Nashville Cold Case Detectives Arrest Calvin Atchison II For 2000 Murder Of Velma Tharpe

From the City of Nashville:

May 25, 2021

Cold Case detectives today arrested Calvin Atchison II, 51, on a grand jury indictment charging him with first-degree murder for the June 2000 murder of Velma Tharpe, 30, who died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

The MNPD believes that a man who was formerly convicted in Tharpe's homicide, Paul Garrett, 47, is innocent. A petition is pending in Criminal Court for Garrett's exoneration. Garrett's plea to involuntary manslaughter resulted in a sentence of 15 years. He was released from prison in December 2011 according to the Department of Correction.

Cold Case Detective Mike Roland and now retired Sergeant Pat Postiglione learned of DNA evidence in the Tharpe case that implicated Atchison in the summer of 2011 and have continued in their efforts to hold the right man accountable.

Atchison, who was taken into custody today at his Apple Valley Circle home, is being held without bond pending proceedings in Criminal Court.

Calvin Atchison II, 51

This press release was produced by the City of Nashville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.