A Winchester woman charged with murder in the death of Lynn Town Marshal Bradley Fisher pleaded not guilty on Monday, September 14, 2026, according to Kicks 96[1], the Winchester News-Gazette[2] and WISH-TV[3].
Fisher, 50, was struck and killed near US 36 and US 27 near Lynn, in Randolph County, on the morning of Wednesday, July 29, 2026. He was deploying stop sticks during a vehicle pursuit. Kicks 96 reported that the crash happened at about 8:30 a.m. Fisher was taken to Ascension St. Vincent Randolph Hospital, where he died. The Randolph County Sheriff's Office and Lynn Police Department are involved.
The charges and pending court case
Kicks 96 and WISH-TV reported that Maci Marquelle Atkinson, 34, of Winchester, was arrested on September 8, 2026. The reported charges include murder, resisting law enforcement causing death, aggravated battery, operating while intoxicated, criminal recklessness, auto theft and unlawful possession of a syringe.
The Winchester News-Gazette reported that Atkinson entered a not guilty plea on September 14 and is being held without bond. A bond hearing is set for September 28, and a trial is tentatively scheduled for late January. Atkinson is presumed innocent. The charges and descriptions of her alleged conduct remain allegations unless proven in court.
What accident victims should do next
The criminal case and a civil case are separate. A prosecutor represents the State, not the family. A criminal conviction can result in punishment, but it does not replace a civil wrongful death claim.
Under Ind. Code 34-23-1-1, an Indiana wrongful death claim is brought by the personal representative of the decedent's estate. The applicable wrongful death statute and available recovery depend on the decedent's family circumstances. Families evaluating these issues can review information about wrongful death claims and the difference between a survival action and a wrongful death claim.
A law enforcement officer killed in the course of employment may also have workers' compensation death benefits and public safety line-of-duty benefits available under separate provisions. Those benefits can proceed alongside a wrongful death claim rather than replacing it.
Every potentially applicable insurance policy should be reviewed. Depending on the facts and policy language, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide a source of recovery. Indiana insurers must offer UM/UIM coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2. A household may carry this coverage without immediately recognizing that it could apply.
Why location and deadlines matter
The crash happened near US 36 and US 27 near Lynn, in Randolph County. The Randolph County Sheriff's Office and Lynn Police Department are involved, and the criminal case is pending in the Randolph County courts.
Indiana's limitations period for most wrongful death actions is two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. The period generally runs from the date of death, not from a later plea, verdict or conclusion of the criminal case. General information about Indiana filing periods is available in the firm's guide to accident claim deadlines.
If a government entity were a defendant, the Indiana Tort Claims Act could require written notice within 180 days for a town or county under Ind. Code 34-13-3-8, or within 270 days for the State under Ind. Code 34-13-3-6. Nothing published identifies a government entity as a defendant, and this should not be read as a conclusion that a claim against one exists.
Indiana's Comparative Fault Act, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, generally bars recovery when an injured person is found more than 50 percent at fault. Otherwise, recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault. A police report or criminal charge does not by itself decide civil responsibility.
An operating while intoxicated charge can also raise a dram shop question. Under Ind. Code 7.1-5-10-15.5, a person or business that furnished alcohol may be liable if it had actual knowledge that the person served was visibly intoxicated and the intoxication was a proximate cause of the injury. No source has reported where the accused driver had been before the pursuit, and there is no reported basis here to conclude that any establishment was involved.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm represents families who have lost someone because of carelessness or recklessness on Indiana roads.
Chad Delventhal can obtain available crash and court records, explain the process for opening an estate and appointing a personal representative, review potentially applicable insurance coverage, and help a family understand how benefits and civil claims may interact. Insurance companies may aggressively defend disputed claims, so careful evidence preservation and deadline tracking matter.
You can learn more about Chad Delventhal or request a free case evaluation.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation and court case may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
