2009 Thanksgiving murders

Last updated

On November 26, 2009, a man killed four members of his family in Jupiter, Florida. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Shooting

Paul Michael Merhige waited three hours before opening fire at his family's Thanksgiving Day dinner, shooting multiple family members. [4] [5] His aunt, Raymonde Joseph, his twin sisters, Carla Merhige and Lisa Knight, as well as his 6-year-old cousin, Makayla, were killed in the shooting. Lisa Knight was pregnant at the time of the shooting. [6] [7] Her husband, Patrick Knight, was severely injured and spent three months in a coma. [8]

Background

The family had a troubled past. In 1973, Paul Merhige's aunt, Salwa Merrige-Abrams, murdered her ex-husband and two children before committing suicide by taking barbiturates. [9]

Aftermath

A manhunt for Merhige followed, with a $25,000 reward offered for information leading to his arrest. [10]

On January 2, 2010, Merhige was arrested. [11] [12] On October 27, 2011, Paul Merhige pleaded guilty to all charges, and was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences without parole. [13] [14]

The same year, on September 15, Jim and Muriel Sitton sued Paul's parents, with their reasoning being that they could have prevented the murders. [15] [16] In 2014, 4th District Court of Appeal ruled that Merhige's parents could not be held liable for the massacre. [17] [18]

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References

  1. ↑ "A Thanksgiving Massacre In 2009 Highlights Today's True Mass Shooting Crisis". Yahoo News. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  2. ↑ "Two Years After The Jupiter Thanksgiving Massacre". CBS Miami. November 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ "History Of Mass Shootings In South Florida". CBS Miami. March 31, 2012.
  4. ↑ Martinez, Edecio (2009-12-02). "Thanksgiving Massacre Witness: Paul Merhige Ate Dinner, Sang Songs Then Executed Family - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  5. ↑ "Victim's dad: Thanksgiving killings preplanned". NBC News. 2009-12-01. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  6. ↑ Abramson, Andrew. "Treasured memories sustain 6-year-old's father as he returns to crime scene". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  7. ↑ "Massacre Takes "Sweet" Makayla". www.cbsnews.com. 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  8. ↑ Marra, Andrew. "Victim of Thanksgiving Day shooting out of coma, relative says". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  9. ↑ Campbell • •, Janie (2009-11-28). "A History of Violence". NBC 6 South Florida. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  10. ↑ "Suspect in Jupiter Thanksgiving killings still at large". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  11. ↑ "Suspect nabbed in Thanksgiving slayings". NBC News. 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  12. ↑ "Thanksgiving Day murder suspect Paul Merhige busted in Florida by 'America's Most Wanted' tip". New York Daily News. 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  13. ↑ "GUILTY PLEA BRINGS 7 LIFE SENTENCES". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  14. ↑ "7 Life Sentences For Merhige In Thanksgiving Massacre Case - CBS Miami". www.cbsnews.com. 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  15. ↑ Musgrave, Jane. "Lawsuit: Merhige's parents did nothing to stop Thanksgiving slayings". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  16. ↑ "Lawsuit Filed In Deadly Thanksgiving Rampage - CBS Miami". www.cbsnews.com. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  17. ↑ Staff Writer. "Parents Not Found Negligent In Palm Beach County Massacre". The Ledger. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  18. ↑ "Court: Parents Not Negligent In Thanksgiving Massacre - CBS Miami". www.cbsnews.com. 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
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