An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the arrest of a Cheatham County man, who was arrested and charged in connection to the 2023 death of his child.
On July 23rd, 2023, TBI agents joined the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Highway Patrol in investigating a child death. Five-year-old Turner Simpkins was found deceased at his residence on Poplar Ridge Road in Chapmansboro. Agents developed information that the child died from chronic blunt force injuries and malnourishment, and the manner of death was homicide. Agents further learned of prolonged and severe child abuse by the girlfriend of the victim’s father, Austin Simpkins. The investigation revealed that the abuse occurred over several months, and Austin Simpkins had not made any reports of such abuse nor attempted to stop the abuse.
On January 6th, the Cheatham County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging 29-year-old Austin Gordon Simpkins with one count of Aggravated Child Neglect and three counts of Child Abuse and Child Neglect or Endangerment. On Monday, Simpkins was arrested and booked into the Cheatham County Jail on a $500,000 bond.