UNION COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — Three Union County deputies have been terminated following two separate inmate death investigations.

Christopher Snyder, Jessie Hooper and Edward Tolliver were all fired. According to their personnel files, they were not properly observing inmates during their checks. Snyder and Tolliver began working for Union County in April 2025, while Hooper started in July 2023.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the deaths at the jail. On August 29, Justin A. Davis, 37, was found unresponsive in his cell. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment, where he died on Thursday, September 4. Then on Sept. 6, a second inmate death was reported. He was identified as Benjamin Hibbert, 52. He worked for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office between July 8, 1991, and January 26, 2016, a KCSO spokesperson said.

The TBI has not said whether the deaths are connected. This investigation is ongoing. Once the TBI completes its work, its findings will be turned over to the 8th Judicial District Attorney General Jared Effler for review.