Close Menu
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Relationships
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Celebrity Kids
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Disclaimer
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contribute & Advertise with Us
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest Vimeo
GistFestGistFest
  • Entertainment

    Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Era: Vegas Glamour Meets a Mystery Collab Fans Can’t Stop Guessing

    August 15, 2025

    Lady Gaga Leads the 2025 VMAs with 12 Nominations—Can Anyone Catch Her?

    August 14, 2025

    From TikTok Fame to the ER: The Real Cost of Viral Challenges

    August 13, 2025

    From YouTube to Your Screen: How MrBeast Just Changed Hollywood Forever

    August 12, 2025

    Vogue or Viral? How Fashion Month Became a Battle Between Runways and Reels

    August 11, 2025
  • Lifestyle

    Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Era: Vegas Glamour Meets a Mystery Collab Fans Can’t Stop Guessing

    August 15, 2025

    Lady Gaga Leads the 2025 VMAs with 12 Nominations—Can Anyone Catch Her?

    August 14, 2025

    From TikTok Fame to the ER: The Real Cost of Viral Challenges

    August 13, 2025

    From YouTube to Your Screen: How MrBeast Just Changed Hollywood Forever

    August 12, 2025

    Vogue or Viral? How Fashion Month Became a Battle Between Runways and Reels

    August 11, 2025
  • Relationships

    Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Era: Vegas Glamour Meets a Mystery Collab Fans Can’t Stop Guessing

    August 15, 2025

    Lady Gaga Leads the 2025 VMAs with 12 Nominations—Can Anyone Catch Her?

    August 14, 2025

    From TikTok Fame to the ER: The Real Cost of Viral Challenges

    August 13, 2025

    From YouTube to Your Screen: How MrBeast Just Changed Hollywood Forever

    August 12, 2025

    Vogue or Viral? How Fashion Month Became a Battle Between Runways and Reels

    August 11, 2025
  • Tips & Tricks

    Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Era: Vegas Glamour Meets a Mystery Collab Fans Can’t Stop Guessing

    August 15, 2025

    Lady Gaga Leads the 2025 VMAs with 12 Nominations—Can Anyone Catch Her?

    August 14, 2025

    From TikTok Fame to the ER: The Real Cost of Viral Challenges

    August 13, 2025

    From YouTube to Your Screen: How MrBeast Just Changed Hollywood Forever

    August 12, 2025

    Vogue or Viral? How Fashion Month Became a Battle Between Runways and Reels

    August 11, 2025
  • Celebrity Kids

    Brody Jenner Ties the Knot With Tia Blanco in Dreamy Malibu Ceremony — See the Intimate Moments

    July 17, 2025

    Madison LeCroy Welcomes Baby No. 2 — the Heartwarming Story Behind the Name

    July 9, 2025

    Ariana Zolciak Supports Kim Zolciak and Siblings Amid Ongoing Money Issues

    July 7, 2025

    Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge Revisit Lavish Wedding Venue Amid Backlash Over Cheating Rumors

    June 24, 2025

    Exes Megan Fox and MGK Unveil Their Baby Girl’s Name Following ‘Celestial Seed’ Mix-Up

    June 20, 2025
Subscribe
GistFestGistFest
Home » Authorities Discover Bodies of Tennessee Deputy, Woman he Arrested in River
General

Authorities Discover Bodies of Tennessee Deputy, Woman he Arrested in River

OmowunmiBy OmowunmiFebruary 22, 20244 Mins Read
Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit Telegram Email
A picture of Robert R.J. Leonard
Source: Officer Down Memorial Page
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
A picture of Robert R.J. Leonard
Source: Officer Down Memorial Page

On Monday, family, friends, and colleagues in law enforcement gathered to bid farewell to Deputy Robert “R.J.” Leonard as he was laid to rest. Last Wednesday, Deputy Leonard, while transporting a woman to the county jail, tragically lost his life.

The following day, his body, along with the woman and his vehicle, was found in the Tennessee River. Leonard, a rookie deputy with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, was reported missing during routine dispatcher check-ins on Wednesday evening.

“Every deputy or officer that was out checked in and said they were OK, but not Deputy Leonard,” District Attorney General Russell Johnson said at a press conference Thursday. “So, for the next several hours, as surrounding agencies learned what was going on, began responding to this area.”

Since Leonard had responded to an incident near the river, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency initiated a visual sweep of the water. Authorities also noted that his phone pinged in the vicinity of the river.

