GUILTY FL - Three women, 6yo girl shot to death at Jupiter Thanksgiving dinner, 26 Nov 2009

[Tizzle]

Police continue search for Thanksgiving gunman who killed 4

Police spent the day Tuesday searching a lake below the bridge that would have been the killer's only escape route. They called off the search by nightfall but had hoped to find one or more of the guns the killer may have used in his rampage. Despite his history of mental illness and the death threats he had been known to deliver to his family, Merhige legally owned three guns.

On Monday, Police released the chilling 911 calls made moments after the shooting. As people wailed in anguish in the background of the recording, "Oh, please," the operator asked for information, "Did somebody get shot? Is somebody shot?"
http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI137779/

 

[Texas Mist]

Thank you, Tizzle for keeping us updated on this case. :heart:

 

[panthera]

Many thanks for the updates ~ I was hoping he'd be captured by now. Sadly this case isn't getting national media coverage and therefore many don't even know what the perp looks like. :banghead: MOO

 

[Tizzle]

Memorial Service Set For Youngest Thanksgiving Massacre Victim

A memorial service has been announced for the youngest victim and her grandmother in a Thanksgiving shooting that killed four.

A celebration of life and tribute to Makayla Sitton, 6, and her 79-year-old grandmother, Raymonde Joseph, will be held Saturday at Jupiter Community High School from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

http://www.wpbf.com/news/21778959/detail.html

:cry:

 

[Tizzle]

New Photos Of Thanksgiving Massacre Suspect

The Jupiter Police Department has released new photographs of Paul Michael Merhige, the man wanted for allegedly killing four relatives on Thanksgiving.

The pictures show Merhige, 35, at a Miami-area ATM on Nov. 22, four days before the murders. Investigators note that in the newer photos, Merhige has a receding hairline and a heavy build.

http://cbs4.com/local/Paul.Michael.Merhige.2.1345478.html

Also..

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/police-release-new-photos-of-alleged-gunman-in-94938.html

After Saturday's service, the family will have a private burial service for Makayla.

Arrangements are being handled by Aycock Funeral Home in Jupiter.

Flowers and cards for the family can be sent to Calvary Chapel Palm City, 1633 S.W. 34th St., Palm City 34990.

The family also asked that donations be made to two funds set up in little Makayla's memory.

"Jim and Muriel Sitton know that their precious daughter would want to make a difference in the lives of other little girls. She would want other children to be given the same access to the arts (music and ballet) that she enjoyed during her life," the Sittons said in a statement.

Donations can be made to Florida Classical Ballet Theatre, Makayla Sitton Scholarship, 10357 Ironwood Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 33410; or Jupiter Academy of Music, Makayla Sitton Fund, 500 Commerce Way West, Suite 9, Jupiter, FL, 33458.

 

[Tizzle]

Didn't see this before from 11/28. Bless her soul. :cry:

Nutcracker debut turns into eulogy for slain 6-year-old girl

Today was supposed to be a special day for Makayla Sitton.

The wide-eyed, 6-year-old girl was going to perform in The Nutcracker at the Eissey Campus Theatre at Palm Beach Community College's Palm Beach Gardens campus.

She couldn't wait.

"Makayla loved ballet," said Colleen Smith, artistic director of the Florida Classical Ballet Theatre. "She was so thrilled because this was the first time she was able to participate in The Nutcracker."

Makayla was to be one of Mother Ginger's children.

But instead of performing, little Makayla was briefly eulogized.

About an hour before the show began, Smith led a 60-second prayer service with the cast, which held hands. Minutes before the curtain was raised, Smith spoke to the audience, praising Makayla and saying she's now safe in heaven "in the arms of the wonderful King of Kings."
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/nutcracker-debut-turns-into-eulogy-for-slain-6-87569.html

:angel:Makayla is performing her beautiful talents for her Savior. She is His precious tiny dancer, now. She is in the most beautiful place.

 

[JoeFromLB]

http://www.wptv.com/content/news/no...erhige-jupiter-sh/BNP4GlBCQEesdVaGDnC6AQ.cspx

"Every time my phone rings it's her singing Happy Birthday Jesus. There's just so many memories. The night, just hours before she died she recited Psalm 100, the whole chapter, and she was kind of preaching to our whole family about Thanksgiving and giving thanks. When someone gives you a gift and you feel gratitude, she said that's 'Thanks Feeling.' It's not Thanksgiving until you thank the person and in this case that's what I'm doing, I'm thanking God... so I'm honoring her by doing what she asked us to do to actually give thanks."

