Officials have named a woman who died in the back of a patrol car that a Meigs County deputy inadvertently drove into a river.

The Knox County Forensics Center identifies her as Tabitha Smith.

Smith was being transported to jail after being arrested Wednesday night by Deputy Robert “RJ” Leonard. He accidentally drove the patrol car off a Blythe Ferry boat ramp and into the Hiwassee River.

Officials have not released yet what Smith was charged with.

The cruiser was pulled out of the river Wednesday afternoon. Smith’s body was found handcuffed in the backseat of the vehicle, covered in a deep layer of mud.

The body of Meigs County Deputy Robert “RJ” Leonard was found in the river Thursday.

Upon finding the cruiser, the driver’s side window was open.

Officials said Leonard had arrested Smith, texted his wife about the arrest, and then radioed to say he had a detainee he was bringing back.

About 12 minutes later, Leonard radioed again, in distress, and said something about water.

Leonard joined the Meigs County Sheriff’s office in December 2023. He was from New York.

The incident remains under investigation.