BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Update (2/13 at 4:30 p.m.): The Blount County Sheriff's Office and TBI announced Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in East Knoxville. You can read more about his arrest at this link.
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UPDATE (2/12 at 2 p.m.): The Blount County Sheriff's Office announced a reward has grown beyond $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr.
The Blount County Sheriff's Office said nearly 150 law enforcement officers and federal agents from departments throughout East Tennessee have been searching through dense, wooded areas and executing search warrants to find DeHart.
"We've continued the manhunt for Kenneth DeHart for his senseless murder of our deputy and injuring Deputy Eggers," Chief Deputy Jeff French said. "We've had multiple law enforcement agencies, state, local, federal, over 150 personnel probably searching dense areas, wooded areas. We've done search warrants and we've followed up on every tip that we've gotten. No tip's too big, too small."
Deputies said there would be a large law enforcement presence in the Wildwood area on Saturday afternoon, which was where DeHart's vehicle was found abandoned on Friday. BCSO called it a "non-tactical ground search" and asked people not to be alarmed by the large presence of officers.
Despite the concerted efforts, he remains at large.
The Shooting
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the two deputies tried to pull over an SUV in the 4900 block of Sevierville Road in Maryville around 8:30 p.m. Thursday for "suspicion of erratic driving." BCSO mentioned Friday afternoon during a press conference the driver was not staying in their lane.
The driver, 42-year-old Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr., "would not cooperate with deputies" and refused to get out of the vehicle, according to the TBI.
The TBI said deputies used a stun gun on DeHart with no effect and at some point during the encounter, he pulled out a gun and shot both deputies.
At least one of the deputies returned fire, according to the TBI.
43-year-old Deputy Greg McCowan was taken to a hospital where he later died. The other deputy, Deputy Shelby Eggers, was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. She has since been released and is now recovering at home, BCSO said.
On Friday afternoon, deputies announced they arrested Marcus DeHart, Kenneth DeHart's brother, for accessory after the fact. They said he helped DeHart after the shooting and is being held on a $1 million bond.
Deputies also arrested the suspect's girlfriend, Carrie Mathews, for accessory after the fact. According to court records, a Sevier County Sheriff's Office deputy went to a home on McCleary Road while searching for Kenneth DeHart.
The deputy said she got a call from "Janeisha" while authorities were at the home. Deputies said she answered the call. They said it was actually DeHart calling from the number. According to court records, she told the caller, "They're here," and ended the phone call.
"This action by Ms. Mathews warned Mr. Dehart of impending apprehension or discovery. She was taken into custody and transported to SCSO Main Jail," court records said.
BCSO said officers are currently following up on "every lead" and working without rest to bring Kenneth DeHart into custody. They believe he is still in East Tennessee somewhere, but suspect he may no longer be in Blount County.
Law enforcement from across the area escorted McCowan's body from the Knoxville-Knox County Regional Forensic Center to Smith Funeral and Cremation Center in Maryville on Friday afternoon.
"I never felt anything like that. It ebbs and flows — I can't answer that. A void. Empty. Sad. Just a lot of emotions," Blount County Sheriff James Berrong said.
DeHart drove away from the scene and remains at large. DeHart is considered armed and dangerous, BCSO said. Anyone who sees him should not approach and should instead call 911.
BCSO said DeHart was driving a silver Lexus, but the car was found abandoned Thursday night in the Wildwood area. The sheriff's office is asking anyone who lives in that area who has an outdoor security or doorbell camera video system to check for video or photos of DeHart or suspicious activity.
The TBI also issued a Blue Alert for DeHart early Friday morning. The bureau did not have a known direction he could be traveling in. Anyone with information about his location should call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Blue Alerts are only issued when a law enforcement officer is killed and the suspect poses an imminent threat to public safety. It's also only issued if a description of the suspect is available, and if warrants are quickly obtained on the suspect. Blue Alerts started being issued in July 2011.
The TBI has obtained warrants charging DeHart with one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of felon in possession of a weapon.
"We remain vigilant in the search for the suspect and stand firm in support of Sheriff Berrong and his deputies, alongside the TBI and our surrounding law enforcement family," Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell said. "If you have information concerning his whereabouts, please call the BCSO at 865-981-7125 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Whether it is something you have seen or heard, please report any information you may have to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office or to the TBI."
Fallen Deputy Greg McCowan
McCowan started full-time at BCSO in 2020 and was a reserve deputy for around a year before that.
Authorities said McCowan's body was taken from Blount Memorial Hospital to the Knox County Forensic Center early Friday morning.
"Let’s honor Deputy McCowan & Deputy Eggers by standing Blount Strong and showing that our community will not tolerate or condone such acts of violence," Mayor Mitchell said. "Thank you to everyone who has reached out and offered support, food and who just desperately want to help. When we feel helpless, we can always pray. Please join me in prayer for Deputy McCowan’s family, for Deputy Eggers’ recovery, and for the entire BCSO family."
The Maryville Police Department released a statement on social media about the shooting. That statement is below.
"Chief Tony Jay Crisp and all the members of the Maryville Police Department would like to lift the members of the Blount County Sheriff's Office and all the members of the Blount County community in prayer during this time."
People in Blount County lined the street near Smith Funeral and Cremation Center to show their respects for McCowan and BCSO.
"Trying to be respectful... trying to show my daughter here that it's people like this who put their lives on the line every day to protect us. The least we can do is stand in the rain for a few minutes and pay our respects," a Blount County father said as he stood with his daughter in the rain. "They are hurting right now. We're sad. We're angry. But we're going to pull together."
Several other East Tennessee law enforcement agencies released statements and condolences on the shooting as well. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, the last BCSO deputy to die in the line of duty was William D. "Bill" Nuchols in 1956.