When asked about the alleged gunman Sitton said, "I haven't seen him in like 15 years, he had his issues in the past and when I heard 'Oh Paul's coming,' I thought 'Okay, I haven't heard any bad stuff in 5 or 10 years,' and I thought 'maybe he's getting better,' and a red flag did not go off. He sat two people down from me I talked to him, there were no red flags he wasn't moody, it was just completely out of the blue. The way I understand it he is evil and darkness hates the light and he saw the light from the twins singing Via Dolorosa and we were praising God and thanking God for Thanksgiving and my little girl was preaching."

"I learned yesterday that... Paul told my father-in-law 'I've been waiting 18 years to do this, or 20 years to do this.' He meant he's been waiting 20 years to to kill his family."

 

[nativeSFL]

Just wanted to give you the latest on the search for this monster.
He withdrew a large amount of cash just prior to the shooting.
He had work done on his car (2007 Royal Blue Toyota Camry 4 dr FL tag W42 7JT).
He purchased a car cover.
He retrieved his passport from his mother's house.

Updated video can be found here Newer pics can be found here.
The Jupiter PD has updated pics on their website.

Please keep your eyes open so this "man" can be caught. He could be anywhere by now, even out of the Country.

 

[CarrieBean]

This is so horrible. . I hope both Michigan-Ontario borders have his info. I hope he is found soon.

Man Who Killed Family Members At Thanksgiving Dinner Was Invited By Father

"Jupiter, FL (AHN) - A man wanted by police accused of killing four people at a Thanksgiving dinner in Jupiter seems to have been invited last minute by his father. Reportedly the father phoned the host of the dinner and asked if his mentally troubled son could tag along."

snipped

"It's been reported that after he started the shootings, a witness heard Merhige say, "I've been waiting 20 years to do this.""

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017153937

 

[4Kat]

Suspect sighting reported!

http://cbs4.com/local/Paul.Michael.Merhige.2.1345478.html

 

[Texas Mist]

<snip>

Miami police descended on The Grand condominium hotel north of downtown Miami Wednesday night after a 911 caller said the man who allegedly killed four relatives at a Thanksgiving dinner had been seen there.

``When officers arrived, they looked for a man fitting the description'' of Paul Merhige, said Kenia Reyes, a Miami Police Department spokeswoman.

Several of Merhige's relatives who witnessed the bloody slayings live at The Grand. Elizabeth Gebara, who operates the Bayshore Design Center in the building, and her son and mother were escorted from their 18th floor condominium and out of the building by police.

....

bout a dozen officers in SWAT gear were searching the building as a group of residents and onlookers huddled outside.

Maxuma Robinson, 40, said she had been out since 9 p.m.

``I hope they just catch him so the building can be safe,'' Robinson said. ``People have families in there.''

more here

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/breaking-news/story/1362927.html

They don't mention if they are done searching & if they did/didn't find the monster. :waitasec:

 

[Tizzle]

New search for Merhige in Miami

MIAMI, FL -- Miami Police and U.S. Marshals searched a condominium complex at 1717 N. Bayshore Drive into the early morning hours Thursday, but failed to find Paul Michael Merhige, who may have been spotted at the location.

According to a police, a tip was called into dispatchers around 9 p.m. by a person that the Jupiter murders suspect may have been inside of the condo building.

Police could not comment on a Miami Herald report that a surveillance camera also spotted Merhige.

That same condo building was the last known address for Paul's sister, Lisa Knight, whom police claim he shot and killed along with three other family members, including 6-year-old Makayla Sitton, on Thanksgiving night.

http://www.wptv.com/mostpopular/sto...-at-sisters-condo/Iwl-AN5K7UaVKVxVs_jk1A.cspx

I will be surprised if they capture him in Miami. I hope they do, but I have a feeling he didn't reclaim his passport from his mom to just hang around Miami and especially not to hang around the last known address of his sister that he just murdered. JMO

 

[CarrieBean]

Search for Thanksgiving killings ends in Miami
MIAMI -- The search of an area around a downtown Miami condominium hotel for a man suspected of fatally shooting four relatives on Thanksgiving in Jupiter has ended without his capture.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1363050.html

That 911 call was chilling.

 

[fran]

That article is very misleading. Guess it's just bad reporting.

At the beginning of the headline, it appears they've stopped looking for him all together, when in fact, they just meant the search in response to that one tip and that location.

