Bledsoe County Shocked by Death of Seals

Tuesday morning, family and friends cried and held each other where Detective Ricky Seals body lay a few yards away, covered by a white sheet as officials scoured the nearby field for clues.

The detective was loved by many. His family had deep roots in Bledsoe County. He worked for the Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Department for over 30 years

"He was a wonderful person, a very kind hearted person," his close friend Lorna Lee told said. "He would help anybody do anything for anyone. He was an amazing man, he really was."

Detective Seals worked for the Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Department for decades. The unexpected death will resonate deeply in city hall where Pikeville Mayor Phillip Cagle told us many of his relatives work, including his mother.

"Where it really touches home to me is we have about five of Ricky’s immediate family that works for the city of Pikeville," Cagle said.  "Ricky’s mother and Ricky’s sister both work here at city hall, for the city.  I love them dearly and they have been great friends of mine for years."

While the investigation continues with more questions than answers, this small, close-knit town who knew this investigator and proud grandfather will try to make sense of this untimely death that so little is still known about.

"It’s going to touch close to home to everyone in the county because every body knew him," Pikeville Mayor Cagle said.  "He was a great guy. He did a great job at the county’s sheriff department as an investigator. We don’t know what happened. It’s a tragic thing. It’s a sad thing. He has grandchildren that I knew he loved dearly. He’s going to be missed."

"He always had kind words, always a smile," Lee said. "Always hugging and telling you how much he loved you."