After monthlong manhunt, Fla. man held without bond in killings of 4 relatives on Thanksgiving

Fla. suspect being held without bond in 4 killings

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Florida man accused of killing four relatives at a Thanksgiving dinner is being ordered held without bond on four charges of murder.

Paul Merhige was booked early Sunday at the Palm Beach County jail, hours after he was captured at a motel in the Florida Keys.

The Palm Beach Post reported that Merhige was silent at his first court appearance. He was appointed a public defender, and an arraignment is set for Feb. 1.

The 35-year-old Merhige eluded authorities for about a month by checking into a Long Key motel under a fake name and address, and hiding his car with a cover. He is accused of gunning down his twin sisters, a 79-year-old aunt and a 6-year-old cousin at a family gathering of more than a dozen relatives in Jupiter.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WESTON, Fla. (AP) — A man accused of killing four relatives at a Thanksgiving dinner was captured at a motel in the Florida Keys where police said he had eluded authorities for about a month by checking in under a fake name and address, and hiding his car with a cover.

Paul Merhige, 35, was arrested without a struggle Saturday night after the TV show “America’s Most Wanted” aired and provided a the tip that led to Merhige’s capture on Long Key, Jupiter Police Sgt. Scott Pascarella said.

“I’m elated that the monster is in the cage,” Jim Sitton, the father of the 6-year-old victim Makayla Sitton, told The Palm Beach Post. “We don’t have to worry about him killing my wife or coming back for my father-in-law. It doesn’t bring my daughter back, but at least this chapter is over.”

Merhige had been the subject of a massive manhunt from Miami to Michigan that included billboards and flyers with his image and a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. He is accused of gunning down his twin sisters, a 79-year-old aunt and a 6-year-old cousin on Thanksgiving Day at a family gathering of more than a dozen relatives in Jupiter.

Authorities said Merhige checked into the motel Dec. 2, using the name “John Baca” and a false Homestead address. He had the same blue 2007 Toyota Camry that had been a key part of the manhunt, but police said it was hidden at the motel.

U.S. Marshals said Merhige, who had withdrawn $12,000 from bank accounts before the killings, paid for his room in advance in cash. It turned out that the license tag on his car had been registered to a Lexus he owned in 2006.

Merhige was on his computer when U.S. Marshals and local deputies entered his motel room, according to a Marshals statement.

It wasn’t immediately clear Merhige had an attorney. Authorities said he was taken to the Palm Beach County jail.

Police said Merhige opened fire at a home where 16 relatives had gathered for the holiday in Jupiter, an affluent community about 90 miles north of Miami. He faces four counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shootings, which also injured two other people.

Police said Merhige shot and killed his 33-year-old twin sisters, Carla Merhige and Lisa Knight, both of Miami, along with his aunt Raymonde Joseph, 76, and his young cousin. Police said Knight was pregnant.

Authorities have said Merhige carefully planned the killings. Sitton has said Merhige was heard saying after the shootings that he had waited 20 years to kill the relatives.

Merhige sat through three hours of dinner and sing-a-longs around the piano before the shootings, Sitton has said. There were no arguments, warnings or red flags before the rampage, he said.

Police said Merhige was taking numerous medications, including Ativan, which is used to treat anxiety disorders.