Woman in the river Deborah Underhill

On Friday, March 29, 2013 dispatcher receive a call 6:00 p.m. of a body found on the south bank of the Tennessee River off of Patton Chapel Road near Brown's Ferry marina just past Moccasin Bend that was found by two fishermen. This raises a few questions. Was she dumded there or up river?  How long was she in the water before she was found? When I looked up the location I noted that there are high voltage power lines going form the South shore to the North shore. This gives someone easy access to the water and I immediately thought foul play. The next day the woman was identified as that of Deborah Underhill. Chattanooga Police have said that Underhill was reported missing late Thursday evening. She may have also been known as Deborah Faye Swafford who lived in the Red Bank and St Elmo areas. Now why two names ? I thought at first that it was changed because she was married the divorced or the reverse was the reason for two names. Then I thought why make note of it in a press release? Ms. Underhill lived in the Red Bank and St Elmo areas . Again this poses some question. Why make it a point to tell both the areas she lived in? What was the reason for the move?  it is believed last Thursday Deborah Underhill was staying at a home on Tennessee Avenue. Ms. Underhill was known to frequent the downtown area, particularly the Public Library. The Medical Examiner’s Office has reported that there are injuries to her body which are suspicious in nature. What were those injuries? She was last seen on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at the AIM Center, 472 W MLK Boulevard, Chattanooga and was wearing a tan plaid shirt, khaki pants, and white tennis shoes.

Nathan Hartwig with the Chattanooga Police Department, says  "It's still just an undetermined death. It hasn't been ruled a homicide yet."  this makes me ask WHY NOT?

Hartwig says, "There weren't any visible signs of foul play, but that's why we have to wait for the medical examiner's office." Well I say what about the suspicious injuries ?


Anyone who saw Underhill on Thursday or Friday is asked to contact the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525.

Deborah Underhill/Deborah Faye Swafford

was 5’05" tall,

weighted 177 lbs,

had shoulder length gray hair.

lived in the Red Bank and St Elmo

last seen on Thursday at the AIM Center, 472 W MLK Boulevard wearing a tan plaid shirt, khaki pants, and white tennis shoes.


I will update this post as more infomation is released or as I find more on my own.


UPDATE:

I went Sunday and look around the area were the body of Ms. Underhill was found so now I am thinking about going a mile up river and walking the bank back to the location were the body was found.

The Death of Deborah Underhill has been ruled as a homicide. The Medical Examiner's report states the cause of death was strangulation and blunt force injury to the chest and abdomen.  The report shows Underhill was beaten and bruised over much of her body and ultimately strangled to death.

UPDATE: ONE YEAR LATER

From the News Channel 3 web site http://www.wrcbtv.com

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) -
"Where she was found, how'd she get there, where did it happen, why did it happen," asked Karen Searle.

These are all questions that remain unanswered for the family of Deborah Underhill, who was beaten and bruised over much of her body and ultimately strangled to death before being found on the bank of the Tennessee River.

A year later, there are still no leads in the case, leaving police no closer to solving the murder.

"Just knowing that person is out there, not just because of what he did to Debbie. Has he done to this someone else or is he going to do it to someone else," asked Searle.

Searle is still puzzled as to why her sister was targeted in this violent crime.

"She was the light of the party, she could walk into a room and make everybody laugh because that's all she did was laugh," said Searle. "That's what makes me so angry because I know no one had a reason to do this."

The horrific memories were too much to bear for Searle, moving away just months after the murder.

"I don't want to go down town. I don't want to see pictures of downtown or the Tennessee River," said Searle. "For a while I can get busy and do other things, but then I get to thinking about it again. It makes ya angry."

All she wants are answers and is pleading for help in finding them.

"Somebody saw something," said Searle. "She would be trying to do whatever she could to hunt down who did this to one of her family members."

Searle says she is offering a small reward to whoever gives information that leads to the conviction of the killer.

If you have any information that could help in this case, you're asked to contact the Chattanooga Police Department or email me at dark.ghost.0001@gmail.com