Man accused of causing Cookeville crash that killed mother, sons has lengthy criminal history

Michael Shepherd

The Pegram man accused of causing a crash that killed a mother and her two young sons in Cookeville has faced more than a dozen criminal charges in Cheatham County since becoming an adult.

We obtained an arrest record for Michael Shepherd  the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office, which shows the 25-year-old has been arrested at least 17 times. 

We have also learned Shepherd previously faced criminal charges in Nashville and in Williamson County, but the specific charges have not been disclosed.

since June 2014 his  charges have including arson, aggravated kidnapping and reckless endangerment. He has also faced four counts of driving on a revoked license, the most recent of which was in 2018.

Shepherd is being held in the Putnam County jail.Shepherd suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was arrested and charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and evading arrest. He was transported to the Putnam County Jail where he was booked

Man accused of causing Cookeville crash that killed mother, sons has lengthy criminal history

3 Dead in Crash on Willow Avenue and Interstate Drive

Cookeville Tennessee Jan 27,2021— Three people were killed in a crash in Cookeville Tuesday morning, according to the District Attorney General.

The crash happened around 8 a.m. near the intersection of Willow Avenue and Interstate Drive.

- According to Cookeville Police, 25-year-old Michael Don Shepherd was fleeing from police in a Toyota Tacoma when he struck a Nissan Versa at the intersection. 

Police say the driver of the Nissan, 24-year-old Amanda Chatman, and two children—ages 3 and 4—died at the scene.

Shepherd sustained injuries that are not life threatening. He was arrested on three counts of vehicular homicide and evading arrest.

Shepherd was booked into the Putnam County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

More on the Subject here

The pursuit began as troopers with Tennessee Highway Patrol pursued a 2020 Toyota Tacoma truck near the Monterey area on I-40, according to Cookeville police. During the pursuit, Cookeville police said the driver, 25-year-old Michael Don Shepherd, led troopers in the fleeing truck at a high rate of speed to an exit in Cookeville.

The  speeding truck hit Chatman’s vehicle around 8 a.m. near the intersection of Willow Avenue and Interstate Drive.

Cookeville police reported Shepherd was traveling westbound on Interstate Drive at a high rate of speed while approaching the intersection with South Willow Avenue. Chatman was simultaneously traveling northbound on South Willow Avenue in a 2012 Nissan Versa.

Authorities said Shepherd’s truck entered the intersection and struck the passenger side of Chatman’s sedan.

Chatman’s car was completely crushed and thrown into a grass area on the other side of the road, killing Chatman and her two sons, according to investigators.

Amanda Chatman and her two sons were killed in a car crash by a drunk driver running from the police Tuesday, January 26th.  This is a terrible burden and experience that this family doesn’t deserve to go through, any contributions made will be greatly appreciated and go straight towards helping their family.

[If you want to help!!!!]

Offical GoFundMe <------ Here