Retired RuCo teacher's body found, Sheriff awaiting autopsy

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS RELEASED BY THE RUTHERFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SATURDAY, JUNE 6 AT 12:23 P.M.:
 
Autopsy results of a retired Rutherford County teacher, whose body was found Friday, are being sought by Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office detectives, Sheriff Robert Arnold said.
 
              The body of Nelly Blankenship, 73, of Halls Hill Pike, was found about one-half mile from her Halls Hill Pike farm, said Capt. David Hailey. The state medical examiner’s office was expected to determine cause of death.
 
              “It’s a death investigation at this point,” Capt. Hailey said. “We are awaiting the autopsy results.”
 
              A neighbor asked sheriff’s deputies to check on the widow who lived alone after she had not been seen for several days.
 
              Deputy Nick Coble reported they found her home locked but paramedics located an open window. Deputies searched the house but didn’t locate her.
 
              Deputies and paramedics, along with K-9s and the Mounted Patrol horses and deputies, searched the farm but did not locate her. A Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter pilot located her about one-half mile from her home at the back of her property.
 
              “We had a full search going,” Capt. Hailey said.
 
              Deputy Jason Dowdle is investigating.
 
              Nelly Blankenship was the mother of Rutherford County Schools’ board member Helen Blankenship, who died last year.