Atkins sentenced to life

in prison following guilty

verdicts in trial Thursday

http://www.cljnews.com

by Teresa Eubanks, CLJNews.com

BRISTOL – A Liberty County jury returned a quick verdict Thursday after a short trial, finding D.C. Tyrone Atkins guilty of first degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash involving death.

Atkins was charged with the January 28, 2021 death of 18-year-old Zac Eikeland of Bristol.

Circuit Court Judge Ronald W. Flury then sentenced Atkins, 20, to life in prison.

The jury deliberated around an hour and a half before announcing their findings, which included a third guilty verdict on a misdemeanor charge.

The trial began Wednesday morning but recessed for the day at 1 p.m. Testimony resumed Thursday morning and concluded at 4:15, when the jury began their deliberations.

• • • • •

Zac was placed in foster care at the age of three with John and Chaille Eikeland of Bristol. Their daughter, Cayla, later adopted him and raised him as her own.

He dropped out of high school after struggling with a learning disability. He took on a couple of different jobs and spent time helping out friends, according to his family. “He was always trying to borrow a trailer to help somebody move. He would bring his friends home to his mom’s or grandma’s when they didn’t have a place to stay,”said his uncle, Curry Eikeland.

Around that time, Zac reconnected with his birth mother. He moved out of his Bristol home and began hanging out with Atkins. His adoptive family members said he still came by often, grabbing a meal and catching up with them. Sometimes he stayed with the Eikelands at Lake Mystic; other times, he stayed at his birth mother’s home in the Turkey Creek Community.

• • • • •

Shortly before Zac’s death, he and Tyrone were riding around together in Blountstown and stopped to see Tyrone’s mother.

But a few days later, the two reportedly had what was described as a “heated altercation” along Gobbler Court Road in the Turkey Creek Community.

“Atkins was heard by witnesses stating that he was going to get a gun and come back to kill (Zac Eikeland) the victim,” according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

Atkins reportedly drove up on Zac, who was walking along the road. Witnesses said they heard a loud crash and saw someone running away. Zac died after being hit and then run over by a car. The Honda Pilot then crashed into a boat near the side of the road.

Atkins was found hiding behind a nearby trailer and arrested.

The car used in the crash belonged to Atkins’ mother and was later reported stolen.