A woman whose remains were found in 1987 in Roane County has been identified as a result of a partnership between the Roane County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Unidentified Human Remains DNA Initiative.

On August 29, 1987, a body was discovered by a passer-by beside a garbage dumpster in the 2600 block of Highway 58 in Kingston. Forensic anthropologists determined that the remains were those of a white female, likely between the ages of 35 and 50. The victim had been burned after her death and discarded beside the dumpster. Investigators with the Roane County Sheriff’s Office worked to determine the identity of the victim through the use of technology available in 1987, but their efforts were not successful. After exhausting all leads, investigators could not determine the victim’s identity, and she was classified as a Jane Doe.

Attempts to identify the Roane County Jane Doe continued, and in April of 2009, the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Center submitted a sample of her remains to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A DNA profile was developed and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in hopes that the woman would eventually be identified, but no developments occurred.

In April, as part of the Unidentified Human Remains DNA Initiative, TBI agents assisted the Roane County Sheriff’s Office by submitting a sample of the woman’s remains to Othram Inc., a private lab based in Texas, for forensic genetic genealogical (FGG) DNA testing. Scientists provided information about possible relatives connected to the woman.  Last month, agents made contact with one of those family members and obtained a familial DNA standard. That standard was then submitted to Othram for comparison against the DNA of the unidentified woman. Based on the DNA and forensic genealogy results, scientists at Othram confirmed that the unidentified remains belonged to Betty Lou Wisley (DOB: 12/30/1935), originally of Clinton, Missouri. It was further determined that Wisley was living in or near the Knox County area at the time of her death.

Now, Roane County Sheriff’s Office Investigators and TBI special agents are hoping the public can help piece together the events leading up to Betty Lou Wisley’s death. Anyone with information, specifically any knowledge about individuals she may have been with before her death, is asked to contact the Roane County Sheriff’s Office at 865-717-4722 or email tips to [email protected].

An investigation is underway after a man dies at the hospital from a gunshot wound.

Knox County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 6500 block of Old Maynardville Pike yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon and found a man with gunshot wounds who was taken to the hospital. They say this appears to be an isolated/targeted incident.

KCSO is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or anyone in that area at Brown Gap with video surveillance to contact them.

Please call Major Crimes Detectives at 865-215-2243 if you have any information.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office releasing more information in a fatal hit and run accident in west Knox county.

It happened Monday on Lovell Road at Outlet Drive and involved pick-up truck and a motorcycle.

Investigators say the motorcycle driven by Raymundo Salinas was stopped at a red light when the pick-up driven by Donald Bowman hit the motorcycle then left the scene.

Bowman abandoned his vehicle on Gilbert Road and was later arrested at his home.

Charges are pending and the case will be turned over to the Knox County District Attorney’s office upon completion of the investigation.

Effective Wednesday, November 29, the burn ban is lifted at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although precipitation, cooler temperatures and shorter days allow for campfires to resume, fire danger is still high across the park and the area is experiencing drought.

Campers may only have campfires in designated areas in both frontcountry and backcountry campsites. Keep campfires small to decrease the chance embers will spread. Always attend and fully extinguish campfires. An extinguished campfire is completely out when it is cool to the touch.

The park issued a campfire ban earlier this month to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire during dry conditions and the increased risk for wildfires in the park.

No wildfires are currently burning within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.