Kenneth DeHart case: State to pursue death penalty

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — The State of Tennessee filed new court documents on Friday in Blount County in the case against Kenneth DeHart to pursue the death penalty and life without the possibility of parole.

DeHart was charged with first-degree murder of Blount County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Greg McCowan and the attempted first-degree murder of BSCO Deputy Shelby Eggers. DeHart was indicted in April and is facing 21 charges , stemming from the Feb. 8 fatal shooting, which occurred in the 4900 block of Sevierville Road.

Following the shooting, DeHart was captured at a home in Knoxville after a nearly five-day-long search .

On Feb. 8, court documents state that investigators visited the home of DeHart’s girlfriend, Carrie Matthews, in Sevierville just before 10 p.m. as they searched for DeHart. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office alleged that DeHart fatally shot Deputy Greg McCowan, and shot and injured Deputy Shelby Eggers during a traffic stop earlier that night.

Matthews was also indicted in April on two felony charges. She was accused of warning DeHart that police were at her home after DeHart allegedly shot two Blount County deputies. She is set to be in court again on Sept. 23.

DeHart’s bother, Marcus DeHart , was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact. Another man, Maurice Warren, was charged with accessory after the fact after allegedly purchasing two phones and sim cards for Kenneth DeHart.

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