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GUILTY OH - William Brown, 44, & Sherri Mendenhall, 63, slain, Yellow Springs, 15 Jan 2017
- Thread starter Tiff23fr
- Start date
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- May 15, 2013
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- Joined
- May 15, 2013
- Messages
- 55,637
- Reaction score
- 192,214
Having pleaded not guilty in their initial arraignments last year at the Xenia Municipal Courthouse, the brothers changed their pleas Wednesday, Sept. 12, as part of individual deals that allowed both to avoid the possibility of capital punishment.
The plea agreements came during the second week of jury selection in elder brother Dustin Merrick’s trial, for which opening arguments were expected this week.
Bret Merrick’s case was scheduled to go to trial next month.
Because the plea deals mean neither trial will take place, the public may never learn what was in the brothers’ minds when they went to the East Enon Road property in the early morning hours of Jan. 15, 2017, and left the two occupants shot to death.
With the judge noting that Bret Merrick had not shot either of the victims, the younger brother entered a guilty plea to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with a maximum possible sentence of 25 years, including three years for firearms use. During the separate sentencing hearing early Wednesday afternoon, Buckwalter imposed the anticipated sentence of 25 years and remanded the younger brother to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
In Dustin Merrick’s case, the elder brother pleaded guilty to nine counts: two for aggravated murder, two for murder, two for aggravated burglary, one for felonious assault, one for tampering with evidence and one for obstructing justice.
Buckwalter said the combined penalty for all counts was two life sentences without parole, plus an additional 31 years for other counts. Ruling that the sentences would be served concurrently, he asked Merrick if he understood he was “never getting out of prison.”
“Yes,” Merrick said.
Double-murder case comes to an end • The Yellow Springs News
The plea agreements came during the second week of jury selection in elder brother Dustin Merrick’s trial, for which opening arguments were expected this week.
Bret Merrick’s case was scheduled to go to trial next month.
Because the plea deals mean neither trial will take place, the public may never learn what was in the brothers’ minds when they went to the East Enon Road property in the early morning hours of Jan. 15, 2017, and left the two occupants shot to death.
With the judge noting that Bret Merrick had not shot either of the victims, the younger brother entered a guilty plea to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with a maximum possible sentence of 25 years, including three years for firearms use. During the separate sentencing hearing early Wednesday afternoon, Buckwalter imposed the anticipated sentence of 25 years and remanded the younger brother to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
In Dustin Merrick’s case, the elder brother pleaded guilty to nine counts: two for aggravated murder, two for murder, two for aggravated burglary, one for felonious assault, one for tampering with evidence and one for obstructing justice.
Buckwalter said the combined penalty for all counts was two life sentences without parole, plus an additional 31 years for other counts. Ruling that the sentences would be served concurrently, he asked Merrick if he understood he was “never getting out of prison.”
“Yes,” Merrick said.
Double-murder case comes to an end • The Yellow Springs News
Dustin rented the house from David Brown (his step father)
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Bobbie Brown mother of Dustin is(now was) married to David Brown brother of Skip (William R. Brown)
Dustin admitted that he planned to execute SKIP for several months. After the sentencing the prosecuters said Dustin was a Sociopath and that he, his brother and mother are in their own little world.
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Skip had a rough life. He wasn't perfect but, he loved life, his friends(which I have learned were many, his family was larger than most). His father and him had become close, best friends, his step mom closer than ever, working on getting closer to his sister's, looking forward to the best year ever both, family and business.
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Sherri was one of Skip's best friends mother. They had know each other for about 15 years prior to their deaths. Sherri was also his accountant.
Dustin worked for Skip for about 3 years off and on. Both Roofing jobs and miscellaneous jobs for Skips customers. He was paid $20/25 dollars an hour depending on the work(roofing jobs paid $25).
Many statements still don't add up. Bret went with his brother to get back his tools that Skip had, with a 12 gauge shotgun, and 2 semi auto pistols between them at about 3:00 am Sunday morning.
Around 3:30-4:00pm after law enforcement officers from Yellow Springs and Greene county Sheriff Deputies were on scene Jessie Skinner, David & Bobbie Brown were on East Enon Rd. A short distance from 4444 E. Enon Rd. David Brown walked down to 4444. Bobbie got out of the car she was in and walked over to Jessie Skinners car and told him Skip was killed in a bad drug deal. She latter that evening told Skips step mom and step sister the same thing. It was later late that night at 4444 E. Enon Rd. when Skips parents, sister, David (his brother) and his wife Bobbie were told that skip had been murdered. While David and his Dad went to the apartment to see if they could see if anything was missing Bobbie(David's wife * Skips sister had walked around t he back of the building were Bobbie asked what they were doing to the pool. Skips step sister said Skip and Grandma had decided to fill in the pool and Bobbie replied "no were not".
A few days later Bobbie asked Skips step sister if she would rent Skips apartment.
I Months later Sheriff detective said "she is envolved but, we have no physical evidence.
Around 3:30-4:00pm after law enforcement officers from Yellow Springs and Greene county Sheriff Deputies were on scene Jessie Skinner, David & Bobbie Brown were on East Enon Rd. A short distance from 4444 E. Enon Rd. David Brown walked down to 4444. Bobbie got out of the car she was in and walked over to Jessie Skinners car and told him Skip was killed in a bad drug deal. She latter that evening told Skips step mom and step sister the same thing. It was later late that night at 4444 E. Enon Rd. when Skips parents, sister, David (his brother) and his wife Bobbie were told that skip had been murdered. While David and his Dad went to the apartment to see if they could see if anything was missing Bobbie(David's wife * Skips sister had walked around t he back of the building were Bobbie asked what they were doing to the pool. Skips step sister said Skip and Grandma had decided to fill in the pool and Bobbie replied "no were not".
A few days later Bobbie asked Skips step sister if she would rent Skips apartment.
I Months later Sheriff detective said "she is envolved but, we have no physical evidence.
Skip was converting what had been the main building of his other great grandfather's greenhouse into a gallery for both his great grandfather's photographs and local artists work.
During Skips funeral/viewing Bobbie Brown (Dustins mother) spent a lot of time on the front porch of the funeral home telling everyone that was out there with her that Skip was killed in a bad drug deal. A large number of those people, friends of Skip decided later that night that she was envolved. Knowing what I know several called the Sherrifs tip line. Which despite the relationship between Yellow Springs and the Sheriffs department recieved more calls related to this case than ever before speaks of the relationship Skip had with many of the residents of Yellow Springs.