In an exclusive statement to the ETEnlightener.com, Beal Bourne submitted a picture as proof that his granddaughter Jayla Bourne found the tiger.
KNOXVILLE, TN – In September of this year, an off-duty Knox County Sheriffs Office Deputy working security in the Forks of the River Industrial Park area reported seeing a tiger on the loose.
A report coming from a trained law enforcement deputy was taken seriously and prompted a multi-agency search in the Forks of the River Industrial Park and Thorngrove Pike area. Warnings and safety precautions were issued to citizens in the area.
Knoxville Zoo personnel made a count of its tigers and reported that none were missing.
After a widespread, weekslong search joined by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Units, Animal Control, Air Watch, TWRA, KPD’s Animal Control Unit and representatives with Tiger Haven for an alleged loose tiger, officials are said to believe the mysterious animal sighting was “likely a bobcat.”
However, the sighting has been substantiated by Beal (Bill) and Peggy Bourne, owners of Jarnigan & Sons Mortuary.
In an exclusive statement to the ETEnlightener.com, Bourne submitted a picture as proof that his granddaughter Jayla Bourne found the tiger.
When picking up a family meal to-go at Shoney’s Restaurant in East Knoxville, Jayla found a tiger.