ALSO READ: Minnesota Police Announce Three Dead, Hours After Standoff With Armed Man at a Suburban Home

Cell Phone and tracking data eventually guided responders to the vicinity near a boat ramp, where officials noted that several other vehicles had rolled into the water. The Police Benevolent Foundation, which established a memorial fund to aid Leonard’s family, provided this information.

On Thursday afternoon, authorities confirmed that the vehicle submerged in the water was Leonard’s patrol car. “The vehicle was found nose in, but upside down, with its wheels up,” Johnson stated, further noting that the trunk had been blown open by the pressure.

Leonard’s body was not found in the vehicle, but the driver’s side window was down. The woman, who Leonard had detained, was discovered in the backseat, covered in “a lot of mud”. 

POLL—Do You Support Stricter Gun Control Laws and Assault Weapon Bans?

However, she has not been publicly identified, and no further information about her was provided. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office was unavailable for immediate clarification regarding the location where the deputy’s body was found.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed that Leonard’s remains were transported to the Knoxville Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. However, the cause of death has not yet been announced. Johnson said that authorities would continue to investigate the incident to determine the cause of the accident.

“We’re operating under the theory that it was an accident, he missed his turn, he wasn’t familiar, and he was doing other things that may have caused him to go into the water,” Johnson said. “There’s some skid marks and some scratch marks, too. So, there’s some indication that he was on the brakes at least trying to stop.”

ALSO READ: US Capitol Police Arrests Pro-Palestinian Protesters Inside Cannon House Office Building

In the press conference, Meigs County Sheriff Brian Malone revealed that Leonard had been part of the team for only two months. “He was doing a pretty good job. A really good job. It’s just hard when the department is like a family,” Malone said tearfully.

Leonard, 35, originally from New York, is survived by his wife Christa Leonard and their five children, as well as his mother and two siblings, according to the Police Benevolent Foundation.

You Might Also Like:

Captains Lament Safety as Red Sea Becomes Dangerous Due to Frequent Houthi Rebels Attacks

Alabama Teen Faces Multiple Charges for Pushing a Child Into a Fire

Authorities Arrest Tennessee Man Who Tried to Enroll in High School to Date Teen

Slavery Descendants Seek $70 Billion in Reparations From Saint Louis University

Pup Who Stole the Show at the Puppy Bowl 2024 Passes Away From Kidney Illness

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleFamilies of Native American Victims Lament the Lack of Information on Solved Cases
Next Article FBI Investigates Suspicious Letter With White Powder Sent to Speaker Johnson’s Church

Related Posts

General

From TikTok Fame to the ER: The Real Cost of Viral Challenges

August 13, 2025
Entertainment

From YouTube to Your Screen: How MrBeast Just Changed Hollywood Forever

August 12, 2025
Entertainment

“Euphoria: The Final Semester” Trailer Just Dropped — And It Might Be Rue’s Goodbye

August 7, 2025
Latest Posts

Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Era: Vegas Glamour Meets a Mystery Collab Fans Can’t Stop Guessing

August 15, 2025

Lady Gaga Leads the 2025 VMAs with 12 Nominations—Can Anyone Catch Her?

August 14, 2025

From TikTok Fame to the ER: The Real Cost of Viral Challenges

August 13, 2025

From YouTube to Your Screen: How MrBeast Just Changed Hollywood Forever

August 12, 2025

Vogue or Viral? How Fashion Month Became a Battle Between Runways and Reels

August 11, 2025

“Euphoria: The Final Semester” Trailer Just Dropped — And It Might Be Rue’s Goodbye

August 7, 2025

Cancel Culture Fatigue: Has the Internet Finally Hit the Unsubscribe Button?

August 6, 2025

The Aesthetic Economy: How Fashion, Filters & Vibes Are Now Bigger Than Talent

August 5, 2025
About
About

We’re a news, entertainment and lifestyle hub that is dedicated to giving you quality insight on the latest lifestyle news, movie and TV news, celebrity news and lots more.

Contact us: info@gistfest.com

MOST POPULAR

Alina Nikitina: Everything We Know About the Russian Model

October 4, 2023

Jacob’s Ladder Piercing: All You Need To Know

July 21, 2023

Jennifer Rauchet: Inside the Life of Pete Hegseth’s Wife

August 30, 2023

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox!

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Disclaimer
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contribute & Advertise with Us
© 2025 GistFest. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.