Knoxville, TN (WOKI) East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers asks for help Friday afternoon in tracking down two missing Knoxville children.
Two year old Serenity Yera and 4-year-old Fate Yera were reportedly last known to be living at 2080 Cecil Johnson Road, but the Department of Children’s Services has not been able to check in on them.
At this time, Crime Stoppers says they are not believed to be in danger, but it is “imperative” that they are located.
Those with information are being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.— What if you could clean out clutter, prevent addiction, and protect the quality of your drinking water all at the same time? This Saturday, you can!
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), state and local government partners, dozens of substance use prevention coalitions, and law enforcement agencies are teaming up for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 27. There are more than 110 locally organized events across Tennessee with most scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m local time.
Take Back Day is an opportunity for anyone to safely and securely dispose of medications in their home that are either expired or no longer needed. In 2023, Tennesseans disposed of nearly 13,000 pounds of medications across the two Take Back Days in April and October.
“Chances are good you have prescription medications that you don’t need anymore. Disposal is easy and fast at one of our Take Back Day events. With prescription opioids and other medications, there’s risk of misuse and potential addiction. By getting them out of your house, you might prevent years of heartache or even save a life,” said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW.
“Safe and secure disposal of prescription drugs protects public health and Tennessee’s waterways,” said David Salyers, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day helps raise awareness about this important issue and TDEC is proud to be a part of it.”
For people unable to stop by a Take Back Day event, there are 379 permanent drug drop boxes located across the state with at least one in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. In 2023, Tennesseans safely and securely disposed of more than 57 tons of medications through the permanent drug drop boxes.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: The suspect in Thursday night’s deadly shooting at a West Knoxville apartment has been taken into custody in Kentucky.
Knoxville police reporting that 49-year-old Michael Merrick was arrested for a DUI charge in Whitley County, Kentucky. He is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 49-year-old Nicole Fanney.
Fanney was found dead inside of her apartment at 3210 Atchley Ridge Way late Thursday night.
Police say the shooting is believed to be domestic in nature.
Merrick is currently being held at the Whitley County Detention Center, and will soon be extradited back to Knoxville.
ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville Police Department Homicide Unit detectives are pursuing strong leads after responding to a deadly shooting at a West Knoxville apartment late Thursday night.
At around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, 2024, KPD officers were dispatched to an apartment at 3210 Atchley Ridge Way in regards to a deceased person. Officers arrived on scene and found a woman inside of the apartment who had been shot multiple times. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
A suspect has not been arrested or charged at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Knoxville Police Department is investigating an overnight fatal, hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian.
At around 1:40 a.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to the reported hit-and-run on Chapman Highway at Fort Avenue, just south of the Henley Street Bridge. Officers arrived on scene and found the victim in the intersection. The victim, an adult man, was transported to the UT Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
A witness reported that the victim was hit by a black SUV while walking across Chapman Highway, and that the SUV continued to drive south on Chapman Highway after striking the victim.
The suspect vehicle has not been positively identified or located at this time, despite extensive efforts by responding officers to canvass the area.
The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending next of kin notification and the investigation remains ongoing at this time. Anyone with information concerning the suspect vehicle is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
11 people and 33 dogs are safe after making it out of a home during a fire in South Knoxville.
Knoxville Fire department investigators are working to find out what started this fire at a home in the 200 block of Stone Road.
KFD says the owners reported that fire around at 3:00 this morning. (Friday)
Fire crews were able to put the fire out but 1 of the 33 dogs that live there attacked another dog during the fire and the owner shot that attacking dog.
Knoxville Police took the who shot the dog into custody.
Knoxville animal control is moving those animals and Stone Road was closed for hours but reportedly reopened after 7 a.m.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3/3 Tennessee opened its series against Missouri with a bang, tying a season high with six home runs to cruise to a 10-1 win on Thursday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Six of the Vols’ 10 hits on the night left the yard while all 10 of their runs came via the long ball. UT has now hit six home runs in a game five different times this season.
Billy Amick picked up where he left off in the midweek with his second straight two-homer game, bringing his total to 16 on the year. The junior third baseman went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs, giving him 11 RBIs over his last two games.
Christian Moore had another big night at the dish as well, hitting a homer to leadoff the bottom of the first inning to get things rolling, marking his sixth home run in his last six games. The New York native finished 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored for the game.
Cal Stark also went deep for the fifth time this season, hitting a three-run blast to put UT ahead 4-0 in the second inning.
Cannon Peebles rounded out the scoring for the Big Orange with his first homer of the year, a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth.
The duo of starter Chris Stamos and reliever AJ Causey was excellent on the mound, combining for nine strikeouts while allowing just one run over 8.2 innings. Causey got the win to improve to 7-3 on the year after tossing six innings out of the bullpen while finishing with six punchouts.
Danny Corona led the Tigers (19-24, 6-13 SEC) at the plate from the nine hole, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the seventh inning to account for Missouri’s lone run.
Starting pitcher Ryan Magdic fell to 1-2 on the year after giving up five runs on three hits, all home runs, in three innings of work.
STAT OF THE GAME: The nation’s longest hitting streak came to an end on Thursday night as Blake Burke failed to record a hit for just the third time this season, ending his program-record 31-game hit streak.
UP NEXT: The Vols (35-7, 13-6 SEC) will look to secure their sixth straight SEC series win with a victory in game two of the series on Friday night. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
MCMINNVILLE – Special agents assigned to TBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force have arrested and charged three men accused of uploading child sexual abuse material online.
