From The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
A joint investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office has led to the arrest of a Newport man in connection to the death of his infant son.
At the request of 4th District Attorney General James Dunn, TBI Special Agents joined the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office in investigating suspected child abuse involving 6-month-old Kasey Rathbone, Jr. On December 14th, the infant was hospitalized.
The child’s condition worsened and, on December 16th, he died from his injuries. During the course of the investigation, authorities developed information that Kasey Rathbone, Sr. (DOB 2/3/95) inflicted the injuries that resulted in his son’s death.
On Thursday January 3, 2019, the Cocke County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Rathbone with one count of First Degree Murder, one count of First Degree Felony Murder, and one count of Aggravated Child Abuse.
Friday, January 4, 2019, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Madison County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office, and the Hot Springs Police Department, Rathbone was located and arrested. He’s currently being held in North Carolina on a Fugitive from Justice warrant while awaiting extradition to Tennessee.