Woman's body found in Melton Hill Lake

Woman's body found in Melton Hill Lake

SOLWAY (WATE) -- A woman's body was pulled from Melton Hill Lake near the Solway Bridge Saturday morning.

According to Knoxville police, a fisherman spotted the woman's body in the lake around 8:30 a.m. and notified authorities.  

Knoxville police have been searching for 21-year-old Jennifer Hampton, who has been missing since last Friday. They have not publically made a connection between the body found Saturday and Hampton, but Hampton's family has been notified of the discovery.

David Goode said he was fishing on the lake Saturday when he saw something floating in the water.

"I got closer and saw what looked like a leg hanging down. Then I looked and I could see the hair," said Goode.

Goode says the body was face-down and nude. "It was very disturbing and gave me the creeps."

He said he couldn't help but wonder if it was the body of Jennifer Hampton. "I'd seen a picture of this girl on the news a few days back but I hadn't really thought much about it since."

"She was removed from the water and is being transported to the forensic center where an autopsy will be conducted and that will also help us determine the individual and other information," said police spokesman Darrell Debusk.

Debusk was unable to say if there was evidence of foul play or how long the body had been in the water.

The Hampton family's attorney, Eddie Daniel, released this statement Saturday:

"We hope and pray this is not Jennifer. And if it's not, we hope and pray for the woman's family. The Hampton family does not feel up to talking."

Police searched Fort Loudon Lake Friday and said Melton Hill Lake was one of the next on their search list because of its proximity to the site of Hampton's disappearance.

Police say they are not taking anyone's name off the suspect list for the disappearance of Hampton. They expect any day now results from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation that would help narrow that list.

The Knoxville Police Department, the Knox County Sheriff's Office, the Oak Ridge Police Department and the Anderson County Sheriff's Department are all assisting in the investigation. 

Forensics test results could come this weekend.

6 News will update this story as additional information becomes available.

6 News anchor/reporter Whitney Holmes and reporter Shelby Baker contributed to this report.