Thanksgiving Shooter Pleads Not Guilty

A man who ate Thanksgiving dinner with his family and then shot and killed four of his relatives has entered a not guilty plea to all charges. Paul Merhige is charged with four count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.

His not guilty plea was entered in writing by an attorney in West Palm Beach.

Merhige is scheduled to make his first court appearance later this week. At that hearing, his attorney is expected to ask the judge for a gag order in the case and ask that all evidence in the case be sealed.

A Family Massacre

On Thanksgiving Day, Merhige went to the home of relatives in Jupiter for the holiday meal. After eating with his family, he left and returned with a gun and started shooting - killing four family members and wounded three others, according to court papers..

He was arrested Jan. 2 in a motel room in the Florida keys where he had been living under an alias. He is being held without bond.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case.

See Also:
Fla. Man Pleads Not Guilty in Thanksgiving Slaying

Earlier Articles:
Police Nab Thanksgiving Day Shooting Suspect
Police Search for Thanksgiving Shooter

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^{Photo: Mug Shot}