A 14-year-old in Blount County custody died this week after what officials describe as a medical emergency that led to a rushed trip to the hospital.
According to WVLT, a representative for the Blount County Sheriff's Office said the teen experienced a medical emergency Wednesday evening and was taken to Blount Memorial Hospital around 7 p.m. Deputies transported the teen to the hospital, where he later died.
In a brief statement, the Blount County Sheriff's Office offered condolences, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones." The agency said the Knox County Regional Forensic Center conducted an autopsy on the teen on Thursday.
Autopsy Completed At Regional Forensic Center
The Knox County Regional Forensic Center, which performs autopsies for dozens of East Tennessee counties, began handling Blount County cases in late 2025, officials say. The center's growing workload, about 2,010 autopsies in 2025, has stretched its resources, officials told WIVK.
What Officials Have Released So Far
Authorities have not released the teen's name or the cause of death, and the sheriff's office has not provided additional details beyond its short written statement.
For public records or media inquiries, members of the public can contact the Blount County Sheriff's Office public information office at the Justice Center.
Hoodline will update this story if the sheriff's office or the forensic center releases more information.
