KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knox County Sheriff's Office recovered a body on Northshore Drive near the Concord roundabout on Sunday, according to a 10News crew at the scene. On July 31, that person was identified as Alma Delia Matias, 24, from Knoxville.
KCSO called it an "isolated incident."
According to Knox County dispatch, dispatchers received a deceased person call Sunday morning. KCSO said a jogger discovered a dead body around 8:30 a.m. and called 911. KCSO responded to the 11200 block on Northshore Drive and blocked off a section of the road near the roundabout.
A 10News crew at the scene witnessed KCSO deputies recover a body on the shoulder of the road close to the Concord Greenway. KCSO said the deceased person was a female of unknown identity.
KCSO said it transported the body to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center where an autopsy will be performed.
They also said two people from Knoxville were arrested for arson in relation to the case. On Tuesday, KCSO identified the suspects as Jason Young, 23, and Rontrell Allen, 24. Young is also facing a property theft charge.
According to their arrest reports, KCSO deputies also responded to a vehicle pulled off near Heiskell Road in reference to a vehicle fire. Deputies ran the vehicle registration and discovered it belonged to the victim, Alma Matias. They said they also found a red gas can near it with the top off.
Deputies began looking at license plate reader data and discovered the victim's vehicle captured traveling along Merchants Drive near Interstate 75 around 4 a.m. along with a white Honda that was traveling behind it.
Police checked surveillance video taken from a nearby gas station on Merchants Drive, saying the victim's vehicle pulled into the parking lot along with the white Honda. KCSO said one of the suspects was seen getting out of the victim's vehicle and going inside the store to pay the clerk before going back out to fill up what appeared to be a red gas can.
KCSO said they were able to identify the suspect in the video through facial recognition software, saying it was Jason Young.
"Young has a documented history with the victim through the victim's cellular phone records," the arrest report read.
KCSO said Allen's face was also identified through facial recognition software after Allen spoke with Young in the parking lot. KCSO said Allen was driving the white Honda. Deputies said the two left the gas station and got onto I-75 heading north.
KCSO said it is still unable to release certain details at this stage of the investigation because it does not want to jeopardize the prosecution and investigative process.
“Our thoughts are with the victim's family and the community," said Sheriff Tom Spangler in a press release. "This was an isolated crime yet tragic for all involved. I want to extend my gratitude to our Detectives working around the clock.”
KCSO asked anyone with information about the deceased or who saw something suspicious happen in that area to contact KCSO detectives at 865-215-2243 or email Crimetips@knoxsheriff.org. KCSO said tipsters can remain anonymous.