Jeremy Niel Atchison, 41, of Levelland was found guilty of capital murder after killing his mother in 2019.
Atchison was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Closing statements from the state and defense were held Wednesday morning, April 3, 2024 with the jury announcing their verdict Thursday afternoon, April 4th along with sentencing being held right after.
During the states closing statement, Barron Slack detailed the time-line of Jill Atchison’s death, emphasizing Jeremy was aware of his actions that day and knew right from wrong.
Following her death, Slack stated Jeremy had sent text messages to his sister, lying about Jill being alive. Once the police arrived to the residence, he explained that Jeremy knew that he should not say anything to the officers about his mother and did not mention her when he was arrested in front of his fathers home.
While the abuse of Adderall was highlighted throughout the proceedings, Slack explained that it was not a reason for insanity. He stated a server mental disease or defect causing someone to not know right from wrong is insanity, which was not the case in the events laid out to the jury.
Following the states accounts, the defense focused on the validity of a capital murder charge for the crime. The defense stated jury’s duty was to ensure Jeremy received a fair trial and did not focus on the family and their feelings.
The defense explained they were not saying Jeremy did not kill his mother. However, the state did not prove that Jeremy also robbed her. The robbery resulted in the enhanced murder charge.
The defense added that the robbery did not happen, detailing Jill had promised to give Jeremy $300, which was found in his wallet after he was arrested.
The defense highlighted Jeremy’s odd behaviors, crawling on all fours and saying potato chips were talking to him. The defense also explained that schizophrenia occurs in adults between 36 and 38 years old, stating Jeremy was in this age range at the time of the murder.
The defense closed their statement by asking the jury to take their oath seriously and to consider that they must be sure beyond a reasonable doubt Jeremy knew right from wrong at the time of the murder.
Court proceedings were held in the 286th Judicial District Court after being charged with capital murder and evading arrest and detention using a vehicle on Aug. 31, 2019. Proceedings began March 25, with jury selection followed by opening statements on March 26. The court hearing was held in Lamb County with the 286th District Court still presiding over the case.
Addressing the jury, Slack explained that they will be hearing the thoughts and circumstances dealing with a family relationship that led to the offense which occurred on Aug. 31,2019.
Additionally, Slack explained that he expects the jury to have roughly three or four different findings depending on the evidence and information provided. Slack proceeded to explain in detail Jill Atchison and her family’s history.
Slack also discussed Atchison’s upbringing and highlighted his shortcomings in life and failed prospects. Atchison was detailed as struggling financially and during the process leading to the day of the crime; relationships including his grandmother were strained.
Though Atchison lacked steady employment or money, Slack detailed that Jill would allow Jeremy to live at her home and would also employ him in a handy-man role for studio upkeep that was owned by Jill.
Moving forward in the detailed summary, Slack began to breakdown the events of what transpired on Aug. 31, 2019. Slack highlighted the conversation Jeremy had with Levelland Police officers at the residence of the welfare check.
According to the preliminary police report in 2019, an officer with the LPD responded to a residence in the 400 block of E. Jackson Street around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 regarding a welfare check.
When the officer arrived at the residence, he encountered a male individual attempting to leave the residence in a vehicle. The officer making initial contact, the man appeared to be cooperative with police.
However, as the officer attempted to approach the vehicle, the individual, who would later be identified as 36-year-old Jeremy Atchison, left the residence and drove south on Sherman Avenue. Another officer pursued Atchison, who was eventually apprehended in front of a residence in the 300 block of Pecan.
During the opening statement Tuesday, Slack focused on the discussion Jeremy had with the officers who responded to the residence. Slack explained that while Atchison had mental health concerns spanning back to 2015 and prior, he was able to hold a conversation with the officers and fully understand the difference between right and wrong at the time.
Slack explained that Atchison was still aware of who the officers were and relaying proper answers to the officers when questions arose.
Additionally, Slack told the jury that testimony would be presented outlining that at the time of the arrest, Atchison had a loaded firearm gun in his vehicle which was identified as the murder weapon used to kill Jill Atchison.
Slack also explained the jury will be presented with various pieces of evidence such as an Adderall bottle in the vehicle Atchison operated while fleeing from the LPD along with additional testimony.
After fleeing from the scene, Atchison was transported to the Hockley County Jail and charged with evading arrest. An officer returned to the residence of origin to complete the welfare check and gained entry with the assistance of a resident who opened the door.
The officer then discovered the body of Jill Atchison, 59, of Levelland inside the home. Upon finding the body, investigators with the Levelland Police Department and Texas Rangers interviewed Jeremy regarding the death of Jill Atchison.
Slack explained to the jury they will be presented with evidence regarding the lividity of the body of Jill Atchison as EMS reported upon examination, the act did not look recent at the time of discovery of the body.
It was stated that a Texas Ranger, who interviewed Jeremy the night following the events, obtained a confession and will be testifying during the trial.
Slack provided brief quotes that were taken by the Ranger during the interview.
A significant response from Jeremy during the interview concerned the shooting. When asked he had ever the shot the gun found in the vehicle, Atchison replied, “I shot my mom with that gun.”
Additionally, the Texas Ranger asked Atchison why he would do that, to which he would replied, “Because my dad didn’t.”
Slack also mentioned that Atchison recounted the circumstances that transpired between Jeremy and Jill, as well as explaining the graphic actions the jury will be informed of through evidence, testimony and those mentioned that during the interview, including that Atchison said he felt “god-like” during the events that transpired in the residence.
Police stated Jeremy was able to provide information regarding Jill’s death and was subsequently charged with capital murder. However, Slack explained that Jeremy retracted his statement the following day when the Texas Ranger would return for additional interviewing.
Slack offered more detail about the upcoming evidence and testimony expected to be shown to the jury throughout the trail and conclude by saying the state’s position for a proper verdict is guilty of capital murder.
At the time of arrest, Atchison’s bond was originally set at $250,000 for the capital murder charge but was upgraded to $1 million and $2,500 for the evading arrest charge.
A Hockley County Grand Jury indicted Atchison in October 2019 who found probable cause arrest warrant affidavit, with an officer dispatched to the residence to conduct a welfare check on a woman who had an argument with her son.
According to the affidavit, the officer was advised to tell the mother at the residence to get in contact with her daughter and let her know she was okay. As events unfolded with Atchison fleeing the home on E. Jackson Street, the officer later learned the residence that Atchison stopped at during the chase on Pecan Street was his father’s house.
Following the arrest of Atchison, a detective contacted the Texas Rangers to assist with the investigation and in interviewing Atchison. During the interview, the arrest warrant says, “it was learned that Jeremy Neil Atchison shot and killed his mother, Jill Atchison.”
Atchison told police after allegedly killing his mother, he went through her purse and took a large amount of money from it. He then left the residence and was apprehended by police at his father’s house, according to the arrest warrant.
According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 31, 2019, Atchison intentionally caused the death of Jill Atchison by shooting her and was then and there in the course of committing or attempting to commit the offense of robbery. After the reading of the indictment, Atchison pleaded not guilty to the charges by reason of insanity.
Atchison has been confined for 1,168 days while awaiting trial.