Tabitha Smith
Tabitha Smith, 35, was the mother of four, and her family remembers her as someone who loved music, cooking and people, especially her children. She was handcuffed in the back seat of a Meigs County sheriff's patrol car on February 14, 2024, while Deputy Robert Leonard drove her toward the county jail. The car went off an old boat ramp at Blythe Ferry and into the Tennessee River, and she drowned. Officials and a grand jury describe it as an accident caused by the deputy's inexperience, poor conditions and a wrong turn, and an autopsy reported no sign of a struggle. Her family has sued Meigs County and the deputy's estate, alleging failures in training and supervision, and that case is ongoing.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident (disputed; neglect alleged). The Meigs County District Attorney's office and a grand jury call the drowning an accident, but the family's lawsuit alleges the county and deputy failed to protect her in custody, failed in training and supervision, and that the deputy was texting while driving.
Reported by: Meigs County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held her); Meigs County District Attorney Russell Johnson (outside investigators); Meigs County Grand Jury (court); autopsy findings cited by the district attorney; her family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family sued Meigs County and the estate of the deputy who was driving her, seeking $100 million, and a judge dismissed some claims against the county while letting others proceed; no settlement or award has been reported.
Sources (22)
- Woman who died in Meigs County deputy crash identified by Knoxville Medical Examiner
- Tennessee deputy missing after patrol car pulled from river with body in back seat
- Body of missing Meigs County deputy, woman arrestee recovered from river
- Forensics identifies woman who died with Meigs Co. deputy in crash while handcuffed
- Bodies of missing Tennessee deputy and woman who had been detained recovered, officials say
- Tennessee deputy crashed into river after making 1st arrest, killing himself and the detainee
- Woman found dead in police car in river after cop's chilling last call
- Police officer found dead with body of woman he arrested still handcuffed to submerged patrol car
- UPDATE: Fallen Meigs County Deputy "RJ" Leonard laid to rest
- Mom of 2 Drowns & Dies While Handcuffed in a Patrol Car After Officer Crashes Into River
- Drowned female detainee Tabitha Smith laid to rest
- Family of woman who drowned while cuffed in back of Tenn. deputy’s cruiser files suit
- Meigs County DA responds to $10 million lawsuit filed in death of Tabitha Smith
- One month after a Meigs County deputy & woman died in the river, what has changed?
- UPDATE: Meigs Co. Sheriff's Office releases more details on drowning deaths of deputy, detainee
- Inexperience and poor conditions cited in fatal Tennessee deputy and detainee drowning
- Inexperience, poor conditions cited as reason for Meigs County deputy's, woman's drowning
- Drowning deaths of Tenn. deputy, arrestee resulted from ‘terrible accident,’ grand jury finds
- Family of woman who died in back of Meigs County cruiser files new suit, asking for $100M
- Tabitha Smith's family files $100 million lawsuit against Meigs Co. & deputy who also died in crash
- Lawsuit in Meigs drowning case now seeks $100 million
- Dismissals granted on three counts, denied on six in 2024 drowning case