The family of Timothy James “TJ” Hansard is urgently calling for an independent investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation following his hospitalization after two weeks in the Morgan County jail. Hansard, a first-time jail inmate with severe autism, paranoid schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, was arrested during a mental health crisis after missing his psychiatric medications. Despite repeated pleas from his mother to jail staff and nurses regarding his conditions, he allegedly went unmedicated for two weeks.

Hansard was eventually rushed to the hospital after suffering a seizure, later being placed in a medically induced coma in the Neuro ICU at Fort Sanders with severe injuries, including black eyes, a large head bump, cuts, and swelling. Although hospital transfer records from Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge reported no trauma, family members report hearing from terrified inmate witnesses who allege Hansard was beaten in another inmate’s cell, repeatedly tased on the head and body, and placed into a restraint chair before becoming unconscious and unresponsive. Witnesses also claim evidence cleanup was ordered and potential witnesses were moved.

Morgan County officials have reportedly concluded their internal investigation and stated their personnel were not responsible, while declining to pursue further communication without an attorney. Meanwhile, Hansard has awakened from his sedation and, according to his family, repeatedly told nurses and his sister that he was tased in the head, matching unprompted accounts given earlier by witnesses. The family is now pleading with the public to share their story and urging authorities to grant a thorough, independent review of surveillance footage, taser records, and use-of-force logs.