Death penalty sought for Fla. suspect accused of killing 4 relatives in Thanksgiving shootings
By APThursday, January 28, 2010
Death penalty sought in Fla. Thanksgiving killings
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty for a man accused of shooting four relatives to death at a Thanksgiving gathering in South Florida.
State Attorney Michael McAuliffe also announced Thursday that a grand jury had returned an indictment officially charging Paul Merhige (MAYR’-ihj) with four counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.
Merhige is accused of shooting his twin sisters, a 79-year-old aunt and 6-year-old cousin after a Thanksgiving family dinner. He then fled, prompting a monthlong manhunt.
Merhige was arrested at a motel in the Florida Keys on Jan. 2. He remains held without bond at the Palm Beach County jail and is set for arraignment Monday.
