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and he is on their Most Wanted list. He is considered armed and dangerous. Please call 9 1 1 is you see him.

Anyone with information on Kenneth DeHart, Jr. is being asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND or the tip line at 865-981-7125. A $100,000 award for information leading to his arrest.

Claiborne County Officials are Asking for Help to Find a Missing Teen

Claiborne County Officials are Asking for Help to Find a Missing Teen

February 13, 2024

 The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is asking for help finding a missing teen.

The CCSO said 15-year-old Ava Kennedy Hash Stern was last seen in Tazewell on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Hash is described as bring a white female who is 5′8″ tall and 115 pounds with red hair and green eyes, police said, in addition to braces and a nose piercing.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is asked to contact the CCSO at 423-626-3000 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Route for Deputy Greg McCowan’s Funeral Service if You’d Like to Safely Watch Procession

Route for Deputy Greg McCowan’s Funeral Service if You’d Like to Safely Watch Procession

February 13, 2024

On Wednesday, February 14, Blount County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg McCowan will be laid to rest. The funeral is scheduled for 1 pm at Sevier Heights Baptist Church, 3140 Maloney Road, Knoxville. Following the funeral, which we anticipate will end between 2:30 and 3 pm, there will be a funeral procession from Sevier Heights Baptist Church to Grandview Cemetery at 2304 Tuckaleechee Pike in Maryville. The procession will take Alcoa Highway southbound to Hall Road in Blount County, and then to Tuckaleechee Pike in Maryville and end at Grandview Cemetery. As you may expect, the funeral processional will be quite long. Please anticipate delays on Alcoa Highway and the remaining route to the cemetery. Please look at the map below to see the exact route.
If you choose to pay your respects to Deputy McCowan and his family by standing along the procession route, please choose a safe area away from traffic.
Sheriff James Lee Berrong would like to thank you for your patience, support, and condolences.

Website Poll Question: Who is your ONE favorite VFL currently in the NFL?

Website Poll Question: Who is your ONE favorite VFL currently in the NFL?

February 12, 2024

We want to know who your one favorite former University of Tennessee (VFL) football player currently in the NFL. Submit your vote below. Photo credit of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings to UT Athletics.

991TheSportsAnimal.com Website Poll

Will Tennessee be better, worse or about the same at QB this season?

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