The man accused in the May 2022 murder of his girlfriend’s toddler in Cookeville was sentenced on Friday (Feb. 14, 2025). Justin Dixon appeared in Putnam County Criminal Court where he pled guilty to the Second Degree Murder of 2-year-old Atlas Copeland. Dixon received a 20-year sentence, to serve at 100%.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the child’s mother had left Atlas in Dixon’s care while she went to work. The investigation found that within an hour of the mother’s departure, Dixon had injured Atlas so severely the little boy became unresponsive. Atlas was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died from his injures early the following morning. (Press Release courtesy PCSO.)
