TBI still awaiting autopsy results in death of Etowah woman, 18
TBI officials said Monday there is still no explanation for the death of an 18-year-old Etowah, Tenn., woman whose body was found July 4 on Charles Street.
Kelsey N. Burnette had been reported missing to Etowah police on July 1. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation became involved, but officials were tight-lipped about the discovery of her body three days later and why they were already investigating.
Etowah police declined to comment Tuesday on the case.
This week, TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland said agents “are still awaiting the results of procedures being conducted by the Medical Examiner’s office before we are able to provide any more specifics related to this investigation.”
Etowah is a town of about 3,500 people in eastern McMinn County. Charles Street, where Burnette’s body was found, is a narrow, two-block-long lane that connects the north end of Pennsylvania Avenue to Georgia Avenue, crossing Athens Pike halfway between.
A passerby spotted the body later identified through early autopsy results as Burnette, Niland said last week.
A GoFundMe page has been set up under Burnette’s name to help the family with funeral expenses. A post on the page about her disappearance notes that she was last seen walking through Etowah around 5 a.m. on July 1.
Meanwhile, Niland said investigators continue work on the case. Agents have not yet characterized the case in any way.
Anyone who has information they think might be helpful in this death investigation can call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or via email at TipsToTBI@ tn.gov.