Knox County
Sheriff's Office

HISTORY

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has a prestigious history beginning with the establishment of Knox County in 1792 and the commissioning of our first Knox County Sheriff, Robert Houston, in June of that year.

SHERIFFS of KNOX COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Have any personal KCSO history stories or information? We would love to hear it. Click below and tell us what you know!

Approximately 1940's 1950's

A Knox County Sheriff Deputy standing beside his cruiser.

Early 1990's

An image portraying various patrolling units of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office .

1900's

An image showing what the first type of Sheriff patrol cruisers were like in the early days of vehicle manufacturing.

LOOKING INTO THE PAST

KCSO HISTORY

Knox County Sheriff's Office

Knoxville, TN

Tom Spangler, Sheriff

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.