Investigations – Cold Case – Homicide – Calvin R. Shafer

Calvin R. Shafer

29-year-old Calvin R. Shafer was found lying on Ball Camp Pike on October 7th, 1983. He had been shot once in the base of the neck and once in the head. He was still conscious when he was found and said he knew who shot him, but did not say who did it. A trail of blood led to Shafer’s white frame house about 40 yards away. A witness who shared the house with him said that Shafer used and sold drugs. She claimed that someone came to the back door around 9:30 a.m. on Friday and that Shafer went with the person into another room and shut the door. She heard two gunshots and saw Shafer lying in the road with several people standing around him.

1985 Homicide of Betty Joyce Brown

On July 20, 1985 the burned body of Betty Joyce Brown,aka Simmons, was found in the woods at 3805 Maloney Road in South Knox County. The 29 year old Austin-East graduate had been stabbed before being burned. Ms. Brown was last seen on July 14, 1985 between midnight and 1:00am in front of the Bread Box at Magnolia Ave and Spruce Street. It is believed that Ms. Brown was offered and accepted a ride from an unknown subject. Ms. Brown’s last know address was 2737 Tarleton Ave. Initial investigation indicated that when Ms. Brown’s body was found, she had been dead approximately 1 week. Family members described Ms. Brown as being a “very sweet and loving mother.”

If you have any information please call the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit at (865)-215-3520/3590 or e-mail coldcase@knoxsheriff.org.