Knoxville Police Department detectives are actively investigating the death of 54-year-old Tommy “Eddie” Hundley.

Hundley was reported missing on Sunday, February 22, when his truck was found apparently abandoned in the area of Mimosa Avenue and Carmichael Street.

Following a lengthy investigation that included dozens of interviews, Hundley’s body was found on Thursday afternoon on Burnett Creek Road in South Knox County. There were no obvious signs of trauma, but cause of death is unknown at this time and pending the findings of an autopsy that is being conducted by Regional Forensic Center staff.  

In the course of the investigation, detectives developed Richard Long, 61 of Knoxville, as a person of interest in Hundley’s disappearance. On Thursday, Long was detained and ultimately taken into custody for tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.

The investigation into Hundley’s death is being led by KPD Violent Crime detectives. That investigation remains ongoing at this time.