Police: Suspect in Hampton’s death in custody

Police in Knoxville, Tenn., said today they have a suspect in the abduction and slaying of a former Waterloo High School homecoming queen.

Jennifer Lee Hampton’s body was found Saturday in Melton Hill Lake in Knoxville, less than 10 miles from the Days Inn where she was staying. Hampton, 21, was in Knoxville with co-workers to help train employees who were preparing to open a Mama Blue’s restaurant there.

Hampton, a server at the Mama Blue’s restaurant in Florence, was reported missing on Sept. 20.

“A suspect in the case is currently being held without bond on unrelated charges,” said Darrell DeBusk, a Knoxville police spokesman.

He said police expect to charge the man in connection with Hampton’s death, possibly as early as this afternoon.

“We are currently awaiting results of forensic tests that are being performed on evidence that was recovered during the investigation,” DeBusk said. “We are working closely with the district attorney’s office and they are ready to move forward as soon as we have results.”

DeBusk said police are still not in a position to release the cause of death and declined comment when asked if Hampton was killed before her body was dumped into the lake.

DeBusk confirmed that the suspect is one of two men who were taken into custody at the motel in west Knoxville on the morning when Hampton was reported missing. The men, who are believed to be illegal immigrants from Mexico, were arrested on forgery charges, police said. They both worked at the motel where Hampton was staying.

According to a Knoxville News-Sentinel report, the men gave the names of Rogelio Melchor, 38, and Valentino Miranda, 19, but police say neither the names nor their addresses have been verified.

“We think one was involved for sure, but we have not determined if both were,” DeBusk said.

He said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has provided tremendous help in the case and have “jumped through hoops to make this a priority.”