Body of missing deputy found in river, officials say

MEIGS COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT/Gray News) - The body of a missing Tennessee deputy was found in the Hiwassee River on Thursday, according to Meigs County officials.

Meigs County Deputy Robert “RJ” Leonard went missing after arresting a woman Wednesday night, officials with the sheriff’s office and District Attorney Russell Johnson said Thursday afternoon.

Based on an early investigation, it is believed that Leonard took a woman into custody around 9 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 60, then crashed his car near the Blythe Ferry boat ramp.

Johnson and sheriff’s office officials said Leonard had arrested the woman, who has still not been identified, texted his wife about the arrest, then radioed to say he had a detainee he was bringing back.

About 12 minutes later, Johnson said, Leonard radioed again, in distress, and said something about water.

Leading the investigation is the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, but several other agencies, including the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee Highway Patrol helped in the search.

Leonard’s car was found in the water near the ramp Thursday, Johnson said. Leonard’s body was not inside the car, but the body of a woman believed to be the arrestee was in the back seat. Sheriff’s office officials have been in contact with both Leonard’s and the arrestee’s families.

Upon finding the car, Johnson said the driver’s side window was open.

“It’s a hard time for us here,” one sheriff’s office representative said during a press conference. “Something we don’t ever deal with in Meigs County. We’re a small, rural county here. Deputy Leonard had only been here a few months, but he had become part of this family.”

Leonard had joined MCSO in December and was from New York, Johnson said.

The 35-year-old leaves behind a wife and five children, according to officials.

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