Pamela Ann Merritt Arrested: The Mysterious Death of Colin Kerdachi
Episode 136, Aug 25, 2023, 10:00 AM
In a shocking turn of events, Houston Police have arrested Pamela Ann Merritt, 43, in connection to the death of her landlord, Colin Kerdachi. The landlord's body was found nearly two years ago, concealed under a staircase on his property at 605 W. Clay St.
Timeline of Events:
On February 15, 2021, Kerdachi is believed to have been fatally stabbed by Merritt. Merely five days later, on February 20, the landlord was reported missing. His absence was particularly noted amidst a devastating winter storm that plunged Houston into widespread power outages.
Only a few days later, on February 23, a separate incident brought the Houston Police to Kerdachi's Clay Street residence. A resident of the house alleged that Merritt had broken in and "would not leave." It was during this intervention that the resident questioned Merritt about Kerdachi's whereabouts. Her chilling reply was that she had "killed him."
Following this startling confession, Merritt was immediately detained and sent for psychiatric evaluation.
Interestingly, in October of the same year, another resident came forward with a concerning discovery. After cleaning parts of the house as per an agreement with Merritt and another resident, Michael Brown, she found "what looked like large pools of blood and drops of blood" on the third floor, especially in the bathroom area.
According to the resident, Merritt shared a narrative in which Kerdachi had sustained a "stab wound from falling on a sharp object" and later died at the hospital. This version of events was, however, inconsistent with the crime scene.
Fast forward to December 6, 2021, when the mysterious case took a darker turn. Houston Police responded to a call from a resident of 605 W. Clay St. They arrived to find human remains in an advanced state of decomposition in the backyard. The remains were later positively identified as Kerdachi’s by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
The officer present during the discovery noted that the way the body was concealed seemed "consistent with attempting to hide the body from detection." Furthermore, upon confronting Merritt and Brown about calling the police, the two reportedly "started painting over things," suggesting an attempt to cover the evidence. A knife was also discovered inside a mailbox.
In a perplexing twist, Merritt went on to make multiple claims. She told the police she believed Kerdachi had "faked his death to commit fraud and is probably alive in Africa." She also claimed that the blood found in the house was the result of "rotten meat that she cleaned out of a refrigerator." Both Merritt and Brown staunchly denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the remains under the house belonged to a deceased dog. They were subsequently released without charges.
However, the medical examination unveiled the grim reality. The autopsy report revealed that Kerdachi had suffered fatal sharp and blunt force trauma to the torso. He had also sustained stab wounds to several areas, including his scapula, head, neck, chest, and ribs.
Conclusion and Next Steps:
After extensive investigations, Houston Police arrested Pamela Ann Merritt on August 18. Records from the Harris County Jail indicate she has been booked on charges of murder and theft.
As this tragic story continues to unravel, Merritt is expected to appear in court in November.
While the circumstances surrounding Kerdachi’s death remain disturbing and shrouded in mystery, the relentless efforts of the Houston Police Department demonstrate their commitment to seeking justice for victims and their families.
Remember, if you or someone you know has information about a crime, always reach out to your local law enforcement agency. Every detail could be crucial in solving a case.
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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Timeline of Events:
On February 15, 2021, Kerdachi is believed to have been fatally stabbed by Merritt. Merely five days later, on February 20, the landlord was reported missing. His absence was particularly noted amidst a devastating winter storm that plunged Houston into widespread power outages.
Only a few days later, on February 23, a separate incident brought the Houston Police to Kerdachi's Clay Street residence. A resident of the house alleged that Merritt had broken in and "would not leave." It was during this intervention that the resident questioned Merritt about Kerdachi's whereabouts. Her chilling reply was that she had "killed him."
Following this startling confession, Merritt was immediately detained and sent for psychiatric evaluation.
Interestingly, in October of the same year, another resident came forward with a concerning discovery. After cleaning parts of the house as per an agreement with Merritt and another resident, Michael Brown, she found "what looked like large pools of blood and drops of blood" on the third floor, especially in the bathroom area.
According to the resident, Merritt shared a narrative in which Kerdachi had sustained a "stab wound from falling on a sharp object" and later died at the hospital. This version of events was, however, inconsistent with the crime scene.
Fast forward to December 6, 2021, when the mysterious case took a darker turn. Houston Police responded to a call from a resident of 605 W. Clay St. They arrived to find human remains in an advanced state of decomposition in the backyard. The remains were later positively identified as Kerdachi’s by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
The officer present during the discovery noted that the way the body was concealed seemed "consistent with attempting to hide the body from detection." Furthermore, upon confronting Merritt and Brown about calling the police, the two reportedly "started painting over things," suggesting an attempt to cover the evidence. A knife was also discovered inside a mailbox.
In a perplexing twist, Merritt went on to make multiple claims. She told the police she believed Kerdachi had "faked his death to commit fraud and is probably alive in Africa." She also claimed that the blood found in the house was the result of "rotten meat that she cleaned out of a refrigerator." Both Merritt and Brown staunchly denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the remains under the house belonged to a deceased dog. They were subsequently released without charges.
However, the medical examination unveiled the grim reality. The autopsy report revealed that Kerdachi had suffered fatal sharp and blunt force trauma to the torso. He had also sustained stab wounds to several areas, including his scapula, head, neck, chest, and ribs.
Conclusion and Next Steps:
After extensive investigations, Houston Police arrested Pamela Ann Merritt on August 18. Records from the Harris County Jail indicate she has been booked on charges of murder and theft.
As this tragic story continues to unravel, Merritt is expected to appear in court in November.
While the circumstances surrounding Kerdachi’s death remain disturbing and shrouded in mystery, the relentless efforts of the Houston Police Department demonstrate their commitment to seeking justice for victims and their families.
Remember, if you or someone you know has information about a crime, always reach out to your local law enforcement agency. Every detail could be crucial in solving a case.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com