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Sandra Elkins instituted a new policy regarding the release of evidence to authorities because of questions raised about a state trooper obtaining photographs from her office. The Department of Safety has suspended Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Marty Nix pending an internal probe of why he took evidence involving a death from the Knox County Medical Examiner’s Office. Nix was suspended with pay June 29, three days after Elkins wrote a letter to THP District Captain Ray Fletcher about Nix’ action.
“I just basically outlined what occurred and we suspected he had overstepped his authority and I expected this to be cleared up,” Elkins said this morning. “I am happy with Captain Fletcher’s response.” Elkins said Nix came to the Regional Forensic Center on the evening of June 9, a Saturday, and obtained more than 50 photographs in a death case.
The death involved a man who had fallen at his home and died earlier in the month, Elkins said. She declined to identify the deceased man. The death was ruled an accident, she said.
“The evidence he signed for were photographs of the body,” Elkins said. Nix told the only person on duty that Saturday night he was investigating the man’s death, Elkins said. Later in the month, she said, “a hawk-eyed office manager” noted that Nix had signed an evidence receipt for a case investigated by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
That prompted Elkins to start asking questions. “Supposedly, he was a friend of the family,” Elkins said of Nix. “But he was not the legal investigator.
” Elkins said she was assured this morning the photographs are secure. “I spoke to Fletcher this morning and he assured me the evidence is under lock and key to be used in the investigation of trooper Nix and it was being taken very seriously,” she said. In the past, Elkins said, law enforcement officers have been able to get blood samples, photographs and other evidence from the Forensic Center at any time.
Elkins said the situation with Nix prompted her to alter that policy. “Now, if they want blood or photographs, they’ll have to come in during normal business hours Monday through Friday,” she said. “We’ve tried to be obliging, but we’re going to have to be more strict because of this.
“We’ve got to have safeguards to protect the integrity of this office and to protect the privacy of the dead. I just won’t tolerate that; the deceased have rights, too.” While Elkins’ letter prompted the internal probe of Nix, the investigation apparently has blossomed.
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