David Merrifield update

[yolate]

On tonight's episode of UM they showed the David Merrifield case and for the first time that I'm aware of, there was an update! All they said was that the main suspect in the case has died and police now consider the case closed. I did a search of this board and a Google search but I couldn't find any more info, although I'm not sure if I'm spelling his name right. Anyone have any more info?

Thanks!

[Dawnws1]

I've also tried to find information on David Merrifield's murder, but have not had any luck.

Facts:

• Murdered February 9, 1995 in Dallas, Texas

• Was a partner at the law firm of Smith, Merrifield and Richards

• Was a real estate attorney

• Possible suspect name Sam Jones (assumed to be a fictitious name)

Maybe someone with better research skills than me could find some information? It may be that one will have to obtain records from the Dallas Homicide department. Will they give out information since the case has been closed?

I'm upset that UM did not at least tell us who their main suspect was. That was cruel!

[wiseguy182]

I had no idea there had been an update. Police are closing the case because the main suspect died. Yep, this is a UM case alright.

[crystaldawn]

Yes I was suprised to see that update too. I am more curious as to the possible motive they thought this suspect had for killing him. I can't find anything online about it either. Does anyone remember what county or town in Texas this happened?

[MetalHybrid]

Originally Posted by yolate

On tonight's episode of UM they showed the David Merrifield case and for the first time that I'm aware of, there was an update! All they said was that the main suspect in the case has died and police now consider the case closed. I did a search of this board and a Google search but I couldn't find any more info, although I'm not sure if I'm spelling his name right. Anyone have any more info?

Thanks!

UM reruns are back on the air? Since when, and what time/station? Last I heard Lifetime had pulled UM from their schedule. Did they put it back on or did some other station take up the broadcasting?

[wiseguy182]

Originally Posted by MetalHybrid

UM reruns are back on the air? Since when, and what time/station? Last I heard Lifetime had pulled UM from their schedule. Did they put it back on or did some other station take up the broadcasting?

It has resurfaced on one of Lifetime's sister networks, Lifetime: Real Women. It airs 11 pm weeknights on that channel, as well as 4 am on the weekends. It returned the first of the year.

[ddelta]

I always got the feeling that he was killed because of something going on in his personal life. They seemed to make him out to be well liked professionally and they did mention he was going through a divorce. That was just always my vibe i got after watching this segment.

[kadrmas15]

Well I am sure they were not able to name him publicly because he was probably a circumstancial suspect. Since he hadnt been charged and wasnt someone well known I am sure his name never leaked out. However that is unusual the police would close the case just because their main suspect died.

[mozartpc27]

It does look like the police had an idea who this guy was early on:

Originally Posted by The Dallas Morning News

Widow recalls `perfect relationship' - Police say they know who lawyer went to meet when he was killed
The Dallas Morning News - February 11, 1995
Author: Dan R. Barber, Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News

Ellen Merrifield smiles and cries when she thinks about the man she couldn't run off.

David Merrifield needed a place to stay last summer while workers repaired the foundation of his East Dallas home. The 42-year-old real estate lawyer with "a ton of friends" probably could have stayed anywhere but insisted on moving in with her.

"I couldn't get him to leave, so I married him," she said Friday. "And I'm so glad."

Thursday, only three months after their wedding, Mr. Merrifield was shot to death at his McKinney Avenue office about two hours earlier than normal for an appointment. Co-workers found him in a tiny office building elevator at 8 a.m. as they arrived for work.

Dallas homicide detectives believe they have identified the man who was scheduled to meet with Mr. Merrifield at 6:30 a.m. at the offices of Smith, Merrifield & Richards.

Homicide Sgt. Jerry King said detectives hope that the man, who may have telephoned Mr. Merrifield several times Wednesday, will contact police regarding anything suspicious he may have seen.

"Right now, we need to talk to that person . . . as a possible witness," Sgt. King said. "We're doing some leg work, trying to find out who this guy is."

Detectives believe Mr. Merrifield mentioned the man's name to a colleague without saying what the meeting was about, Sgt. King said. Mr. Merrifield left his Carrollton home about 5:45 a.m. and arrived at the building across McKinney from Cole Park between 6:15 and 6:30, police said.

"A 6:30 appointment was unusual for him," Sgt. King said.

Clint Blackman, another lawyer in the firm, pulled Mr. Merrifield from the elevator and tried unsuccessfully to revive him.

Police said Mr. Blackman arrived at the building about 7:15 a.m. but did not see Mr. Merrifield's body immediately because he took the stairs to the third-floor offices. Mr. Blackman is not a suspect in the slaying, police said.

Mrs. Merrifield, 35, a construction company owner, said she wonders if it would be easier to accept the death of her "brilliant and gorgeous" husband had it been accidental.

