Full Notification

Brett Atchison, 25, and his sister, Meghan Atchison, 22, both of Beech Bluff, have been charged in connection with the 2013 murder of Meghan Atchison’s boyfriend, William Joseph Nachlinger.

Jackson police investigators obtained arrest warrants Monday for Brett Atchison for first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, and for Meghan Atchison on a charge of filing a false report.

The warrants were obtained through Madison County General Sessions Court because investigators believe Nachlinger was killed outside the city limits of Jackson but within Madison County. Obtaining the warrants through general sessions court is a safeguard from any potential jurisdictional issues.

Police investigators contacted the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force for assistance in finding the suspects. The task force arrested Brett at 6 p.m. Monday at a house on Old Malesus Road in Jackson and Megan around 6:30 p.m. at her home at 3528 Beech Bluff Road in Madison County.

Brett and Meghan Atchison were arraigned in Madison County General Sessions Court Tuesday morning. Meghan was released from jail at 11:30 a.m. after posting a $5,000 bond.
Brett remains in custody at the Madison County Jail with no bond.

Judge Hugh Harvey transferred their cases from general sessions court to Jackson City Court. A preliminary hearing date has been set for Feb. 19 at 1:30 p.m. in city court.

Around 8:30 a.m. on March 11, 2013, police were called about a body inside a car on the back parking lot of Whitehall Pre-K Center at 532 Whitehall Street. A citizen was dropping off a child for school when he made the discovery.

The body was identified as Nachlinger, 25, of Beech Bluff. Nachlinger’s death was determined to be a homicide caused by multiple blunt force injuries.

Police investigators determined that Nachlinger was killed at a primary crime scene and then transported in his vehicle to the secondary crime scene, at 532 Whitehall Street. Forensic evidence from the secondary crime scene linked Brett Atchison to the crime.

During further investigation, police determined that Brett Atchison was responsible for Nachlinger’s murder.

During questioning, Meghan Atchison provided false and misleading information to police investigators about the case.

Pic 1 B. Atchison
Pic 2 M. Atchison