<p>A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tennessee">Tennessee</a> sheriff’s deputy who went missing Wednesday night after making his first arrest was found dead on Thursday, hours after his patrol car was recovered from the Tennessee River.</p>
<p>Deputy Robert “R.J.” Leonard texted his wife a single word – “arrest” – around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/missing-deputys-patrol-car-recovered-tennessee-river-body-rcna139038?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook&amp;_branch_match_id=1133745504221936325&amp;_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz0tKzkstL9ZLLCjQy8nMy9YvNDULyMhLC0jxSAIAzYXpCyQAAAA%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Just before he texted her, he notified dispatchers that he had arrested someone and was taking them to the Meigs County Jail, District Attorney General Russell Johnson said at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&amp;v=412059911316808" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a press conference</a> Thursday morning.</p>
<p>About 12 minutes after Leonard contacted dispatchers about the arrest, he again reached out and said something that couldn’t be determined over the radio. Authorities, using analytics, said Leonard maybe have said “water.”</p>
<p>Leonard’s wife received his text message, but he never received her response.</p>
<p>Authorities used the wife’s Life360 location-sharing app data to help investigators find Leonard, after he failed to respond to a status check from dispatch.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Leonard’s patrol car was pulled from the Tennessee River near the Blythe Ferry boat ramp, Johnson said at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Local3News/videos/1180776166218380" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a press conference</a> Thursday afternoon. The patrol car was found upside down in the river, with a female body covered in mud in the back seat. The woman has not been identified, but is believed to be the person Leonard had arrested and was escorting to the county jail.</p>
<p>The trunk of the vehicle had been blown open due to the pressure, and the driver’s side window was rolled down. Leonard was not in the vehicle, but his body was found later, though it is unclear where his remains were found or what condition they were in. He has been taken to the Knoxville Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office <a href="https://twitter.com/hcsotn/status/1758312900442398784" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X Thursday night.</p>
<p>“We’re operating under the theory that it was an accident, he missed his turn, he wasn’t familiar, and he was doing other things that may have caused him to go into the water,” Johnson said at his afternoon press conference. “There’s some skid marks and some scratch marks, too. So, there’s some indication that he was on the brakes at least trying to stop.”</p>
<p><b><a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1708102054781000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1-VXohtoGW642uHKulYmZY">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a></b></p>
<p>Chief Deputy Brian Malone also spoke at the press conference, saying that Leonard had only been with the department for “a couple months.”</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a hard time for us here. It&#8217;s something we never deal with here in Meigs County,” Malone said through tears. “Deputy Leonard had only been here for a couple months, but he&#8217;d become part of our family. At this time, I just ask that you pray for us.&#8221;</p>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

A Deputy Went Missing After Making His First Arrest. His Patrol Car Was Found In A River.

CONTINUE READING

‘Dangerous Precedent’: Court Sides With University Over Jury in False Rape Defamation Case

Trevor Bauer Wins Lawsuit Against False Accuser. Will The MLB Take Him Back?

Trump Admin Bans Illegal Immigrants From Getting Taxpayer-Backed Mortgages

Texas Man Arrested After Video Allegedly Shows Him Ramming ATV Into Tesla

Kristi Noem Tours El Salvador’s Gang Prison Before Threatening To Deport More Criminals

Columbia Anti-Israel Group Reactivated Instagram Account Just Before Oct. 7 Attack, Lawsuit Says

News

Police

Sheriff

Tennessee

U.S.

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

A Deputy Went Missing After Making His First Arrest. His Patrol Car Was Found In A River.