A Tennessee sheriff’s deputy and a woman he had just apprehended met a tragic end together – drowning in the darkness after inadvertently veering into a river last week, according to authorities from the Volunteer State.
Robert John “R.J.” Leonard, Jr., aged 35, had relocated to rural Tennessee from upstate New York with his family only a few months ago, as disclosed by 9th Judicial District Attorney General Russell Johnson.
[adinserter name="One"]The events of that fateful night are shrouded in uncertainty.
Leonard was responding to reports of a disturbance on the bridge over the Hiwassee River, described either as “a man jumping in and out of traffic” or “a man and a woman on the bridge who seemed to be quarreling,” according to the DA.
The deputy arrived on the scene at 9:48 p.m. on Feb. 14, officials said. Shortly after, at 9:51 p.m., he radioed in to report an arrest had been made, and he was en route to the Meigs County Jail. Details about the arrest were not provided, and the identity of the arrestee remained undisclosed.
[adinserter name="Two"]Approximately 12 minutes later, at 10:03 p.m., another radio transmission came from the deputy’s patrol car, Johnson stated at a press conference.
“Dispatch couldn’t discern what he was saying,” the DA remarked. “Or what had been said. It took some time and analysis to interpret the message. We believe he was saying ‘water.’ Simultaneously, he was texting his wife, sending a one-word text that said ‘arrest.’ …His wife replied, but it appears he didn’t receive her response.”
Subsequently, county dispatch initiated a series of status checks. As time passed, law enforcement personnel from neighboring agencies joined the search for Leonard.
[adinserter name="Three"]The deputy’s patrol car was discovered near the Blythe Ferry boat ramp on the morning of Feb. 15; the driver-side front window was rolled down, and the deputy was initially absent.
Although the ferry landing has been inactive since 1994, private individuals still use it to launch boats. For those unfamiliar with the area, especially at night, the location is hazardous. Authorities noted several previous incidents of cars plunging into the river. Currently, there is only one sign and one set of rumble strips controlling traffic near the landing.
“It can be a very perilous spot for non-locals,” Judge Casey Stokes remarked during a press conference on Thursday.
[adinserter name="Four"]Leonard fell into that category.
“So, if he wasn’t paying attention because he was distracted by the person in the back, or trying to operate the radio, or sending a text simultaneously, it’s conceivable he ended up on that road,” Johnson remarked during a subsequent press conference on Friday. “We’re operating under the theory that it was an accident – he missed his turn, was unfamiliar with the area, and was preoccupied with other tasks that led him into the water.”
The patrol car was found submerged nose-in and upside down, the district attorney revealed. The trunk showed signs of being forced open due to water pressure.
[adinserter name="Five"]“So, we’ve got a person in the back of the vehicle; we believe it’s the female subject who was arrested. However, we haven’t confirmed this yet,” the DA stated. “There’s a significant amount of mud in the front seat, but no body was found there.”
The woman was later identified as Tabitha Smith, aged 35, a wife and mother of two – a boy and a girl.
Once the car entered the river, Smith stood no chance.
[adinserter name="Six"]“The person discovered in the back seat compartment of the deputy’s vehicle was covered in a deep layer of mud and silt,” Johnson informed Chattanooga-based ABC affiliate WTVC. “Upon transportation, it was evident that she was a female and handcuffed. Therefore, she was in custody, as speculated from Deputy Leonard’s communications with dispatch.”
Smith’s friends expressed shock, confusion, and grief.
“She was a cheerful, outgoing person who adored life,” her friend Sheena Mchome shared with Knoxville-based CBS affiliate WVLT. “I can’t imagine being trapped and knowing my life was about to end.”
[adinserter name="Seven"]Smith’s loved ones believe she deserved better.
“She had a heart of gold, and despite any struggles and troubles she faced, she was a remarkable person,” her friend Emilie Neusel told WVLT. “I hope she’s remembered for who she was – Tabby Smith. And I hope her memory transcends beyond being just the woman in the back seat.”
Leonard, a married father of five, was retrieved by the Meigs County EMS and Rescue Squad, aided by dive teams from two other counties, around 6:40 p.m. on Feb. 15, officials reported.
[adinserter name="Eight"]Johnson later clarified that ongoing investigations revealed the deputy was yelling the word “water” as he drowned.
We may never ascertain Smith’s final words.
