Murder and havoc can happen any time of twelvemonth — even during the holidays ( for some , especially during the holiday ) . For one Florida kinsperson , Thanksgiving joy release to the ultimate horror . And it did n’t end there .
“ I have been waiting 20 geezerhood to do this , ” 35 - year - old Paul Merhige was catch muttering amid a shooting rampage that obliterate four and hurt two others on Thanksgiving 2009 . Merhige ’s extended kinfolk had gather at a home in Jupiter , Florida have by Merhige ’s cousin , Muriel Sitton , and her married man Jim . After chowing down on a traditional Thanksgiving meal , they ’d assemble around the pianoand tattle Christmas songs , to the pleasure of six - year - one-time Makayla Sitton , who wastucked into bed soon after .
It was as wholesome as you may imagine — until Paul , who ’d been acting commonly all dark , produced a hired gun and began fulfilling a fantasy he ’d apparently had since he was a teenager . As Jim Sittontold CBS News :
Merhige methodically picked off his victims , sprout his [ 33 - year - one-time ] twin sister , Carla Merhige , a real demesne agent , and Lisa Knight , who was pregnant . Like Makayla , they loved to tattle .
Merhige also shot his [ 76 - year - old ] aunt , Raymonde Joseph . Merhige ’s brother - in - constabulary Patrick Knight was in critical but static condition at a hospital Tuesday . Another man , Clifford Gebara , 52 , was graze by a bullet .
Sitton does n’t think Merhige planned to wipe out Makayla , but call back he became green-eyed when he realize the family delight in her tattle .
“ He tried to snuff out the visible light , ” Sitton said . “ He came into a child ’s room . He saw her innocence and he walk in and purposefully killed her . ”
After the mass murder , Merhige went on the getaway for weeks , until January 2010 , when a tip was call in after an installment of America ’s Most Wanted highlighted the murders . Withthoughts of suicideweighing heavily on his head , he ’d beenlaying scummy in the Florida Keysunder an assumed name , living off the $ 12,000 in cashhe’d withdrawn before Thanksgiving .
That last contingent further underlined how premeditated Merhige ’s crime had been . The Palm Beach Post trace him as an “ alienated recluse ” who ’d clashed with his sister in the past ; one had even use up out a restraining club against him a few years prior . But at that 2009 Thanksgiving , everything had seemed serene , at least on the surface . However :
royal court records show in the weeks before the meal he had painstaking and discreetly pass $ 2,000 on at least four gun and ammunition in two Broward County gun shop . He even asked for a scope to be seize to a bolt - natural action Remington 700 rifle . He said he want to use it for hunt .
Merhige had been ask his parent for daytime about the Thanksgiving consequence but never commit to attending . And his parents never alerted their hosts , Jim and Muriel Sitton , that he might be coming .
When he called that eve to announce he was on his way , his mother could n’t resist a sinister view .
“ I hope he does n’t amount and bolt down us all tonight , ” Carole Merhige recalled telling her daughter , Lisa Knight , allot to a Jupiter constabulary composition .
“ Mom , it came to my mind , ” her girl replied . “ But do n’t say that to Dad because Dad would get upset that we had such ideas . ”
In October 2011 , Merhige pled guilty after making a tidy sum that would spare him the destruction penalty ; he receivedseven life sentence terms instead . As you might anticipate , the case caused a Brobdingnagian rupture in the family , both emotionally and legally . Merhige ’s blood brother - in - law , Patrick Knight , who drop off his married woman and was himself gravely offend in the shooting , read he waseager to move on from the cataclysm instead of enduring years of appeals .
But Makayla ’s grieving father , Jim Sitton,“begged ” the judge not to accept the deal , even falling to his articulatio genus in the court . The Sittons also file away a lawsuit against Merhige ’s parents , allege that they ’d tempt him to the gathering without warn the legion that their son might be dangerous , consort to NBC Miami :
“ If someone brought a rattlesnake or a stone pit bull to your dwelling , without your permit , and that pit crap get attacking and killing people , would n’t you hold that someone responsible for ? ” Jimmy Sitton said . “ That ’s what this is . We ’re seeking justice with every substance at our garbage disposal . ”
The lawsuitwas finally dismissedin 2012 , after it was square up the Merhiges had no “ effectual right or ability to assure the actions of their son . ”
But that was n’t the only suit filed in the wake of the murders . Patrick Knightalso sue his former in - lawsfor conk out to foreclose the killings , include the death of their girl , his married woman Lisa . Then , the Merhigesfiled a counter - suit against the Sittonsin 2011 , say the Sittons were to pick for the battue .
WPTV , West Palm Beach ’s NBC affiliate , reports :
“ To the extent Paul had problems the intact crime syndicate lie with that , ” said [ the Merhiges ’ attorney Allen Rossin ] . “ If the Sittons were concerned he was go to be a problem that day , then they should have stopped them . It was their house , they should have protect their family as well as the Merhige family if they were concerned . ”
… In the lawsuit , the Merhiges also claim Jim Sitton has defamed them with unfair and untrue statements about the pair by saying they invited Paul to the dinner party without notifying other member of the family and knowing his reputation for furiousness .
Also refer in the lawsuit is Dr. Antoine Joseph , whose married woman was murdered by Merhige . Joseph is Muriel Sitton ’s Padre . His sister is Carole Merhige .
Joseph had apparently handle Paul Merhige , and thereforewas “ well aware ” of his genial unbalance , as was the ease of the mob , his parents contended .
A knotty web indeed .
There was one tiny undimmed spot in all of this . During Merhige ’s trial , the Sittons announced that Muriel was pregnant with their second child , theDaily Mailreported .
“ We ’re having a fille but it ’s very semisweet . There will always be someone missing , ” Mrs Sitton said .
Top image : “ America ’s Most Wanted ” legion John Walsh , leave , hugs Muriel Sitton as her husband Jim Sitton looks on , Tuesday , Jan. 5 , 2010 , in Jupiter , Fla. Walsh was at the Sitton ’s home plate to tape a section of the TV show . ( AP Photo / Rick Silva )
humbled image : Photo provided Friday , Nov. 27 , 2009 by the Jupiter , Fla. Police shows Paul Michael Merhige . ( AP Photo / Jupiter Police Dept . , File )
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