FBI Knoxville offers rewards in search for trio missing since 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Knoxville has offered a $10,000 reward as the search continues for three individuals reported missing in early 2018.

According to the FBI, the reward is available for information resulting in the location of Brenda Carroll Bonnie Drane and William Inklebarger and the identification, arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for their disappearance or death.

All three individuals frequented each other’s company, lacked permanent residence and kept the same social circle. The FBI explained that they were all also associates of Jeremy Jerome Hardison, who is also known by the alias “Big County,” who is serving life in prison after he was convicted of murder. Hardison is a person of interest in Drane, Inklebarger, and Carroll’s disappearance.

In 2021, Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen identified Hardison as a person of interest in the three disappearances . She also asked witnesses to come forward and not be afraid of repercussions.

Drane is 5’7″ tall and weighs around 140 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen at UT Medical Center on December 27, 2017, while visiting a family member. The FBI explained that she was reported missing on January 10, 2018, and her 1998 silver Honda Accord was located on January 21 at an apartment complex on Bridalwood Drive.

The FBI said Inklebarger is 6′ tall and weighs 150 pounds with hazel eyes and black hair. He was last seen by his father on December 29, 2017, at a Cherry Street motel. On January 5, 2018, his father went to check on him, but he was not there so his father left a note. When his father returned on January 11, he found most of his son’s belongings. He was reported missing the following day.

Carroll is around 5’1″ tall and weighs around 140 pounds, the FBI said. She has hazel eyes and blond hair. Carroll was last heard from by her sister through Facebook Messenger on January 1, 2018. At the time, Carroll was believed to be with Drane and Inklebarger. She was reported missing on March 19, 2018.

Anyone who has information on what happened to Drane, Inklebarger, or Carroll, or where they are, is asked to call to Knoxville Police Department at 865-215-7212, the FBI Knoxville Division at 865-544-0751, or East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. The FBI added that all tipsters can remain anonymous.

Since 2018, the FBI said there have been multiple attempts to locate the three with the assistance of the Knoxville Police Department , the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the University of Tennessee Anthropology Department, the Roane County Search and Rescue Team, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Rocky Top Police Department, and the FBI Evidence Response Team.

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