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The Vanished | See the faces behind the missing people of Tennessee

There are hundreds of people currently missing in Tennessee. No matter how people ended up listed on the database, our intention is for them to be found.

Katelyn Keenehan

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Published: 7:47 PM EDT October 28, 2022
Updated: 9:11 PM EDT March 22, 2023

TENNESSEE, USA

As of March 23, 2023 the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) cataloged 22,881 missing person cases in the U.S. There are 689 people reported missing in Tennessee. That's why 10News decided to highlight those cases in hopes of bringing people home to their loved ones.

10News went through 168 cases from the East Tennessee area. That is 15 more people reported missing since 10News debuted The Vanished series at the beginning of November 2022. At that point in time, there were 153 cases. Information is put NamUs by local law enforcement agencies. It can also be entered by family members of the missing individual; however, all information is cross-checked by law enforcement.

We found the circumstances behind a person's disappearance varied from person to person. Some mysteriously walked off and never returned, some intentionally ran away from home, some are on the run from authorities, and others disappeared under unknown circumstances. 

No matter how people ended up listed on the database, our intention is for them to be found.

Mapping The Missing

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUS) was established by the National Institute of Justice and the National Forensic Science Technology Center in 2009. The system is meant to help solve missing and unidentified person cases by using the public's help.

There is another missing person database that is only accessible by law enforcement called the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). 

Todd Matthews, the former national director of NamUs, said the goal was to get all the missing people on NCIC to be also listed on NamUs. He said missing person cases often need the public's help to solve. They also need the family's help to confirm and correct details.

"We have to make sure that family members and friends of the missing person can do a quality check," Matthews said. "They can look at the height, the weight, the pictures — the families can actually see the profile and make sure it's an accurate description of that person." 

That's why Matthews pushed for legal change at the state level. In 2017, he was successful.

The state passed a law requiring law enforcement agencies to enter people into NamUs who have been missing or unidentified for 30 days or more. 

10News compiled a map to show the sprawl of East Tennessee's missing people. This map is updated as of November, 2022. 

The demographic data of missing people in Tennessee paints a unique picture of the missing population. This information is displayed by NamUs, and reported by local law enforcement agencies across the state. Some important demographic information is listed below.

  • Nearly a third of the missing people in Tennessee are under 18 years old.
    • Many news outlets, including WBIR, choose not to report some missing person cases involving minors since some of those cases could involve the child facing abuse at home from parents or caretakers and electing to run away. Some could also involve minors who are almost 18 years old. The decisions are made by editorial teams.
  • Around 55% of missing people in Tennessee are male, 45% are female.
  • Around 60% of missing people in Tennessee are white, 30% are Black, 10% are Hispanic.

Below you will find a county-by-county breakdown of the missing people in East Tennessee as they are reported by NamUs. You can also find hyperlinks to the 'Vanished' stories we have spotlighted on air.

This list will be reviewed and updated on the first Friday of every month based on how it is updated in NamUs. The last time it was updated was March 23. If you want to add or remove a loved one immediately from this ongoing list, please contact 10Listens@wbir.com.

Knox County

Some high-profile missing person cases in Knox County have been solved. Here are some cases 10News covered extensively.

Jeremy Stout had been reported missing for 6 months (from May 7 to November 28, 2022). His remains and belongings were found at the vacant Knoxville Baptist Christian School property.  

Desheena Kyle had been reported missing for 3 months (from June 28 to late Sept). Officers found Kyle's body at a home in the 6900 block of Sam Tillery Road in North Knoxville. They ruled her death a homicide. John Bassett, Desheena Kyle's ex-boyfriend who was named as a person of interest in her months-long disappearance, was arraigned in court, and could face life in prison if convicted for her murder.

Anderson County

Blount County

Sevier County

  • As of March 23, there are seven missing people from Sevier County.

Jefferson County

Loudon County

 

Union County

  • As of March 23 , there is one missing person from Union County.

Roane County

  • As of March 23 , there are four missing people from Roane County.
    • Floyd Eugene McKinney (not on NamUs)- last day of contact is February 11, 2022.
    • Jessica Brooke Groover - last day of contact is August 31, 2019.
    • Cheryl Payne - last day of contact is December 27, 2003.
    • Karen Beard - last day of contact is January 15, 1991.

Cocke County

  • As of March 23, there are two missing people from Cocke County.
    • Dorothy Lucille Murrell - last day of contact is May 24, 1984.
    • Nathan Chad Adams (not on NamUs) - last day of contact is August 29, 2020.

Hamblen County

  • As of March 23 , there are two missing people in Hamblen County.

Grainger County

  • As of March 23 , there are two missing person from Grainger County.

Monroe County

  • As of March 23 , there are two missing people from Monroe County.

Some high-profile missing person cases in Monroe County have been solved. Here are some cases 10News covered extensively.

Chelsie Walker's body was discovered in a remote area of Monroe County.

Luke Michael Butler had been reported missing in 2019. His skull was located in 2022. Now, his sister is seeking answers in his mysterious disappearance and death.

Hancock County

  • As of March 23 , no missing people are listed on NamUs from Hancock County.

Claiborne County

Campbell County

 

Scott County

Morgan County

Fentress County

  •  As of March 23 , there is one missing people from Fentress County.

Cumberland County

Greene County

Bell County, KY

Harlan County, KY

Knox County, KY

  • As of March 23 , there are two missing people from Knox County, KY.

McCreary County, KY

Whitley County, KY

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