A Florida man suspected of gunning down four family members at a Thanksgiving dinner was arrested on Saturday night in the Florida Keys after a weekslong manhunt, authorities said.
Jupiter Police Sergeant Scott Pascarella said Paul Merhige, 35, was taken into custody without a struggle by US Marshals and Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies at a motel on Long Key. Pascarella credited the TV show America’s Most Wanted for the tip that led to Merhige’s capture.
Merhige has been the subject of a massive manhunt that included a US$100,000 reward for information leading to his capture. He is accused of killing his twin sisters, a 79-year-old aunt and six-year-old cousin on Thanksgiving Day at a family gathering in Jupiter.
Authorities said Merhige checked into the motel on Dec. 2, using the name “John Baca” and a false Homestead address.
US Marshals said Merhige, who had withdrawn US$12,000 from bank accounts before the killings, paid for his room in advance in cash. He was on his computer when police made entry to his motel room, a Marshals statement said.
Police say Merhige opened fire at a home where 16 relatives had gathered for the holiday in Jupiter, an affluent community 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.
Authorities have said Merhige carefully planned the killings. A family member said Merhige was heard saying after the shootings that he had waited 20 years to kill the relatives.
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