(MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022, Cookeville, TN)  Michael Don Shepherd entered a plea of GUILTY to 3 counts of Vehicular Homicide by intoxication and one count of evading arrest in a motor vehicle. He received an effective 24 year sentence to serve in prison.

On January 26, 2021, Michael Don Shepherd had been driving recklessly on the Interstate 40 and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He chose to flee from a law enforcement officer and in his truck at high speeds continuing to drive recklessly and endangering others.  He exited the Interstate during morning rush hour traffic and continued to flee through traffic in the City of Cookeville. As his truck approached the intersection with South Willow Avenue, Shepherd ran the red light and crashed into a Nissan automobile which was traveling north bound on South Willow and occupied by Amanda Chatman and her two children, Alexton, age 4 and Braydon age 3. The impact of the two vehicles caused a violent crash causing both vehicles to roll and come to rest on the west side of Willow Avenue.  Amanda Chatman and her two sons Alexton and Braydon were killed in the crash.

Investigators obtained a blood sample from Michael Shepherd which was tested at the TBI crime lab. The results of the testing showed that Shepherd had an enormously high level of methamphetamine is his blood at the time of the crash.  Michael Shepherd was interviewed after the crash by investigators. He admitted to intentionally fleeing from the Trooper at high speed because he knew he had an outstanding warrant. He also admitted that he had injected methamphetamine earlier that morning.

The Cookeville Police Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol were involved in the investigation of this matter. District Attorney Bryant C. Dunaway prosecuted the case.

“ The loss of the lives Amanda Chatman and her two sons, Alexton and Braydon, ages 4 and 3 is heartbreaking for so many reasons. Their deaths were completely avoidable and are due directly to the selfish decisions of Michael Don Shepherd who chose to recklessly operate his truck while under the influence of a large amount of methamphetamine. Please keep Amanda, her two boys and their family in your prayers. It is so hard to deal with such loss.”