Paul Merhige wanted
It’s been four weeks today since the deadly Thanksgiving shooting that took the lives of four family members in Jupiter, FL. It would be quite a blessing to find Paul Merhige, the man allegedly responsible for the shootings, and to bring him to justice for Christmas. Merhige is charged with four counts of first degree murder. Yesterday, investigators released brand new video of Merhige in high school, and for the first time, we can hear his voice. I watched the entire interview, and it’s hard to believe this young, articulate, aspiring football player is the man police believe is responsible for killing his own family members. I spoke with Sgt. Scott Pascarella last week, and he says investigators from his region, including the United States Marshals and the FBI are all on board to tracking Merhige. They’ve received well over 180 tips, and 90% of those leads are exhausted. Authorities even searched the pond behind the house where the shooting took place three times looking for evidence. “We don’t want the fire to burn out,” Sgt. Pascarella told me. He also says Merhige is traveling with four weapons, two handguns and a .308 Remington Rifle, and one other unknown gun. The weapons have been located, and neither has the 2007 Blue Toyota Camry Merhige was last seen driving. Merhige does posses a concealed weapons permit, and investigators know the handguns were purchased weeks before the shooting, and the rifle was bought the day before. Just recently, throughout Miami, investigators canvassed new posters in Spanish and Creole throughout to the public. Sgt. Pascarella says, “We were surprised just how many people didn’t know about this case.” It’s going to take leg work like this to keep getting the word out. Right now, there are digital billboards in place as far north as Atlanta, Georgia, and throughout many main cities in Florida. Sgt. Pascarellea says a new billboard company just contacted them this week to offer some space on their billboards in other area.
BACKGROUND: Authorities say, this horrific event played out Thanksgiving night just after dinner. Cops say invited guest, Paul Michael Merhige had dinner with his family, and was acting quite normal. After dinner, the family gathered around to sing songs, and Merhige walked outside. One family members says he thought Merhige was going out to smoke, or get something out of his car, but when he emerged through the front door around 10 p.m. Merhige had a true desire to kill. Jim Sitton, Merhige’s cousin and owner of the home said Merhige came through the front door, shooting one of his twin sister’s first. Jim was screaming for everyone to get down and out, but before he knew it, Merhige went into Jim’s daughte’rs room and opened fire on 6-year-old cousin who was fast asleep in her bed. Investigators told me Merhige saw Makayla’s parents put her to sleep in her room a short time before, and knew exactly where to go. Authorities then say Merhige shot and killed his other twin sister, and then targeted his 79-year-old aunt. Investigators have learned through a series of interviews that Merhige does have on-going resentment towards some of the family members, but no one can begin to understand why he would take the lives of these innocent victims. Police say 17 relatives were inside the residence when gunfire erupted, two others were injuried. It’s believed Merhige has been planning this attack for more than a decade.
6-year-old Makayla Sitton was the daughter of WPTV Journalist, Jim Sitton. Investigators say the other victims include Merhige’s own twin sisters, Carla Merhige, Lisa Knight, 33, and Raymonde Joseph, 79, Merhige’s aunt. Lisa was pregnant at the time she was killed. Authorities say two others were shot and wounded; Patrick Knight, Merhige’s brother-in-law and Clifford Gebara, a cousin. Clifford was treated and released at the scene. Thankfully, it appears both victims will survive their injuries, but according to Sgt. Pascarella, Patrick is still in critical condition.
Remembering Makayla
According to WPTV’s website, Jim spoke out at a press conference just after the murder, ”I just want to let everyone know that she’s in heaven; we know where she is, and that’s the only reason I can stand here today. God has blessed us with a beautiful little girl and he just took her home”, said Sitton… Makayla was a special girl. Six-years-old, played piano and sang. She was supposed to be in the Nutcracker ballet tomorrow at the Eissey theater… She was very excited about this. Tonight, when we put her down, I got to have a tender, special moment with her. She’s just, our life, and I don’t know how we’re ever going to recover. God packed a lot of sweetness into that little body, and it’s a tragic way to go, but we know where she is.”
MICHELLE’S PERSONAL NOTE: I have appeared on CNN with Jim about his daughter’s case. One of the things he said that sticks in my mind was when he was asked how he gets through the days. Jim said that he and his wife wake up… and they make it to breakfast… then the next goal is to make it to lunch….then they make it to dinner… then they go to bed. Each day, it is an hour-by-hour process to work through the heart ache and pain of losing their child. Muriel Sitton, Makayla’s mom, lost her mother and her daughter, both on Thanksgiving, and both inside her own home. I think a lot about Paul Merhige’s parents who lost both of their beautiful twins that night, and now, they’ve lost their son Paul. I think about this case more than I’ve thought about most in my life, and I think about the real pain that is felt by this family. I know their faith is the only thing pulling them through right now, and I just want them to know, I am praying for all of them.
Take a good look at this photo the Jupiter police released of Merhige. It’s a shot at an ATM on November 22, 2009. If you look closely, you can see Merhige’s receding hair line, glasses, and stocky build.
Paul Merhige ATM photo
Earlier this month, Merhige was added to the United State’s Marshal service TOP 15 list. They say he could be using the aliases: Paul Maraige, Carlo Rabisi, or Michael Manis.
Based on investigators analysis, and according to a release by the U.S. Marshals, Merhige could be experiencing an increase in the following symptoms:
- Constipation
- Listlessness or Lethargy
- Insomnia
- Chest Pain
- Restlessness
- Shortness of Breath
They know he has taken, or needs to take (these medications cannot be purchased over the counter):
- Ativan
- Chronumet
- Seroquel
- Atenolol
Please contact Crimestoppers with any information: 1-800-458-TIPS
Tags: billboards, brand new video, creole, football player, high school, house, investigators, jim sitton, makalya sitton, murders, paul merhige, posters, spanish, thanksgiving day, twin sisters, us marshal
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