Identified! TN - Knoxville, White female 33-55, Blond, Found near homeless camp, August 2022, Erin C. Callahan

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MajorHoople

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  • #1
Apr 6, 2023

"The Knox County Regional Forensic Center is working to identify a woman whose body was found last summer.

According to the forensic center, her body was found on August 16, 2022 in a homeless camp near the Fourth and Gill neighborhood in Knoxville. Efforts have been made to identify her through comparing radiographic and dental x-rays with half a dozen missing person cases, the center’s wrote on Facebook.

She was estimated to be around 33 to 55 years old. The woman’s profile in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) says she was white, roughly 5-feet-tall, and had blond or strawberry blond hair. Two distinctive features listed on her NamUs profile include an 8-inch transverse scar on her lower abdomen and a 2-inch scar on the midline of her lower back.

"With the help of law enforcement, the center added that it has submitted her DNA for comparison. Additionally, the post says the forensic center has applied for a grant to pay for Forensic Genetic Genealogical testing, but it may be months before they get the funding needed.

Chris Thomas, Chief Administrative Officer of Knox County Regional Forensic Center, explained the grant would fully fund Forensic Genetic Genealogical testing for 14 cases at the center through @Othram."

"The woman’s case number listed by the forensic center is 20816-461."
 
Last edited:
  • #2
Forensic Center Works To ID Woman Found Dead

WATE - Apr 10, 2023

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  • #3
Here's the NamUs listing:

 
  • #4
6 Missing Person Exclusions
1725389055081.jpeg
 
  • #5
  • #6
This JD could be Reanna Wilhite missing from Knoxville 3/1/21. She was 36 at the time, 5’0” - 5’2” and 140 - 150 lbs. She had blonde hair and blue eyes.

Reanna’s MP case was entered into NamUs today. (MP131145)

1728612732545.jpeg


 
  • #7
This JD could be Reanna Wilhite missing from Knoxville 3/1/21. She was 36 at the time, 5’0” - 5’2” and 140 - 150 lbs. She had blonde hair and blue eyes.

Reanna’s MP case was entered into NamUs today. (MP131145)

View attachment 536880

Reanna was ruled out. Also, I added to her case to NAMUS with several photos and I guess LE removed them.
Screenshot 2024-10-10 at 10.41.15 PM.png
 
  • #8
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  • #11
Bethany Buckles has been ruled out.

I had submitted MP86984 Bethany Buckles as a potential match to this unidentified female last week. I heard back just now and she has been excluded based on the following.

“Thank you for sending us this lead. Our forensic odontologist has excluded Ms. Buckles as a match based on her dental radiographs.”

 
  • #12
Her NamUs page has been removed.
 
  • #13
''In 2023, the Knox County Regional Forensic Center submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research. During the course of this research, personnel from the Knox County Regional Forensic Center were able to utilize NamUs Missing Persons records and the investigation ultimately led to the identity of Erin C. Callahan. She was last seen on June 1, 2022 and was 47 years old.''
1743437815815.webp
 
  • #14
Her NAMUS MP page is still up.
 
  • #15
Her NAMUS MP page is still up.

'This page is no longer accessible'​

 
  • #16
Rest in peace Erin. Cases like this are why having photos in NamUs files is so important.

Screenshot 2025-03-31 at 11-10-58 TN - TN - Knoxville White female 33-55 Blond Found near hom...webp
Screenshot 2025-03-31 at 11-11-09 Knox County Jane Doe (2022) is now identified.webp
 
  • #17
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  • #19
Her MP profile has been removed.
 
  • #20
I noticed the date her namus was created as March 12, 2025

I wonder if that meant she'd never been compared against any Namus cases at all. Or maybe she had been compared to some but LE/ME kept her ruleout file in some other format, not in Namus.
 

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