>>>Paul Michael Merhige, 35, of Miami<<<
Police ask that anyone with knowledge of Paul Michael Merhige's whereabouts call 1-800-458-TIPS. Be on the lookout for a royal blue Camry, license plate W42-7JT.
The Miami Herald
Police expand manhunt for suspect in Thanksgiving Day shooting
written by David Quinones
Saturday November 28, 2009
Law enforcement authorities broadened their search over the weekend for the Miami man they say shot and killed four relatives in Palm Beach County during a family gathering on Thanksgiving Day, and details have surfaced that provide background into a troubled relationship with one alleged victim.
Paul Michael Merhige, 35, fatally shot his twin sisters, Carla Merhige and Lisa Knight, both 33 years old and from Miami, along with two other relatives -- Raymonde Joseph, 76, and 6-year-old Maykayla Sitton. Authorities said Lisa Knight was pregnant. He also injured two others, including Patrick Knight, Lisa Knight's husband, police said.
Police say Michael Merhige had been at the home in Jupiter, where more than a dozen relatives were celebrating the holiday. He then left and returned about 10 p.m. and began shooting.
Appearing Saturday on Good Morning America, Maykayla's father Jim Sitton recounted the incident. Sitton said the evening was coming to an end and the family was saying their goodbyes when Merhige left the front door of the home, went to his car, returned through the back door and opened fire.
``I tried to lead [Maykayla] out, because I thought it was coming from the front, and I led her right to . . .'' said a visibly shaken Sitton, before breaking into tears.
Sitton -- a South Florida photo and video journalist -- added that while he was aware that Merhige had ``past problems,'' when he was told Merhige would be at the family's Thanksgiving dinner he assumed he ``was getting better.''
``I sat two seats down from him [during dinner],'' Sitton said.
It's unclear what happened to send Merhige on the rampage, but he and Carla had previously gone to court in connection charges of domestic violence, records show.
In 1996, Carla Merhige appeared as a defendant in a case of domestic violence against her brother. An injunction was filed, and was later dismissed.
In April of 2006, court records show that Paul Michael Merhige answered to a domestic violence charge against him from his sister. Carla petitioned the court to drop that injunction a month later.
No criminal charges were filed in either case.
The manhunt for Merhige has been broadened as far as Birmingham, Michigan, where police there have issued a Be On The Lookout -- or BOLO -- alert for Merhige and his royal blue Camry, license plate W42-7JT.
Merhige may have spent time in Michigan, perhaps to seek medical treatment. At least one source who knew Merhige said he had a history of mental problems and suicide attempts.
No comments:
Post a Comment