New Knox County Regional Forensic Center’s Name Dedicated to Dr. Mileusnic
August 11, 2026, 1:46 p.m.

KNOXVILLE - State and local leaders this morning hosted a building dedication to name the county’s new Knox County Regional Forensic Center after its long-time chief medical examiner Dr. Darinka Mileusnic.

Dedication ceremony for the new Knox County Regional Forensic Center; image by Knox County Government

The new facility was a goal Mayor Glenn Jacobs and RFC leaders have pushed for years. It will almost double the office and laboratory size of the current one at 2761 Sullins St. That operation was funded under the state and then Knox County Mayor and now U.S. House Rep. Tim Burchett in 2014 when it need to move from the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

The new name was kept under wraps and a surprise for Dr. Mileusnic, who studied medicine in Croatia and Chicago and is internationally recognized among her peers.

Dr. Mileusnic surprised to learn that the new Knox County Forensic Center was dedicated to her; image by Knox County Government

An emotional Dr. Mileusnic was set to speak before officials unveiled the new sign at the front of the building. Afterward, she talked about the operation and what it means to the community.

“We are constantly reminded and we will never forget that behind every heartbreaking story, there is a family that deserves answers, requires our help, and may need guidance how to navigate the most difficult times of their lives,” she said. “This facility is dedicated to those families, our citizens, and all our partners who never wavered in their support on this long journey.”

Construction crews are wrapping up work on the new 33,000 square feet facility, located in the Karns Valley Business Park off Oak Ridge Highway in the Northwest, and the largest of its kind in the state. It should be complete by early September, and the staff is expected to move in October.

“This new facility will help us attract and retain the best forensic staff in the state and provide space for decades worth of potential growth without the need for additional expansions,” said Chris Thomas, chief administrative officer of the KCRFC.

Several years ago, Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Thomas and Dr. Mileusnic met with Gov. Bill Lee to talk about funding a new site. Later, the state approved $20 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal economic stimulus plan, to help pay for the $30 million facility. The county covered the remaining $10 million.

“The center was needed as caseloads continue to grow and the region needed room to cover the demands of both today and tomorrow,” said interim Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health John Dunn. “This gives the professionals the infrastructure they need to meet the very high standards they perform.”

The expansion comes as the workload has increased in recent years and as a 30 member staff grew from overseeing 1,900 cases in 2018 when Jacobs took office to 43 team members managing as many as 3,000 cases annually in the years that followed.

The growth is driven by a number of reasons, including an increase in population and the center’s expanding role throughout the state’s eastern region.

Mayor Jacobs called Dr. Mileusnic “a leader across the nation” and noted that the center has played a large role helping to identify cold case victims and implement a program that honors unclaimed veterans.

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.

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, a larger lobby, an outdoor area of staff to decompress, and more space and workstations so team members can handle cases more efficiently.