Jennifer Lee Hampton, 21, Missing in Knoxville, TN Since 9/19/08 … Police Suspect Foul Play (UPDATE: Body Found in Clinch River)
21 year old Jennifer Lee Hampton from Waterloo, AL has been missing since 9:00 
pm Friday, September 19, 2008 in Knoxville, TN. Jennifer Lee Hampton was last seen by a co-worker just outside her hotel room at a Days Inn in Knoxville. Police are suspecting foul play. According to police, Hampton’s cell phone was also left in the room
A 911 call from one of Hampton’s co-workers was made Saturday after Hampton didn’t show up for work and was not in her hotel room, according to Knoxville Police spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
“Officers briefly looked into the room and thought what they saw was suspicious,” DeBusk told ABC News. “We believe that she was a victim of foul play.”
Police declined to say what evidence in the room made investigators suspicious, but Mama Blues owner Steve Barnhill told ABC News that he understood there was no forced entry into the hotel room and sheets were ripped off one of the beds.
Since her disappearance, police have searched for Hampton both in the hotel and in the surrounding area.
“Saturday night through Sunday we used a search-and-recovery team to search the immediate area. We also used tracking dogs,” DeBusk said. “Yesterday we used more than four dozen of our officers to ‘grid search’ in a wetland area that was near the hotel.”
Police have questioned family, co-workers and friends but said they did not have any suspects yet.
“We have conducted numerous interviews,” DeBusk said. “We have re-interviewed several individuals.”
Searches Continue for Missing Jennifer Lee Hampton
Police first combed the Turkey Creek wetlands near her hotel Monday. Thursday, tips pointed them toward the Cedar Bluff and Winston road areas. And today, they continued in boats on Fort Loudoun Lake, staging their command post in Carl Cowan Park.
Two dozen search and recovery members equipped with sonar and recovery dogs hit the water in five boats early Friday morning and searched 14 miles of river front. But all they found was more water. Despite a search that continually comes up empty handed, officials haven’t given up hope.
“We feel confident that we’re going to be able to break this case but it’s taking time,” said Knoxville Police spokesperson, Darrell DeBusk.
Hampton’s family hired attorney Eddie Daniel to help them get the word out about her disappearance.
2 men questioned at Days Inn, where Jennifer Hampton stayed, arrested on bogus IDs
UPDATE I: Body Found in Clinch River Fitting Description of Missing Jennifer Hampton
A body has been recovered a young white woman from the Clinch River near the Anderson County-Knox County line. There was been no positive ID; however, the inittial decription fits that of missing 21 year old Jennifer Lee Hampton. The family awaits an autopsy for a positive ID.
A fisherman spotted the woman’s body around 8:30 a.m. near Edgemoor Road off Pellissippi Parkway, Knoxville Police Department Lt. Doug Stiles said.
The body appeared to be that of a white female, Stiles said. He wouldn’t comment on whether the body showed signs of foul play. It was taken to the University of Tennessee forensics center for autopsy and identification.
“We’re waiting on the results of the autopsy,” Stiles said.
UPDATE II: Body identified as missing 21 year old Jennifer Lee Hampton
Medical examiners made the positive identification on 21-year-old Jennifer Lee Hampton within an hour after her medical records from Florence arrived in Knoxville.
“The records arrived late this afternoon and it did not take long for the medical examiner to make the determination,” said Knoxville police spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
Leonard,
I believe we will find out that the promise that Lee Anthony gave Casey A. (his sister)was not only that he was part of the cover-up but…………..is also the father of little Caylee. After hearing his speech at the memorial to CMA I miss you CMA, CMA I miss holding you, CMA I LOVE you, CMA I am proud of you and hope you are proud of me— sounds more like a lover, not an uncle or a brother. Casey, kept changing her story about the babies father, he was dead, she didn’t know who he was ect… She is so messed up I believe anything is possible.
Liz McDonald
Comment by Liz McDonald | February 13, 2009