Initial Incident
On Feb. 08, 1990, at approx. 6:45 a.m., Hyram Kitchen, who was the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee, was found shot to death in his driveway located at 6608 Northboro Road in North Knox County, Tennessee.
The victim’s wife, Yvonne Kitchen, heard gunshots that morning and called 911. Officers from the Knox County Sheriff Office responded to the scene and observed the victim lying on the driveway suffering from several gunshot wounds. His car was parked in the driveway near the front gate and the engine was running. The victim was going to work when the incident occurred.
Several neighbors recalled hearing gunshots that morning but no one was observed at or running away from the scene. Another neighbor overheard two voices that morning and it sounded like they were arguing.
Numerous persons have been interviewed pertaining to this cold case but no solid leads have been developed.
Victim
The victim, Hyram Kitchen, was the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee from 1980-1990. He was fifty seven (57) years old and lived in the Powell Community with his wife, Yvonne. Yvonne no longer lives in the State of Tennessee.
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.