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Article published Jan 8, 2009 Body left off at Blount Memorial identified
By Jessica Stith of The Daily Times Staff
Alcoa detectives released the identity of a body that someone attempted to “drop off” Tuesday at the Blount Memorial Hospital emergency room entrance.
Alcoa Police Detective Kris Sanders said Wednesday that Stephen L. Finch, 30, Griselda Drive, Maryville, was taken by an 18-year-old man to the hospital and the man attempted to “drop off” Finch without notifying hospital staff. Finch was dead on arrival.
“The (18-year-old) attempted to drop him off and leave without making any contact with hospital staff,” Sanders said.
Sanders said the body was taken to the forensics center at the University of Tennessee Medical Center where an autopsy will be performed today. More information on Finch’s death and details of the incident are expected to be released following the autopsy.
Sanders said Finch was brought to the emergency room at about 3:10 p.m. Tuesday by an 18-year-old male “friend.” Sanders said Finch was unresponsive and hospital staff immediately attempted to revive him.
“They attempted to perform CPR and tried all the medical procedures that they could, but he was D.O.A. (dead on arrival),” Sanders said.
Hospital staff contacted the Blount County Communications Center and dispatchers notified Maryville police officers of the incident. The 18-year-old man was asked not to leave by hospital staff until officers’ arrival.
“Blount Memorial has guidelines in place for notifying the appropriate individuals when a death meets certain criteria outlined in our policies as well as by state law,” BMH Public Relations Manager Jennie Bounds. “Those individuals may include hospital staff, the medical examiner and local law enforcement personnel.”
Maryville detectives made initial contact with the teen and staff and discovered the incident began in Alcoa. Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said they then notified Alcoa detectives, who responded to the scene.
The car that Finch and the 18-year-old man occupied was towed to a secure area and Sanders said the teen was being taken to the Alcoa Police Department for questioning.