TBI agents opened the investigation after receiving tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about three individuals uploading child sexual abuse material on platforms such as Dropbox and Discord. During the investigation, agents identified the individuals and, on Tuesday and Wednesday, conducted an operation to search two homes, during which agents seized a total of 44 electronic devices for further examination. They also arrested Garry Alford (DOB 3-15-1984), Johnathan Curtis (DOB 2-18-1992), and Clifton Johnston (DOB 12-22-1985) and charged each with one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Authorities subsequently booked all three men into the Warren County Jail, on bond amounts of $50,000 for Alford and Curtis, and $75,000 for Johnston.
The TBI’s Criminal Investigation Division, Drug Investigation Division, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, McMinnville Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations assisted with the operation.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is an ICAC affiliate of the Tennessee ICAC Task Force. Anyone with information about these cases or other cases of online child exploitation should contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Tipline at 1-800-TBI-FIND, [email protected], or report via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline at CyberTipline.org.
ROANE COUNTY – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of the 9th Judicial District Attorney General has resulted in the arrest of an Athens woman, charged with murder in the death of her mother.
On April 20th, the Roane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a deceased female at a residence on Circle Drive in Rockwood. When deputies arrived, they found Bertha Lodewegen (DOB 03/13/1949) deceased. At the request of District Attorney General Russell Johnson, on April 21st, TBI agents joined Roane County and the DA’s office in the investigation. An autopsy revealed the manner of death to be homicide. During the course of the investigation, investigators determined that the victim’s daughter Marie Hefner was the individual responsible for her mother’s death.
On April 25th, Marie Hefner (DOB 12/30/1973) was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder. She was taken into custody at the Roane County Sheriff’s Office. A bond had not yet been set at the time of this release.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The YWCA will be renovating its building to help more members of the community as well as their own residents.
“Keys of Hope” at the YWCA helps women who otherwise would be without a place to live.
It focuses on transitioning to permanent housing and self-sufficiency. Assistance programs include financial and mental health counseling as well as addiction recovery.
The new building will be named the Nancy J Land Center, and its namesakes are proud to support an organization that supports so many others.
The building is still $1.6 million away from being fully funded.
If you would like to donate to Keys of Hope, please click here.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The man accused of driving under the influence, hitting and killing a 24-year-old man in Knoxville has been indicted by the Knox County Grand Jury.
Shannon Walker has been indicted for vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence in connection to the death of Ben Kredich.
Knoxville Police say Walker was driving on Kingston Pike just west of Concord around 4:00 p.m. in August of 2023 when he crossed several lines of traffic, hitting Kredich.
Prior to the crash, Walker had reportedly been taken to Parkwest Medical Center after receiving Narcan. He was discharged from the hospital about an hour before the crash.
Just this week, the Ben Kredich Act, a bill aimed at addressing opioid-induced DUIs, passed in the Tennessee House. The bill now sits on Gov. Lee’s desk.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers asks for help Friday afternoon in tracking down two missing Knoxville children. Two year old Serenity Yera and 4-year-old Fate Yera were reportedly last known to be living at 2080 Cecil Johnson Road, but the Department of Children’s Services has not been able to check in on…… Continue Reading
NASHVILLE, Tenn.— What if you could clean out clutter, prevent addiction, and protect the quality of your drinking water all at the same time? This Saturday, you can! The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), state and local government partners, dozens of substance use prevention coalitions, and law enforcement agencies are…… Continue Reading
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: The suspect in Thursday night’s deadly shooting at a West Knoxville apartment has been taken into custody in Kentucky. Knoxville police reporting that 49-year-old Michael Merrick was arrested for a DUI charge in Whitley County, Kentucky. He is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 49-year-old Nicole Fanney. Fanney…… Continue Reading
The Knoxville Police Department is investigating an overnight fatal, hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian. At around 1:40 a.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to the reported hit-and-run on Chapman Highway at Fort Avenue, just south of the Henley Street Bridge. Officers arrived on scene and found the victim in the…… Continue Reading
11 people and 33 dogs are safe after making it out of a home during a fire in South Knoxville. Knoxville Fire department investigators are working to find out what started this fire at a home in the 200 block of Stone Road. KFD says the owners reported that fire around at 3:00 this morning.…… Continue Reading
Posted on April 26, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
Game Recap: Baseball | April 25, 2024 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3/3 Tennessee opened its series against Missouri with a bang, tying a season high with six home runs to cruise to a 10-1 win on Thursday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Six of the Vols’ 10 hits on the night left the yard while all 10…… Continue Reading
MCMINNVILLE – Special agents assigned to TBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force have arrested and charged three men accused of uploading child sexual abuse material online. TBI agents opened the investigation after receiving tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about three individuals uploading child sexual abuse material on platforms such…… Continue Reading
ROANE COUNTY – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of the 9th Judicial District Attorney General has resulted in the arrest of an Athens woman, charged with murder in the death of her mother. On April 20th, the Roane County Sheriff’s Office responded to…… Continue Reading
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The YWCA will be renovating its building to help more members of the community as well as their own residents. “Keys of Hope” at the YWCA helps women who otherwise would be without a place to live. It focuses on transitioning to permanent housing and self-sufficiency. Assistance programs include financial and mental…… Continue Reading
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The man accused of driving under the influence, hitting and killing a 24-year-old man in Knoxville has been indicted by the Knox County Grand Jury. Shannon Walker has been indicted for vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence in connection to the death of…… Continue Reading
