Knox County Forensic Center Identifies Remains in Decades-Old Cold Case

The case goes back to November of 2003, when the Knoxville Police Department began investigating after someone noticed a body on I-275 at the Woodlawn entrance ramp. (Brian Sanderson, circa 1967. Photo credit: Knox Co. Regional Forensic Center)

Knox County Forensic Center Identifies Remains in Decades-Old Cold Case

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Human remains found two decades ago in Knoxville have finally been identified.

The Knox County Regional Forensic Center identifying the remains Monday morning as Brian A. Sanderson.

Sanderson was found in 2003 near I-275 at the Woodlawn entrance ramp.

Knoxville Police responded and a team from UT assisted in the recovery at the time.

In 2008, investigators submitted a DNA sample to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs, which is a national database for missing or unidentified persons.

The Forensic Center took the body in 2017, determining the remains were those of a white man around five feet tall between 40 and 60 years old.

In 2022, KCRFC got in touch with Othram, a company that tests DNA to help in cold cases.

“We work diligently every day to try to identify every decedent and connect them with their next of kin, regardless of how long they’ve been here,” said Chris Thomas, the center’s chief administrative officer. “We want the families to have closure.”

Othram matched the remains to Sanderson.

The case goes back to November of 2003, when the Knoxville Police Department began investigating after someone noticed a body on I-275 at the Woodlawn entrance ramp. (Brian Sanderson, circa 1967. Photo credit: Knox Co. Regional Forensic Center)