A man is behind bars after being linked to a triple homicide. SCSO reports that deputies responded to the 21000 block of Riverview Drive in Lakehead for a welfare check of 75-year-old Pamela Castleberry on April 30, 2024.
At the scene, deputies witnessed that the residence had been burglarized. Evidence suggested Castleberry was missing under suspicious circumstances and her vehicle was missing. Major Crimes Unit detectives responded to investigate.
On May 1, 2024, detectives learned that a suspicious vehicle had been abandoned in a remote area near Bella Vista. Detectives responded and confirmed the vehicle belonged to Castleberry who was later found deceased in the vehicle.
On May 6, 2024, detectives responded to the same area and found two additional bodies. The badly burned bodies were identified as 41-year-old Cynthia Duran and 48-year-old Louis Sanchez. Detectives say the homicides occurred after Castleberry and her vehicle were located.
Detectives identified 33-year-old Michael Todd Merryman as a person of interest. Detectives say they found evidence linking Merryman to the homicides. At the time, Merryman was on active parole for residential burglary and he had an active arrest warrant for parole violation.
On May 13, Merryman was involved in a single vehicle collision in the Oak Run area. He was found at a local hospital and taken into custody. Once Merryman was medically cleared, he was moved to the jail.
Detectives claim Merryman admitted to all three homicides during interviews. He is currently charged with three counts of Murder with Special Circumstances.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.