Authorities are still looking for a man wanted on violation of federal probation.
64 year-old Omar Smith is believed to be in the Knoxville area and could be staying in homeless camps and is known to carry a gun.
He is 5’5″ with a medium build. If you have any information, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
East Tennessee Valley Crimestoppers asking for help to find two people wanted for a variety of crimes in several East Tennessee counties.
Tony and Krystal Hardin are a married couple well known to law enforcement, having a criminal history that spans over twenty years.
Charges against the couple range from Aggravated Assault, Evading arrest, Theft, vandalism, reckless driving and more. They may be in a Blue 2015 Chrysler Town and Country or a 2015 white Honda Odyssey.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 865-215-7165.
Advance Knox Seeks Community Input on Transportation Projects. During what is being called Priorities Week, Knox County is launching the third and final round of community input for Advance Knox where the community is being asked to weigh in on proposed transportation projects.
There will be five in-person and two virtual meetings where attendees will be able to prioritize projects and make comments. Residents can attend any workshop convenient for them.
Meeting dates, times, and locations for in-person workshops are as follows:
All lanes of I-40 have re-opened in Loudon County following a crash that sends three people to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
An overturned vehicle yesterday caused congestion on both directions of I-40 near the Buttermilk Road exit. The Tennessee Highway Patrol says a semi-truck carrying 42,000 pounds of frozen lasagna was involved in the crash and three people, including a child were injured, the driver of the truck was airlifted to the hospital.
Knoxville Fire Department investigators determine the cause of a house fire that claimed a woman’s life and several animals.
Officials say the fire was accidental, caused by a heater that was being used at the time of the fire.
Last week’s fire on Northcrest Circle in Fountain City was contained to the living room and front of that home.
Smoke alarms were in the home but were not working at the time of the fire.
KFD says after a tragic event like this, they can’t stress the importance of working smoke alarms in your homes.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office charge a man with money laundering and selling Schedule VI drugs to underage people.
KCSO using an undercover, underage person on two occasions at Al’s Market on Wesst Emory Rd, both times the underage operator was able to purchase Delta-9 THC without having their ID checked.
After testing, police determined that the THC pens also contained a concentration higher than the legal limit. Deputies searched the store on Tuesday and found several other pens like the ones sold to the undercover person.
The Knoxville Fire Department is investigating what caused a fatal house fire in North Knoxville.
Crews arrived at the home on Northcrest Circle and found smoke and fire coming from the front of the home.
During the search of the home, firefighters found a body inside. That person was pronounced dead at the scene.
The home has suffered heavy fire damage.
A business has re-opened and an investigation is underway following a hazardous leak in Loudon County.
Multiple agencies responding to the TA Truck Stop on Watt Road yesterday afternoon because a semi-truck was leaking an unknown hazardous material which was later identified as peroxyzxetic acid which is used to make surface cleaner and sanitizer but in the concentrated form it is highly corrosive and unstable according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Drivers on I-40 called in to 9-1-1 complaining of eye and skin irritation. Two drivers who were following behind the truck went to the hospital to be treated for eye irritation. The TA Truck Stop evacuated their building and shut down for the evening as a safety precaution.
Local companies to offer shuttle services at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors encouraged to plan ahead to avoid parking congestion.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are pleased to announce shuttle services for visitors to access some of the most popular park destinations. Several local commercial businesses will provide shuttle services to locations where visitor demand often exceeds parking capacity.
“We are committed to developing innovative solutions to improve visitor access and experience while protecting this national treasure,” Superintendent Cassius Cash. “Having a shuttle option is a stress-free way for visitors to experience some of the park’s most iconic destinations.”
Shuttles will pick up and drop off at popular destinations like Alum Cave Trail, Laurel Falls Trail, Chimney Tops Trail, Trillium Gap Trail (Grotto Falls), Rainbow Falls Trail, and Clingmans Dome. Visitors should contact the shuttle providers directly https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/shuttles.htm with questions or to book a ride. Routes and schedules vary from provider to provider.
Visitors who choose not to ride a shuttle should come prepared with alternative destinations in case they do not find available parking at their desired location. Cooler times of year, mid-week, and early mornings or late afternoon are the best times to secure parking. Visitors must avoid marked no-parking zones. Parking in areas not specifically designed for parking damages resources adds to congestion, and is unsafe along busy roads. It can even make it hard for emergency vehicles to access some locations in a timely manner. Over the winter, park officials installed roadside protections that target areas where one or more of these issues is a concern: visitor safety, resource damage, and congestion. Parking on the roadside can be dangerous, can cause resource damage, and visitors can receive citations or have their vehicles towed if they are creating a hazard or impeding traffic flow.
