Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville man has plead guilty to a 2023 double murder.
Jair Romario Martin pleaded guilty in Knox County court Thursday to the murders of 22-year-old Madison Johnson and 21-year-old Heidi Johnson, who were found dead inside a home in the 400 block of Woodlawn Pike in May of 2023.
Officials with the district attorney’s office confirming Martin stands convicted of several charges to include two counts of first-degree murder and has waived his right to a jury determination for sentencing, which means a judge will decide his fate later in the month.
He faces life in prison or life without parole; that decision will be made on June 16.
The case centers on 22-year-old Madison Johnson and 21-year-old Heidi Johnson, who were found dead inside a home on the 400 block of Woodlawn Pike in May of 2023. (Courtesy: TBI)
DALLAS – Tennessee ace Liam Doyle added another notch to his impressive list of accolades this season by being named a finalist for the 38th Dick Howser Trophy, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced on Thursday afternoon.
Doyle is one of four finalists for this year’s award and is the only pitcher. Three of the nation’s top shortstops Wehiwa Aloy (Arkansas), Roch Cholowsky (UCLA) and Alex Lodise (Florida State) were the other finalists.
One of the most prestigious awards in college baseball, the Dick Howser Trophy has been given to the top player based on two rounds of national voting by NCBWA members since 1987. It is given in memory of the former Florida State All-American shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987. Criteria for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage – all qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser’s life.
Doyle will look to join Tennessee legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Todd Helton (1995) as the only Vols to ever win the award. The junior lefty is just the fourth UT player to be named a finalist in the award’s history, joining the likes of Trey Lipscomb (2022) and Chris Burke (2001). Doyle is also the first UT player to be selected as a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award in the same season since Burke in 2001.
For the season, Doyle boasts a 10-3 record with a 2.84 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 18 appearances (16 starts). He leads the NCAA with 158 strikeouts,15.46 strikeouts per nine innings and ranks in the top 12 nationally in victories (ninth), WHIP (12th) and hits allowed per nine innings (seventh).
The Derry, New Hampshire, native, was named the Knoxville Regional’s Most Outstanding Player last weekend after going 1-0 and recording a save in his two appearances against Miami (OH) and Wake Forest. Doyle pitched nine innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits while striking out 16 batters during the regional.
In his most recent outing against Wake Forest on Monday night, Doyle broke Luke Hochevar’s single-season strikeout record of 154 by punching out five of the seven batters he faced to bring his season total to 158, which leads the nation entering this weekend’s NCAA Super Regional at Arkansas.
The 2025 Dick Howser Trophy will be presented to this year’s winner during a press conference at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday, June 13 at 11 a.m. (ET).
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A former Knoxville Police Department officer is sentenced to over two decades in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material.
The case first came to light in November 2024 when court documents revealed that Officer Dan Roark had asked a woman in Virginia who he was dating, repeatedly, for pictures and videos of her then five-year-old daughter.
Investigators revealed more than 20,000 text messages between Roark and the woman with Roark asking for specific pictures and videos of the girl in exchange for money.
Roark pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sexually exploit a child and receipt of child pornography. He was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He is also required to register with the state sex offender registry.
Former Officer Dan Roark was accused of asking for and receiving pictures of a naked five-year-old girl. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WVLT) The City of Knoxville is adding noise cameras to the downtown area with the goal to stop noisy cars on Gay Street.
“It’s annoying, it’s distracting, especially when you’re waking up and when you’re putting kids to bed,” Blaine Owens, a Knoxville resident, said.
Carter Hall, Knoxville’s deputy director for the Center for Service Innovation, said they have received numerous complaints over the years and needed a way to limit these issues.
“It’s a tough issue to figure out how to really enforce. It’s a little more complicated than just having an officer standing on a corner with a decibel reader, so finding an innovative way to try to enforce the laws that we have on the books was something that we were excited about,” Hall said.
Back in 2022, Knoxville went through a pilot program with noise cameras. Through this trial, they found that car noise was a big problem in Downtown Knoxville.
“What we found with the data was, not only did we have legitimate violations happening regularly, the numbers were enough that we thought it was appropriate to move forward on a solution for residents,” said Hall.
The cameras can pick up on noise that breaks the city ordinance, record that vehicle and then issue a ticket. City officials said they are looking for illegally modified cars that are producing that excess noise.
