After years of legal twists, murder charge dismissed in 26-year-old North Nashville case
A first-degree murder charge against Calvin Atchison was dismissed after 26 years in a North Nashville case involving the 1998 death of Velma Tharpe. DNA evidence initially linked Atchison but cleared Paul Garrett, who was previously convicted. A special prosecutor cited insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mentioned
Related Signal
Adjacent reporting
- Man whose wife vanished years ago now cuffed in separate cold case – authorities say his past was deadly
- Covert DNA sample from Colorado man's trash revives 44-year-old Texas murder case: report
- 34 years later, detective closes haunting cold case
- Murder charge dropped for Arkansas sheriff nominee who killed daughter’s alleged abuser
- Days before trial, Blaise Taylor seeks to block key forensic evidence in Nashville murder case