"Some son of a bitch is wandering around out there knowing he killed . . . ," she said, her voice crumbling into tears. "He was the best friend and husband anybody, anybody could've wanted."

They met four years ago when he began working as her corporate attorney, she said, and she found him smart, charming and witty. They were married in Arlington in November, just the two of them and the pastor standing on a footbridge over a wooded creek, she said.

It rained as they listened to a tape of rocker Billy Idol singing, White Wedding .

"We had a perfect relationship and were making a lot of plans for the future," she said.

Fred Merrifield, Mr. Merrifield's younger brother, couldn't hold back tears as he described the man who always won their boyhood arguments.

"He was always there for me when I needed him in any way," said Fred Merrifield, 40, a carpenter in Stillwater, Okla. "He would've done anything for us. . . . There is a big hole in my life."

Their oldest brother, Charles Merrifield, said the family played word games while growing up on a farm in Enid, Okla. Whoever came up with the quickest, cleverest retort to a remark was the winner, said Dr. Merrifield, now a psychology professor at Kansas Newman College in Wichita, Kan.

David "usually won," said Dr. Merrifield, 46.

Tom Smith, a partner in the law firm, described Mr. Merrifield as bright and knowledgeable about his area of specialty. It was his job to translate the language of real estate law clearly and concisely onto paper so people untrained in law could understand it.

"He was a wordsmith," Mr. Smith said.

Mrs. Merrifield said she and her husband dreamed of opening an animal shelter to satisfy his lifelong love of animals. They have three dogs and two parrots. They wanted children and were planning to build a new house.

Now, she said, "my life is just gone." Services for Mr. Merrifield are set for 1 p.m. Monday at Brown Funeral Home in Enid, Okla. Burial will follow at Waukomis Cemetery in Waukomis, Okla.

Along with his wife and two brothers, Mr. Merrifield is survived by a sister, Jenny Elizabeth Johnson.

Too bad they never released his name.

[lilmissd]

Yeah. This case has always bothered me. I am wondering though re the cops positive they had the right suspect? I mean there could be a guy out there who really did it and is getting away with it, because the cops could have the wrong guy. What could David have known for someone to kill him, and so coldly? Could it have been a potential client, or someone he was working with who thought David wronged him in some way? Or it could have been a real estate deal gone bad, there is a lot of money to be made/lost in the real estate market, enough for someone to kill over; and in this case maybe they did. I wish they would have charged the suspect and sent him to prison; it's such a shame he got away!

[kamy]

Great news! I just wish they released details, but I guess they can't when the man is "innocent until proven guilty" and since he's dead, can't really pinpoint him.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by kamy

Great news! I just wish they released details, but I guess they can't when the man is "innocent until proven guilty" and since he's dead, can't really pinpoint him.

I agree. But there's always the hope that new evidence could be eventually discovered, so that he could be posthumously identified as either the killer or an innocent man altogether.

Maybe it's wishful thinking, but one cannot rule out that possibility.

[HisNiece]

Hello everyone. I am David Merrifield's niece. I want to thank everyone for their interest in and concern for my uncle's murder case. I do understand that people wish to know 'what happens in the end' and I can say with confidence that the man who gunned down my uncle is dead. He had been diagnosed with a terminal disease and subsequently committed suicide. From the standpoint of the family, at least some form of justice (or perhaps karma) has been served. Again, I thank everyone for the concern- I am deeply appreciative that after so much time has passed, people would still care about justice for my wonderful Uncle David.

[crystaldawn]

Originally Posted by HisNiece

Hello everyone. I am David Merrifield's niece. I want to thank everyone for their interest in and concern for my uncle's murder case. I do understand that people wish to know 'what happens in the end' and I can say with confidence that the man who gunned down my uncle is dead. He had been diagnosed with a terminal disease and subsequently committed suicide. From the standpoint of the family, at least some form of justice (or perhaps karma) has been served. Again, I thank everyone for the concern- I am deeply appreciative that after so much time has passed, people would still care about justice for my wonderful Uncle David.

Thanks so much for posting! I do have some questions about his case if you don't mind.

Can you share with us the persons name who killed him?
Was he ever arrested for the crime?
Any idea on a motive he might have had for killing your uncle?

Thanks so much!

[Dislimb]

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Can you share with us the persons name who killed him?
Was he ever arrested for the crime?
Any idea on a motive he might have had for killing your uncle?

You have got to be kidding me, right?

I think the young lady would have mentioned these things in her initial post if she intended to say something. To me it is apparent that she does not wish to disclose this information to a bunch of strangers on a public forum and I don't blame her for it one bit.

A seven letter word comes to mind. It stars with a "p" and ends with a "y."