Good grief! I hope they don't STOP looking for that maniac. I would say no one is safe that comes in contact with him.

JMHO
fran

 

[CarrieBean]

Yeah, that last article wasn't worded very well. I hope he is caught soon. It wouldn't surprise me if he is not finished his rampage.

Jupiter Police schedule 11 a.m news conference on Thanksgiving shooting

"Jupiter Police will hold a news conference today at 11 am. related to the week-old manhunt for Paul Michael Merhige, who allegedly shot six family members at a Thanksgiving Day gathering &#8212; killing four of them."

snipped

"According to a statement, the police "will provide an update on the progress of the (Merhige) investigation.""
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/jupiter-police-schedule-11-a-m-news-conference-97579.html

 

[Tizzle]

Terrified doesn't even begin to describe what that entire family must be feeling with that maniac on the loose. I hope they get him quick so they can stop worrying if he's going to get them, too. So terrible.

What could have been so horrible in his life that he had to resort to this? He is a calculating, cold-blooded murderer. I just don't understand what causes such deep hatred in these monsters. So disturbing.

 

[CarrieBean]

Reward Increased For Thanksgiving Massacre Suspect
$25,000 Reward Now Offered For Information Leading To Arrest - video

http://www.wpbf.com/news/21797192/detail.html

 

[Tizzle]

U.S. Marshals elevate manhunt for suspect in Jupiter Thanksgiving massacre to 'major case'

Merhige, the Marshals said, planned his escape and took pains to avoid law enforcement detection.

"He has a plan. He's following his, and we're following ours," said Deputy Marshal Manny Puri. "We need to catch him before anything else happens."

The Marshals said in a statement they suspect Merhige is using only cash. He has made contact with no known associates by phone or email.

The agency's investigation also has found that Merhige is known to "fake or display" certain symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder, including frequently bathing, shaving and indecision.

According to its psychological profile, the Marshals said Merhige might be homosexual or appear effeminate.

Among the medications Merhige is believed to have been on: Seroquel, an antipsychotic medication prescribed for bipolar, depression and schizophrenia and known to cause weight gain; Ativan, and anti-anxiety medication in the class of drugs called benzodiazepines; and Atenolol, a beta-blocker used to treat angina and hypertension.

The search for the 35-year-old Merhige, who has become one of the nation's most wanted fugitives, has stretched from Michigan to Miami-Dade County.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/reward-raised-to-25-000-for-information-on-97579.html

 

[Texas Mist]

That article is very misleading. Guess it's just bad reporting.

At the beginning of the headline, it appears they've stopped looking for him all together, when in fact, they just meant the search in response to that one tip and that location.

Good grief! I hope they don't STOP looking for that maniac. I would say no one is safe that comes in contact with him.

JMHO
fran

More info on last nite's searches - and this article makes more sense, IMO:


Police searched the Miami Double Tree Grand Hotel and Condos Wednesday night after they received Pellegrino’s call. The search did not turn up any information.

Police also received a 911 call about a possible Merhige sighting at a condominium complex in Miami.

Miami Police spokesman Kenia Reyes says an aunt and uncle of Merhige live in the building.

Police didn't find Merhige at that location.

"We're confident in what our agency is doing in conjunction with the resources what that the US Marshals have extended to us, that he will be apprehended," said Jupiter Police Sgt. Scott Pascarella, according to WSVN.

Police have been searching for Merhige for a week. They had previously searched some bodies of water near the Jupiter home where the shootings took place.


more here
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579150,00.html

 

[Tizzle]

US Marshal Office ups the ante in Merhige case

JUPITER, FL -- Paul Michael Merhige is not only the most wanted man in South Florida. His face and criminal profile are now front and center in law enforcement agencies around the country.

The US Marshals Office has elevated the search for Merhige to a major case, increasing the reward from 10,000 dollars to 25,000 dollars.

The US Marshals Office spent most of last night and early morning searching a Miami hotel where a man was spotted who fit Merhige's description.

After tracking the man down, authorities confirmed he was not in fact Merhige.

"The individual is not our suspect," said Scott Pascarella with the Jupiter Police Department. "Our suspect is heavier and has a receding hair line."

The US Marshals Office committed Thursday to placing more agents on the ground, increasing the reward and is now placing Merhige's criminal profile on the front of its website.

http://www.wptv.com/content/news/no...e-in-Merhige-case/f884YA9nRka_kW4-H1p4UQ.cspx

Paul Michael Merhige - U.S. Marshals Service page:

http://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2009/120309.htm