Zone 404

Knox County
Sheriff's Office

Zone 404 is located in West Knox County. Including the Karns Community, the 404 Zone lies within Middlebrook, Pellissippi, and Clinton Highway.

KARNS

Local Interests

Karns Community

The Karns Community is at the heart of the 404 zone. Originally, the community was named Beaver Ridge, but the community voted to change the name to Karns in the 1950’s to honor Knox County’s first Superintendent of Public Instruction, Thomas Karns.

Karns Bridge

The Karns bridge is a located crossing the main thoroughfare through the heart of the Karns community. Often signs and other decorations can be seen adorning this local landmark.

Karns High School

According to the KnoxSchools.org: “In 1913, the first Karns High School was built. In 1938, a new Karns High School was built at the cost of $74,000. Its location was in the back of the parking lot where the current Karns Intermediate School is. The location chosen had previously been a Dutch cemetery but the bodies were exhumed to Cobb’s barn.

Long driveway with barn and wooden fence

Parking lot with VOLS flags and power lines near sunset

American, Tennessee, and POW flags near playground and covered tables

Pond with fountains, geese, and building in background near sunset

Black and white photo of Karns High School

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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.