“The camera system has an algorithm driven with it that will actually identify specific noise characteristics and will say ‘this is actually the kind of sound pattern that is the kind of thing we’re looking for’, and it will pick up, let’s say, fire trucks, street sweepers,” Hall said. “Those have a very specific sound characteristic, and it will say ‘hey, that’s actually not the kind of violation that we’re looking for’, so we can get really narrow and specific with it.”
Owens said this has been an annoying situation that has caused them headaches.
“Specifically at night, a lot of motorcycles and loud cars trying to like show off in an area that’s heavy with pedestrians,” Owens said.
The city is hoping these cameras can act as deterrents for these types of cars downtown.
“I think it’s important. If it keeps people away from these big downtown urban canyons where that sound will really reverberate, then that’s great,” Hall said.
The City of Knoxville found through a pilot program that excessive car noise was often violating the city’s noise ordinance. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Two former West High School football coaches are moving through the court system after being accused of sex crimes.
Chad Brooks was scheduled for arraignment Wednesday, June 4 but that was rescheduled to June 16. He is charged with multiple counts of aggravated statutory rape and statutory rape by an authority figure.
Richard Scott Shaver, who was charged with four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and two counts of attempted sexual battery by an authority figure, was arraigned Tuesday and will be in court again on July 24 and Sept. 3 for status hearings.
Shaver worked as an assistant coach alongside Brooks. Both men are no longer employees of Knox County Schools.
Richard Shaver (left) and Chad Brooks (Right). (Courtesy: WVLT)
Sweetwater, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating after a man is hospitalized following an officer-involved shooting Wednesday morning in Sweetwater.
TBI officials say the incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. at a home in the 100 block of Camp Hill Road when Monroe County deputies and officers with the Madisonville Police Department responded to a report of a man having a “mental episode.”
Despite law enforcement’s attempt to negotiate with the man and the deployment of tear gas, the suspect opened the front door and fired a shot.
TBI says a Madisonville officer returned fire, hitting the man. He as treated at the scene and taken to a nearby hospital.
The TBI investigates officer-involved shootings, then reports their findings to the district attorney general, who decides whether or not charges need to be filed.
The officers and deputies tried to negotiate, TBI said, and used tear gas on the man, who had produced a gun. (Courtesy: WVLT)
SportsFest returns on Saturday, June 28th, 2025 at Knoxville Expo Center!
SportsFest
Saturday, June 28th, 2025
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Knoxville Expo Center
*FREE ADMISSION!!!
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Join us on Saturday, June28th at the Knoxville Expo Center forSportsFest! This indoor festival celebrates all things sports! There will be an awesome buy, sell, trade card show, a special football clinic featuring VFL QB Erik Ainge, pickleball, karate, soccer, and more! Learn, play, shop, trade, interact, SportsFest has something for all ages. Exhibitors will be on-site offering a fun-filled day for the entire family.
SportsFest has all your bases covered! Learn, play, watch! From the novice sports fan to the diehards, SportsFest has something for everyone.
Schedule of Events…
Panels on the main stage sponsored by The Vol Shop:
10am – Representatives from the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
11am – Take a look behind the curtain on Game Day featuring Alicia Longworth, Jeff Jarnigan and Sterling Henton
Noon – Presentation of this years SportsFest Legends Award by Phillip Fulmer
1pm – VFL panel featuring Todd Kelly, Jr. , Erik Ainge, Jayson Swain and more
2pm – Vamos Vols panel featuring Carlos Lopez, Alison Ojeda and more
Clinics – bring your kids and learn more about each of these sports:
10am – Martial Arts Clinic with Premiere Martial Arts
11am – Football Clinic with Erik Ainge and Steve Matthews
Noon – Soccer Clinic with Carroll Sports Academies
Pickleball Clinics all day hosted by Pickleville
Sports Card Dealer Show sponsored by Underdog Collectibles
Over 35 vendors so far in the trading card show where collectors and fans can buy, sell, and trade sports cards, game cards, and memorabilia
Additional Interactive Activities
Dick’s House of Sport will be there with their huge baseball inflatable!
There will be a balloon bubble house for your little ones by Tiaras to Go!
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Scheduled to appear…
Erik Ainge– VFL QB from 2004-2007 and spent two seasons with the New York Jets for 2008-2010 after being drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft in 2008. Sports Animal host of the Erik Ainge Show Weekdays from 9a-12pm on 99.1 FM.
Jayson Swain– VFL WR from 2003-2006 and NFL WR with the Chicago Bears in 2007. He is currently 6th all-time in UT history with 126 receptions. Swain is also 13th in career receiving yards with 1,721. Jayson also hosts the Josh & Swain show on 99.1 The Sports Animal from 12p-3p as well as his podcast The Swain Event.
