Thanksgiving Day Killer

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On Thanksgiving Day 2009, four members of the same family were shot and killed after eating dinner in Jupiter, Florida. Paul Michael Merhige, 35-years old, sat down for Thanksgiving dinner with his family. After the family cleared their plates, they gathered together around the piano to sing Christmas songs. While the family sang, Paul went to his car and returned back inside with a gun.

He shot and killed his twin sisters, Carla Merhige and Lisa Knight, both 33-years old. Carla was a real-estate agent and Lisa was pregnant.

Family quotes Paul as saying “I’ve been waiting 20 years to do this”

Paul then shot and killed his 76-year old aunt, Raymonde Joseph. Hi final victim was 6-year old Makayla Sitton.

After five weeks on the run, Paul Merhige was finally arrested in January 2010 and was charged with 4 counts of first-degree murder and 2 counts of attempted first degree murder. He accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 7 consecutive life sentences for the murders.

Paul Merhige became known as the Thanksgiving Day Killer.