No foul play suspected is case of dead body found under deck - and more Chattanooga region news

No foul play suspected is case of dead body found under deck

KNOXVILLE - Police say an autopsy has found no evidence of foul play in the death of a man whose body was found underneath a deck behind a Knoxville home.

Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk told media outlets that the man had been dead about two weeks. The autopsy did find that the man suffered from a medical condition that could have led to his death, DeBusk said.

Meanwhile, police are still trying to determine who the man is and why he was under the deck.

The homeowner said she had noticed a foul smell, but wasn't able to find the source until Wednesday, when she saw tennis shoes in the crawl space under her deck while searching for Easter eggs with her 3-year-old son.

"I really don't even know how he got there," Tara Hanouskova said.

She said she was able to get her son back inside before he noticed anything and police responded discreetly.

"They were very respectful; they tread lightly," Hanouskova said. "My son has no idea what happened."


Day care told to close after child left in van

MACON, Ga. - A day care center is appealing an order from the state to close.

The state Department of Early Care and Learning issued an order for Charlotte's Web Day Care on Napier Avenue to close after investigating a report that a child was left in a van for more than four hours on Monday.

Department spokesman Reg Griffin said investigators found violations of state rules covering transportation and supervision of children.

The day care center can remain open while it appeals. A state administrative judge is scheduled to hear the case Tuesday. The judge will decide whether the center should close. If that happens, the center would remain closed for at least 21 days while the agency considers further action.


Deal to sign gun rights bill

ATLANTA - Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to sign legislation next week expanding gun rights in Georgia.

Spokesman Brian Robinson confirmed Friday a bill signing on House Bill 60 is planned Wednesday. Word of the event first came in an online posting by the gun rights group Georgia Carry.

The bill makes several changes to state law. It allows those with a license to carry to bring a gun into a bar without restriction and into some government buildings that don't have certain security measures. It also allows religious leaders to decide whether it's OK for a person with a carry license to bring a gun into their place of worship.

And school districts would now be able to allow some employees to carry firearms under certain conditions.


Courthouse shut for shooter drill

GADSDEN, Ala. - Law enforcement shut down an Alabama courthouse Friday morning to train officers how to respond to a mass shooting threat.

The Etowah County Judicial Building in Gadsden was closed for 90 minutes during the drill.

Officials simulated having an armed person shooting inside the building to teach officers how to react. Law enforcement responded as though the event were real.

Sheriff Todd Entrekin's office said the drill is part of a continuing response training program.

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