Knox County’s Regional Forensic Center is sounding a very public alarm after seeing a sharp rise in infant sleep-related deaths across East Tennessee. In a series of photos and stats shared on social media, the center says it is seeing more babies who died after sleeping with a loved one or in unsafe crib setups. Staff plan to team up with the Knox County Health Department this week to push out evidence-based safety tips on social platforms, all while state-level data show Tennessee’s infant mortality rate still sits above the national average.
Forensic center shares stark local numbers
In a detailed post on Facebook, the Knox County Regional Forensic Center reported that infant sleep-related deaths climbed just over 71 percent from 2024 to 2025. Positional asphyxia, which includes deaths from overlay or smothering, accounted for 24 fatalities last year across the center’s 23 partner counties, up from 14 two years earlier, according to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center. The center said it will work with the Knox County Health Department to publish daily posts this week with tips and links to resources. “These are tragedies that can be largely prevented through awareness and putting safe sleep recommendations into practice,” RFC director Chris Thomas wrote in the post.
State report shows preventable sleep deaths…