October 9, 2024

FBI Assists in Identifying Victims of Tennessee Floods

FBI agents often dust for fingerprints to track down criminals and unravel complex cases. But this mission was different. The fingerprints here are not about solving crimes—they are about providing answers in the face of a tragedy that devastated parts of their community.

After deadly floods swept through East Tennessee and Western North Carolina last week, the FBI has joined local authorities in the grim task of identifying victims. Special agents from the FBI’s Johnson City Resident Agency are working alongside the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Northeast Regional Medical Examiner’s Office at East Tennessee State University, employing cutting-edge technology to provide grieving families with some semblance of closure.

In a region mostly unfamiliar with natural disasters, the flood’s devastation has left communities reeling. But the FBI’s involvement here is somewhat atypical. Known usually for connecting crime scenes to criminals, the FBI’s fingerprint expertise is being used not to solve crimes but to reunite families with loved ones.

"When you're doing this, you still take extra care because that was a human and that was somebody’s loved one, it was somebody’s mother, brother, sister," said Special Agent Paul Durant, who has been with the FBI for five years. "It’s tough, but it’s rewarding to know that we can provide some answers to families who are suffering."

Durant, alongside Special Agent Reanna O’Hare, used electronic fingerprint devices to collect prints from victims, sometimes resorting to advanced forensic methods to recover identities. The fingerprints were sent directly to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, using smartphone technology, streamlining what can otherwise be a lengthy process.

FBI Special Agent Paul Durant at the William L. Jenkins Northeast Tennessee Regional Forensics Center where agents have been working with state and local partners to help identify flood victims from North Carolina and Tennessee.

FBI Special Agent Paul Durant at the William L. Jenkins Northeast Tennessee Regional Forensics Center where agents have been working with state and local partners to help identify flood victims from North Carolina and Tennessee.

The process is both emotionally and physically taxing. The agents often had to work with severely compromised remains made unidentifiable through traditional means. Some victims were swept across state lines from North Carolina into Tennessee, compounding the challenge.

"The first time I walked into the morgue, I was hit with a sense of disbelief," Durant said. "I had never been to a medical examiner’s office before, so it was surreal. You know what your job is, but it doesn’t fully sink in until you’re standing there, face to face with the victims. That’s when it becomes real, and you switch into work mode. There were days when it was overwhelming—seeing the destruction and hearing the stories. But at the end of the day, knowing we can help identify these victims and bring some comfort to their families makes it all worth it."

Special Agent O’Hare, who has served as the senior team leader on the Knoxville FBI’s Evidence Response Team, echoed the sentiment: "And just seeing the pictures and knowing that people have lost everything, including their family members, it’s devastating."

The FBI’s files only have fingerprints that are lawfully collected and the identification effort was not without its technical challenges. In several cases, agents had to use advanced forensic techniques to obtain usable prints. This method, often seen as a last resort in forensic work, is both unsettling and necessary for precise identification.

"Knowing we have this unique access to national fingerprint files that others might not is critical," said O’Hare, emphasizing the FBI’s role in tapping into Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security databases. "We’ve been able to identify some victims who otherwise might have remained unknown."

The FBI’s efforts in these floods are part of a broader collaboration with local and state authorities. Special Agent J.D. Anderson, the aupervisory senior resident agent overseeing the efforts in Johnson City, stressed the importance of such partnerships. “Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy. We are committed to doing everything in our power with our partners to bring them closure.”

“It’s not just about the fingerprints; it’s about the people and the families we’re serving,” said Joe Carrico, special agent in charge of the FBI in Tennessee. “Our role is to support our state and local partners in bringing answers to those who need them most. In moments like these, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of that responsibility.”

Durant and O’Hare relied heavily on the Mobile Biometrics Application (MBA) and Special Processing Center (SPC) teams to expedite the identification of victims. These specialized units, operating out of the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services in West Virginia, provided agents in the field with real-time support, often pulling fingerprints and running them through reference files within minutes. In some cases, results were returned in as little as 15 to 20 minutes, streamlining the identification process during critical moments.

The MBA team, in particular, played a vital role by not only processing prints swiftly but also actively monitoring quality control and troubleshooting more difficult cases. When automated systems didn’t yield a match, the SPC team took over, applying manual processes to assist with identification. This seamless coordination between field agents and the FBI’s lab-based experts highlights the bureau’s ability to deploy advanced technology in disaster zones, ensuring that victims' families receive answers as quickly as possible.

While working to bring closure to grieving families, the agents also feel the storm’s personal impact. Special Agent O’Hare’s daughter and grandchildren evacuated from North Carolina to stay with her in Upper East Tennessee after being displaced by power loss. They plan to return to their town later this week now that power has been restored. "I joined the FBI to help people," O’Hare said. "In situations like this, that’s why I am doing my very small part to try to provide some closure for the families of the victims."