May 23, 2012
BLAINE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Detectives are trying retrace the steps of two people whose SUV ended up in the Holston River early Monday morning and they're finding that route filled with many unexpected twists and turns.
"This investigation has taken some strange twists," said a Sheriff's Dept. spokesperson. "I can't say I have encountered anything like this in my 25 years experience in law enforcement."
Misty Lynn Hatfield, 33, and Dustin Brown, 30, who were in the 2005 Ford Explorer have reportedly given investigators "conflicting and somewhat confusing" details of the events that led up to the crash.
"The possible use of an an undetermined hypnotic narcotic and its effect on these individuals has led us to many avenues and many dead ends, unfortunately," the spokesperson continued.
Both Brown and Hatfield are being detained as the investigation continues.
That investigation has led detectives to Knox and Union Counties as well. They are checking cell phone records and surveillance records trying to piece together the last day of Brown and Hatfield's lives.
Their memories are a total blank since Saturday afternoon, according to the Sheriff's Office, "other than a few fuzzy memories which have complicated the investigation." Detectives believe the pair's truly can't remember the past day.
The Holston River, where the Explorer was found, is nearly a half mile from Mitchell Bend Road. But somehow that's where the Explorer ended up.
"They were lost. They didn't have a clue where they were," said David Mitchell, who owns the property and operates Mitchell's Dairy Farm there. "I'm sure, because if they had, they'd have stopped before they got into the river."
David Mitchell says one of his employees found a man and woman soaking wet and covered in mud outside their barn about 3 a.m. Monday. They called 9-1-1 to get the two care and find their SUV.
"They were pretty shook up, suffering from hypothermia. We couldn't get a lot out of them at the time," said Grainger County Sheriff Scott Layel.
The pair told deputies there were two others still inside the vehicle.
"Have no idea why they would pick this field or this area," said Layel. "As I understand it, two of the individuals are from Union County. So how they would get here, I have no idea."
They saw this irrigation pipe and a break in the tree line and decided to go for it. They powered over this ridge thinking they were finding a way out, instead they found themselves straight in the river.
The pair was taken to UT Medical Center, were they were treated for hypothermia and released back to the Grainger County deputies.
Sheriff Layel says its too early to know if drugs were involved.
Knox County's helicopter helped located the SUV, but no one was inside. Deputies pulled the blue Ford Explorer with temporary tags out to search it.
"Where they are from and why they were here. I would like to know that," said Mitchell. He says it won't cost much to make repairs, but he hopes he gets answers.
Hatfield and Brown are charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash, Public Intoxication, Criminal Trespass by a Motor Vehicle, and Failure to Report a Crash.
