New Forensic Center to Open in Karns
August 10, 2026, 5:23 p.m.

KNOXVILLE - Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, state leaders, and local officials will host a building dedication tomorrow at the new regional forensic center.

Construction crews are wrapping up work on the new 33,000 square foot Knox County Regional Forensic Center in the Karns Valley Business Park off Oak Ridge Highway in the Northwest. It should be complete by early September, and the staff will move in later that month.

In addition to size, the new facility also will bring major upgrades in technology. Plans include the addition of a CT scanner and twice as many autopsy stations, allowing staff to handle cases more efficiently.

The Knox County RFC, which operates 24/7, 365 days each year, performs autopsies for 23 counties and serves as the official medical examiner for Knox, Anderson, and Blount counties.