BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — A man may face the death penalty after authorities accused him of fatally shooting a Blount County deputy and wounding another, before leading law enforcement on a five-day manhunt.
Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. appeared in court for the first time on Thursday, after authorities said he fatally shot Greg McCowan and wounded Shelby Eggers during a traffic stop. During the manhunt and after DeHart Jr. was captured, Blount County Sheriff James Berrong called for capital punishment.
According to Tennessee leaders, 45 people are currently on death row and 13 are from East Tennessee. Ultimately, whether DeHart Jr. may join them is up to District Attorney General Ryan Desmond. He would first need to file a "death penalty notice" before it is an option for courts to consider.
"Noticing a defendant, that he is going to be subject to the death penalty, and the state will be seeking that as a punishment should they get a conviction," said Don Bosch, an attorney.
Before then, the DA said he would need to first speak with McCowan's family and take into account whether they believe the death penalty is appropriate.
"First and foremost, I will explain the entire legal process to them," he said. " I would say weeks. Certainly, yes. Not months."
People convicted of first-degree murder face three possible sentences: life without parole, life with the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Bosch said a person can be on death row for years while legal teams review the case and whether the evidence presented is constitutional.
"When the state or the government is trying to take an individual's life as a punishment, we need to be sure that we get that right," he said. "There's a presumption of innocence in our country, no matter how strong the proof may be. Let the system work."
The last person sentenced to death was in 2021 after Steven Wiggins was accused of killing a Middle Tennessee deputy.