Man gets 40-year sentence for fatal police chase in DeSoto County

HERNANDO, Miss. — A Wisconsin man has been sentenced to 40 years after being convicted of leading law enforcement on a multi-state pursuit that resulted in the death of another driver.

District Attorney Matthew Barton announced Wednesday that Matthew Nemacheck, age 39 of Palmyra, Wisconsin, will serve 25 years of his 40-year sentence in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Nemacheck was convicted of felony fleeing resulting in death as a violent offender.

The conviction follows a 2023 chase that spanned three states and four jurisdictions. According to the District Attorney’s office, the pursuit continued even after law enforcement used tactical maneuvers to try and stop Nemacheck’s vehicle. Nemacheck was eventually apprehended and booked into the DeSoto County Adult Detention Center on Oct. 11, 2023.

The chase ended in the death of Malil Alilovic, who was described as a devoted husband and father. An attorney for his family relayed that they are “devastated and remain that way.”

“The sentence delivered today reflects the gravity of Mr. Nemacheck’s choices and the devastation he caused,” Barton said in a statement. “Those who turn their vehicles into deadly weapons will face the full weight of Mississippi law.”

Barton stated the sentence serves as both justice for the victim’s family and a strong deterrent to others who might flee from law enforcement.

The case was investigated by Assistant District Attorney Steven Jubera.