SterlingHenton– Former Vols QB 1986-1990 and DJ “Sterl the Pearl”
Todd Kelly Jr.– Former Vols Defensive Back 2014-2018
Carlos Lopez of Vamos Vols
***Special Appearances by Phillip Fulmer, Tyre West, Andre Turrentine, Miles Kitselman, Jeremiah Telander, and the 2024 National Championship Tennessee Volunteers College World Series Baseball Trophy!
Check back for updates!
If you are interested in being a vendor or an exhibitor at SportsFest visit here.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Fresh off its second trip to the semifinals at the Women’s College World Series in three seasons, the Lady Vols have added All-Mountain West First Team members Makenzie Butt and Sophia Knight as they look to reload heading into 2026.
Teammates at Boise State in 2025, Butt and Knight hail from Garden Grove and Huntington Beach, California, respectively.
Knight, a rising junior, was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2024 and garnered All-MW First Team honors in back-to-back seasons. She also collected Softball America Freshman All-America recognition in her rookie season.
A career .445 hitter, she has played and started in 115 games with 114 runs scored, 188 hits with 16 doubles, seven triples, a home run and 43 RBIs. Knight has a career on-base percentage of .482 with 45 stolen bases over her first two seasons.
“Sophia is a fast and dynamic offensive threat,” head coach Karen Weekly said. “She will remind fans of the great speed players we’ve had over the years at Tennessee. More importantly, she is a really good person who shares our culture’s mission and values. I’m excited to welcome her to the Lady Vol softball family.”
Butt will have three years of eligibility left when she arrives on Rocky Top after a stellar freshman campaign with the Broncos. The 2025 Mountain West Freshman of the Year played and started in 55 games, slashing .363/.821/.495 with 11 doubles, 22 home runs and 77 RBIs.
The infielder picked up first-team All-Mountain West honors and was named a Softball America and D1Softball Freshman All-American.
“Makenzie is a fierce competitor with the ability to hit for power and average at this level,” Weekly said. “She has always played in winning programs and understands the mindset and commitment necessary to compete for championships. Her energy and infectious personality are a great fit for our culture.”
CARY, N.C. – For just the fourth time in program history, a Tennessee player has been named a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. Junior pitcher Liam Doyle was selected as one of three finalists for this year’s award, USA Baseball announced on Wednesday.
Doyle is joined by a pair of the nation’s top shortstops in Arkansas’ Wehiwa Aloy and Florida State’s Alex Lodise to make up the finalists for the 47th edition the Golden Spikes Award, which is widely considered the most prestigious honor in college baseball and is presented annually to the country’s top amateur player.
The Derry, New Hampshire, native, will look to become the first Volunteer to ever win the award and joins a select group of previous finalists from UT that consists of program legends Todd Helton (1995), Chris Burke (2001) and Luke Hochevar (2005).
In his most recent outing in game seven of the Knoxville Regional against Wake Forest on Monday night, Doyle broke Hochevar’s single-season strikeout record of 154 by punching out five of the seven batters he faced to bring his season total to 158, which leads the nation entering this weekend’s NCAA Super Regional at Arkansas.
Doyle was also named the Knoxville Regional’s Most Outstanding Player after going 1-0 and recording a save in his two appearances. The dominant lefthander pitched nine innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits while striking out 16 batters over the weekend.
For the season, Doyle boasts a 10-3 record with a 2.84 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 18 appearances (16 starts). He also leads the NCAA with 15.46 strikeouts per nine innings and ranks in the top 12 nationally in victories (ninth), WHIP (12th) and hits allowed per nine innings (seventh).
This year marks the fifth time since 2018 that the Southeastern Conference has featured multiple Golden Spikes Award finalists. Overall, the SEC boasts 11 Golden Spikes Award winners, the most of any conference in the nation.
The 2025 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows: • June 4: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins • June 20: Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends • June 21: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
A final ballot will be sent to the Golden Spikes Award voting body consisting of national baseball media, select professional baseball personnel and USA Baseball staff, and the previous winners of the award, totaling a group of more than 100 voters. From Wednesday, June 4, to Thursday, June 12, the voting body will cast their final vote for the Golden Spikes Award winner and fan voting will simultaneously be open on GoldenSpikesAward.com.
The 47th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 21 on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT prior to first pitch of Game 1 of the Men’s College World Series finals.
To stay up to date on the 2025 Golden Spikes Award, visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Instagram and Twitter/X.
