Bio

Paul Michael Merhige was born in 1974 and lived in South Florida. He attended Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami and later studied at the University of Miami. Before the murders, reports said Merhige had long-term mental-health problems, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and chronic depression. He had also attempted suicide in the past.

As an adult, Merhige was financially supported by his parents and reportedly had difficulty keeping steady work. Family members had also raised concerns about his threats and behavior before the shooting.

By 2009, Merhige had become distant from parts of his family. Prosecutors later said the Thanksgiving attack was planned, noting that he bought guns, withdrew cash, packed clothes, and prepared to flee before going to the family gathering.

Murder Story

On November 26, 2009, Paul Michael Merhige went to a Thanksgiving family gathering in Jupiter, Florida. Sixteen family members were at the home. After dinner, Merhige went outside, got a gun from his car, returned to the house, and opened fire.

He killed four relatives: his twin sisters, Lisa Knight and Carla Merhige, his aunt, Raymonde Joseph; and his 6-year-old cousin, Makayla Sitton. Lisa Knight was pregnant at the time. Patrick Knight, Lisa’s husband, was also seriously wounded, and another relative was grazed by a bullet.

After the shooting, Merhige fled. Police launched a major manhunt, and he hid in the Florida Keys for several weeks. He was arrested on January 2, 2010, after motel owners recognized him from news reports and called authorities.

Prosecutors first planned to seek the death penalty. Merhige was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder. On October 27, 2011, Merhige pleaded guilty. As part of the plea deal, he avoided the death penalty and was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences.