The man whose body was found in the Chestnut Ridge Landfill in Heiskell on Dec. 11 on the border of Anderson and Knox counties has been identified as Mark Denton, 47, of Knoxville.
The body was taken to the Knox County Forensic Center for identification and examination. The forensic center found the death appeared accidental.
Denton was in a dumpster on the 3500 block of North Broadway for unknown reasons when a garbage truck picked up the dumpster and poured its contents into the truck, Knoxville Police Department spokesman Scott Erland said.
Denton was crushed by the compactor on the garbage truck and taken to the Chestnut Ridge Landfill, where his body was crushed again in a compactor, Erland said.
Denton was listed as homeless, according to court documents.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Officer turned the investigation over to the Knoxville Police Department after discovering the man was from Knoxville.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Body found in Chestnut Ridge Landfill identified as Knoxville man