2002 Homicide rate in Knox County

The Knox County Sheriffs Office has cleared five to six homicides reported in Knox County for 2002. The first homicide occurred on April 14th when the burned body of 68-year-old Quida Crews was found off Gallagher Ferry Road in West Knox County. Her 36-year-old husband, David Wayne Crews was accused of killing her by striking her on the head and then burning her body in an attempt to conceal her identity. The Amy Latus case started out as a missing person until deputies found her body buried in a remote area of North Knox County in July. The 37-year-old Kimberly Clark employee was allegedly strangled to death by her ex-boyfriend, 40-year-old Ronald Ball. In August, 47 year old Larry Kennedy was shot and killed by his 20 year old son Justin after the two allegedly argued. Justin then went to an East Knox cemetery where he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Also in August, 61 year old George Simmons was found shot in the face at his Ida Hurtzler Lane home. His wife, Joyce, was charged in the death. An argument between two brothers at their parents’ Richland Colony Road house left one dead from a gunshot wound. 40-year-old Robert Proffitt was allegedly shot by his 48-year-old brother, Lawrence, in September. The only homicide investigation open is the death of Ronald Earle who was found in a creek near Watt Road on September 20. The medical examiner ruled that the 41-year-old transient had been strangled to death and had probably been in a fight prior to his death. Earle had been living with other transients in a camp near the creek where he was found. Detectives in the Major Crime Unit continue their investigation and have questioned several people in connection to the case. Since 1999, Knox County has had 23 homicides. Detectives in the Major Crimes Unit have cleared all except for the Earle case.