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On October 25, 2023 at approximately 2:55am Knox County 911 received a call of a residential house fire in the 5500 block of Fort Sumpter Rd, in North Knox County.
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A Knox County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Supervisor was one of the first responders on the scene and discovered the home to be fully engulfed. Nearby family members advised the deputy that the residence was occupied by a female resident and that she was unable to exit the residence due to the intense fire.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office Fire investigators and Major Crimes Unit responded to scene and are currently investigating.
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Fort Sumpter will remain closed for an undetermined time, in order to process the scene.
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Please keep the family, friends and all first responders in your thoughts and prayers as this investigation continues.
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.
