Pilot of seaplane was trying to land in Tennessee River before March 25 crash, FAA says

Man found dead in Tennessee River after running from Blount County deputies

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

A man who went missing while running from Blount County sheriff's deputies more than a week ago was found dead in the Tennessee River on Monday, authorities said.

Crews recovered the body of Jordan Blake Wallace, 22, of Friendsville, on Monday evening after a fisherman reported seeing a body in the Tennessee River, according to a news release from the Blount County Sheriff's Office. The body was spotted about half a mile upstream from Parks Ferry Boat Ramp, where Wallace was last seen.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on March 28, a sheriff's deputy tried to pull over a 1990 Chevrolet pick-up truck on U.S. Highway 321 at Old Glory Road. The truck's lights were not working, the sheriff's office said in a previous news release.

Jordan Blake Wallace

Wallace, the driver of the truck, refused to stop and sped away.

"The deputy continued to follow the vehicle in an effort to get him to stop, but the driver continued to flee, driving erratically on secondary roads until he reached Parks Ferry Road, then turned toward Parks Ferry boat launch where he jumped out of the moving truck and ran toward the water," the release reads.

Deputies "pleaded with Wallace for several minutes to return to the shore, but he refused," the sheriff's office said. "When deputies heard Wallace call for help, several deputies went into the water in an attempt to get him out, but lost sight of him before they could reach him."

Firefighters and rescue crews scoured the Tennessee River for Wallace throughout last week, according to the release, before ultimately finding his body on Monday.

Wallace’s body was taken to Knox County Regional Forensics Center, where an autopsy will be performed.