If safe parking is not available at the destination of choice, park officials encourage visitors to find a new destination rather than walk along the roadside. The park offers more than 800 miles of trails and more than 380 miles of scenic roadways. Staff members are available to assist in trip planning, seven days a week, at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and the Backcountry Office.
As a reminder, all vehicles parked for longer than 15 minutes anywhere in the park are required to display a valid parking tag. https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/fees.htm Having a parking tag does not guarantee a specific parking spot in a specific location.
For more information about congestion monitoring in the park, please visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/management/ves.htm
The Knox County Sheriff’s office charged four people in a major animal cruelty case, officials with the office announced Wednesday afternoon.
The case involves four people, all of whom are facing animal cruelty charges. Those people are Haylee Elisabeth Morris, 22, Michelle Lee Burgess-Morris, 50, Thomas Jason Morris, 51, and Isabella Madison Morris, 19.
Haylee Morris, who operated a pet sitting service, had previously been accused of animal abuse. One of those complaints, made to the sheriff’s office, prompted their first response, according to incident reports obtained by WVLT News.
KCSO has been working on this case since July 16, 2022, when deputies first performed an animal check on the Morris’ home, the reports said. Since that first visit, KCSO deputies visited the home six times, the reports said. The reports outlined the details of KCSO’s visits to the Morris house and summarized the animals found there and the charges the Morrises are facing.
Deputies first responded to 8112 Leclay Drive after receiving a tip from a woman who had left a dog, named Colby, with Hailee Morris. After getting the dog back, the owner said that it was in an extremely unhealthy condition, which was verified in the report by a testimony from the dog’s veterinarian.
“Colby has had rapid weight loss since he was at the clinic,” the vet stated. “He appears emaciated and ribs can be seen. Colby is extremely dehydrated and will require fluids. He is lethargic. The odor on Colby’s fur strongly suggests he has been laying in his own feces and urine. Colby has live fleas crawling on him despite being given Bravecto on 6/30. His overall health has deteriorated noticeably in the past two weeks. Veterinary recommendation is not to send him on transport until he is healthier.”
Upon arrival, the responding officer said he could smell “something rotten” coming from the garbage can outside the home, adding that a truck in the driveway was full of trash. Additionally, the officer noted that there was open animal food, dirty toys and empty bowls on the house’s porch.
“I knocked on the door numerous times. Several dogs could be heard barking. A strong smell of urine was emitting from the home,” the report said.
After knocking multiple times, a woman answered the door and told the officer that she was Hailee’s grandmother, according to the report, and that she was not home. After calling Hailee, she came to the house and spoke to the officer, telling him that she was watching an aggressive dog. Hailee also did not let the officers inside the house because the house’s air conditioning was broken.
While there, the deputies also got a list of animals Hailee had fostered from Young-Williams Animal Center. One of those animals, a dog, reportedly died after less than 24 hours in Hailee’s care. She told the officer that the dog died because it was old and overweight. However, when the officer asked an employee at Young-Williams about the dog, that employee told him that the dog “had very good results from the blood work obtained from the vet staff.”
On top of the dog that died, Hailee told the officers she had adopted eight rabbits, two dogs, two hamsters, two birds and a cat, all of which had died.
Another officer went to the home on March 5, almost eight months after the first visit, on another complaint of abused animals, according to the second report. That report also said that the sheriff’s office had received five complaints tied to the address about animal abuse.
Since the officer was not able to execute a warrant, he said he left a warning at the door when no one answered. That report also said the officer had heard multiple dogs barking inside the home’s garage, but the officer couldn’t tell how many there were.
The third report outlines a discussion between Thomas Morris, Haylee’s father, and an officer at the sheriff’s office. According to the report, two officers were supposed to inspect the Morris’ home, but the day of the scheduled visit, Thomas called to reschedule.
Thomas told the officer that Haylee had been cut by a knife, which had been put in a trash bag, while taking out the trash. Additionally, Thomas told the officer that his other daughter had injured her shoulder while playing catch, meaning no one would be at the home.
That visit was rescheduled to March 7.
The fourth report outlines the rescheduled visit between the Morrises and officers from the sheriff’s office. It was around this time that accusations of animal abuse had begun circulating online, and the Morrises brought that up to the officers, who told them they would follow up on any possible privacy concerns, but most of the issues the family had were matters of public record.
During that encounter, the officers noted that the home was dirty and smelled.
“The smell was consistent with urine and feces. Large black flies were circling in the porch area especially at the door,” the report said. “Upon entering the home through the front door, I could see feces dried to the floor and it appeared to have settled in to the edges of the walls. Puddles of urine were along walls and on the floor”
Officers added that there was trash inside the home, packed up against the walls.
