Knoxville Fire Department Crew Disciplined After Mistakenly Pronouncing A Live Person As Dead

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

Three employees in the Knoxville Fire Department (KFD) have returned to full duties after being placed on administrative duties and suspended over the summer for incorrectly identifying a woman as deceased. 

Reportedly, in July of this year, the KFD went to a home along Rondo Road after a woman showed up at Fire Station 15 saying she believed a woman inside the home had committed suicide. Upon arriving at the home the KFD crew pronounced the woman dead, and a death investigator responded to the call after the pronouncement.

But shockingly, when investigator Kenzie Sellers began checking for rigor mortis and started moving the person, the woman jerked quickly, leading Sellers to question if she was actually dead. Sellers immediately called for help from the Knoxville Police Department who arrived on scene and began providing life-saving efforts, including a dose of Narcan, and the woman “came to”.

Chris Thomas, the director and chief administrative officer for the Knox County Regional Forensic Center, praised Seller’s fast thinking and noted the center doesn’t train for these kinds of situations, making her quick actions even more commendable.

“[Sellers] was working in the jail for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, so she was a correctional officer until we hired her last September,” Thomas said at the time of the incident. “She’s not quite been with us a year yet, but I’m absolutely just ecstatic and proud of her and all of my death investigator team.”

Subsequently, the three-member crew from Engine 15 was placed on administrative duty while the department conducted an internal investigation. There had been no additional information about the case until this Monday when the department announced KFD had completed its investigation and the three had been officially disciplined by Fire Chief Stan Sharp.

KFD Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks said they were suspended for eight days and underwent additional EMS training before returning to full duties. He also noted the Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services is still conducting its own investigation, which may result in additional action depending on their findings. 

Because of privacy laws, KFD cannot disclose which of the crew members initially determined the person was dead.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.