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2009 Thanksgiving murders

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2009 Thanksgiving murders
LocationJupiter, Florida, U.S.
DateNovember 26, 2009
Attack type
Mass shooting, Familicide
Weapons
Deaths4
Injured1
PerpetratorPaul Merhige

On November 26, 2009, a man killed four members of his family in Jupiter, Florida, United States.[5][6][7]

Shooting

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35-year-old Paul Michael Merhige waited three hours and after dinner before opening fire at his family's Thanksgiving dinner, shooting multiple family members.[8][9][10] He began the shooting by muttering "I've been waiting 20 years to do this."[10] His aunt, Raymonde Joseph, his twin sisters, Carla Merhige and Lisa Knight, as well as his 6-year-old cousin, Makayla Sitton, were killed in the shooting. Lisa Knight was pregnant at the time of the shooting.[11][12] Her husband, Patrick Knight, was severely injured and spent three months in a coma.[13]

Background

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The family had a troubled past. In July 1973, Paul Merhige's aunt, Salwa Merrige-Abrams, murdered her ex-husband and two children before committing suicide by taking barbiturates.[14]

Merhige's presence at the Thanksgiving gathering was seen as a surprise by the family, as he had been estranged for several years and even had a restraining order placed on him temporarily by one of his sisters.[10] Merhige's parents had invited him to Thanksgiving without telling the Sittons, who were hosting the party.[15]

Aftermath

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A manhunt for Merhige followed, with a $25,000 reward offered for information leading to his arrest.[16]

On January 2, 2010, Merhige was arrested.[17][18] On October 27, 2011, Paul Merhige pleaded guilty to all charges, and was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences without parole.[19][20]

The same year, on September 15, Jim and Muriel Sitton sued Paul's parents, with their reasoning being that they could have prevented the murders. The Sittons are Makayla's parents, and Muriel is Raymonde Joseph's daughter.[15][21] In 2014, 4th District Court of Appeal ruled that Merhige's parents could not be held liable for the massacre.[22][23]

References

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  1. ^ LaForgia, Michael (December 7, 2012). "Police: Merhige bought 4 guns, including powerful rifle; might be using up to three aliases". The Palm Beach Post.
  2. ^ "Thanksgiving massacre as man opens fire on family after chilling eight-word warning". themirror.com. November 28, 2025.
  3. ^ Stockton, Chrissy (November 22, 2021). "After Thanksgiving Dinner, A Florida Man Gunned Down His Extended Family In A Premeditated Murder Spree". thoughtcatalog.com.
  4. ^ Musgrave, Jane (September 15, 2011). "Lawsuit: Merhige's parents did nothing to stop Thanksgiving slayings". The Palm Beach Post.
  5. ^ "A Thanksgiving Massacre In 2009 Highlights Today's True Mass Shooting Crisis". Yahoo News. November 22, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "Two Years After The Jupiter Thanksgiving Massacre". CBS Miami. November 24, 2011.
  7. ^ "History Of Mass Shootings In South Florida". CBS Miami. March 31, 2012.
  8. ^ Martinez, Edecio (December 2, 2009). "Thanksgiving Massacre Witness: Paul Merhige Ate Dinner, Sang Songs Then Executed Family - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  9. ^ "Victim's dad: Thanksgiving killings preplanned". NBC News. December 1, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Janos, Adam (November 19, 2018). "3 Grisly Thanksgiving Family Murders | A&E". AETV. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  11. ^ Abramson, Andrew. "Treasured memories sustain 6-year-old's father as he returns to crime scene". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "Massacre Takes "Sweet" Makayla". www.cbsnews.com. November 30, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  13. ^ Marra, Andrew. "Victim of Thanksgiving Day shooting out of coma, relative says". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  14. ^ Campbell • •, Janie (November 28, 2009). "A History of Violence". NBC 6 South Florida. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Musgrave, Jane. "Lawsuit: Merhige's parents did nothing to stop Thanksgiving slayings". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "Suspect in Jupiter Thanksgiving killings still at large". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "Suspect nabbed in Thanksgiving slayings". NBC News. January 3, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "Thanksgiving Day murder suspect Paul Merhige busted in Florida by 'America's Most Wanted' tip". New York Daily News. January 3, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  19. ^ "GUILTY PLEA BRINGS 7 LIFE SENTENCES". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  20. ^ "7 Life Sentences For Merhige In Thanksgiving Massacre Case - CBS Miami". www.cbsnews.com. October 27, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  21. ^ "Lawsuit Filed In Deadly Thanksgiving Rampage - CBS Miami". www.cbsnews.com. September 15, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  22. ^ Staff Writer. "Parents Not Found Negligent In Palm Beach County Massacre". The Ledger. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  23. ^ "Court: Parents Not Negligent In Thanksgiving Massacre - CBS Miami". www.cbsnews.com. February 19, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
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