The officers reported that several animals were in the home, including at least one dog that was in poor condition. The Morrises told officers that the dog was “riddled with cancer and under Veterinarian care in Maryland.” The family was not able to provide any medical records for the dog, however.
Additionally, Haylee told the officers that, while there were enough rooms for everyone in the house to have their own room, one was used for storing animal crates since a child who lived there was a “sleep between kid” who did not want to sleep in their own bed.
After speaking with the family, the officer said he contacted Adult Protective Services and the Department of Children’s Services to report the condition of the home.
After that visit, the report stated the Morrises said they had nine dogs, one bearded dragon and one parakeet in the home. Of those animals, the Morrises said, three dogs were service animals. The report said that they were not able to provide paperwork confirming that fact.
The fifth report only stated that on March 8, a sheriff’s office employee responded to the home to take pictures. WVLT News has reached out to KCSO for copies of those records.
Also on March 8, officers responded to the home to remove the nine dogs and bearded dragon, according to the report. Additionally, the reporting officer stated that the house was in bad shape.
“When I walked to the door, a strong smell of decomposition, trash and urine was present. I entered the front door, I noticed wet towels flat on the floor in the common area to absorb a liquid leaking from the ceiling,” the report said, adding that a spackle knife had been used to scrape up hardened feces from the floor.
While removing the animals the sheriff’s office knew about, the employee who was taking pictures of the home found more dogs upstairs. After discovering the additional animals, the report said, several more Animal Control officers and KCSO patrol officers were called in, even on their days off, to assist in removing them.
While upstairs, the reporting officer said he found fresh cat food, prompting him to ask Isabella Morris if there was a cat in the home, but she said there was not.
“It was at this time Officer Morrison heard a cat meow coming from the bathroom attached to Isabella’s living area,” the report said. That cat was eventually found in Isabella’s bathtub in a crate under more clutter, the report said.
Another dog, a 12-month-old German shepherd puppy was found inside Hailee’s closet.
“The closet had a large amount of items in front of it (blocking the door from opening),” the report said. It was later determined that the puppy had several infections and had been spending time standing in its own urine and feces.
Two guinea pigs and a leopard gecko with no food or water were found in another bedroom, the report said.
As officers were moving through the house, they said they found another bedroom with a note on the door stating “STOP Babies Present. What good reason do you have to enter?? NONE Leave babies alone and STAY OUT.”
Inside that room, which was covered in hay and waste, officers said they found a dead cat, guinea pig, rabbit and ferret, all decomposing.
“Some feces was fresh, most had begun to change color from age, turning white and growing mold. There was a large amount of general trash throughout the upstairs area. Two rooms had feces and various amounts of hay in them,” the report said. It also noted that the upstairs was so cluttered that there could have been more dead animals in the home.
While searching the garage, officers said they found another dead rabbit.
Outside the home, officers said they found at least eight more cats, three rats, a turtle and a dead bird in the house’s crawlspace.
“The findings were so extensive, veterinary cruelty checks needed to be conducted on each animal and the deceased animals were sent to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for necropsy testing (to attempt to determine the cause of death),” the report stated.
That report also included examples of complaints made towards Haylee by people whose animals she had watched over. Several of those complaints said animals had died or became injured while in Haylee’s care.
On March 9, the sheriff’s office, along with Adult Protective Services, arrived at the home and removed 43 animals from the home and took them to the Young-Williams Animal Center. This was confirmed to WVLT News previously by Young-Williams employees.
In total, 17 dogs, 12 cats, two guinea pigs, three rats, one bearded dragon, one gecko, one turtle and one parakeet were taken to the animal center. Another five animals were removed from the home but were dead. Additionally, two more dead animals had to be left in the home because they were so decomposed, they could not be sent to a facility for necropsy.
Another dog was not taken to Young-Williams, but instead given to its owner.
Officers added that there may have been more animals in the home, but it was so full of trash and clutter that they could not search completely.
“If there were additional dead/decomposed animals, they were not visible in the clutter and garbage throughout the home,” the report said.
The final report provided by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office lists the charges each of the four suspects are facing. All four of the Morrises are charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals as a class E felony, two counts of cruelty to animals as a class a misdemeanor and two counts of violation of rabies laws as a class C misdemeanor.
Only Michelle Lee Burgess-Morris is in custody.
In total, at least 29 animals were found living at the house with six found dead. Many of the reports stated that “several” animals were found in various rooms. According to the reports, another 25 animals were reported dead either during or shortly after being in the custody of Morris.
Story courtesy of WVLT
