Dave Davenport, a career TBI agent and former Jefferson County sheriff, has died.
The veteran lawman suffered a medical emergency and died early Friday, according to Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Coffey.
Farrar Funeral Home is handling arrangements, and services are expected to be held at the Jefferson City location. More details will be released in the coming days.
Davenport served nearly 30 years with the TBI. He played a part in the investigations of some of East Tennessee's most notorious crimes and suspects, including alleged serial killer Thomas D. "Zoo Man" and the Redhead Murders, of which the late Jerry Johns was a prime suspect.
Davenport, a U.S. Air Force veteran, also had been Jefferson County sheriff for 12 years. He also had worked as a cold case investigator on behalf of the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
Despite the grim nature of his work, Davenport had a reputation for being affable, unassuming, and trustworthy -- attributes that no doubt helped him succeed in investigations.
He appeared frequently on WBIR's "Appalachian Unsolved" crime series, talking about all the cases he worked.
"We ask everyone to keep his family and friends in your prayers during this time of loss," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
