Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Matt Blansett and Sergeant Lee Russell of the Tennessee Highway Patrol were killed in a helicopter crash on Aetna Mountain in Marion County at about 4:00 pm.
The Bell 206 helicopter struck high-tension power lines and crashed into a wooded area near mile marker 163 adjacent to I-24 and SR-134.
Detective Blansett served with the Marion County Sheriff's Department for 20 years nd also served as a Marion County Commissioner.
Detective Blansett served with the Marion County Sheriff's Department for 20 years nd also served as a Marion County Commissioner.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-31747E2B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Blansett gave the Marion County Sheriff's Office 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Jasper community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Blansett.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Matthew Walker Blansett is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TN, 191 of 769 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Marion County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Matthew Walker Blansett's cause is highlighted.
How Matthew Walker Blansett Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Matthew Walker Blansett is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Marion County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
