JEFFERSON CITY — Drew Atchison finally learned his fate on Friday, as he was sentenced to life in prison without any chance of parole. The sentence came after his conviction on three first-degree murder charges, as well as charges of child kidnapping and armed criminal action.
Atchison was convicted in the triple murder. He reportedly slit the throats of Harley Michael Million and Samara Fontaine Kitts, and killed 17-month old Willa Fontaine Million the next day by gunshot. The murders took place on Jan. 25 and 26, 2018, with the murder of the toddler happening when Atchison allegedly disposed of the bodies.
Atchison initially pleaded not guilty, but on Dec. 11, 2023, he changed his plea to guilty on three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and two counts of child kidnapping. All charges are Class A felonies.
Million and Kitts were reported missing on Jan. 28, 2018, and Atchison reportedly confessed to the killings early the following morning.
Atchison’s case received a change of venue to Cole County in June 2018, and court records show that many different filings were made since Atchison’s guilty plea in December. On March 8, Judge Jon Edward Beetem filed a writ of habeas corpus to compel an individual — whose name was redacted from the public record — to testify on behalf of Atchison in court during the trial in April. The original petition for the writ was submitted on March 7, and officially requested the individual be allowed to testify as a witness in support of a sentence of life without parole, following the state’s evidence.
According to the application for the writ, Atchison’s defense requested that the individual, after having been housed with Atchison in Cole County Jail, be allowed to testify “to Mr. Atchison’s good behavior and the value of Mr. Atchison’s presence provided... others in the jail, along with Drew’s religious influence in the pod.”
Atchison appeared for the public bench trial on Tuesday, April 9 in the Cole County Division I courtroom in Jefferson City. There were multiple hearings, with the final hearing taking place on Tuesday, April 16. The life sentence with no chance of parole was officially handed down on Friday.