MARIETTA, Ga. — Disgraced attorney Richard Merritt was last seen in his mother's silver Lexus SUV on Feb. 1, shown in a new photo released Tuesday morning by the US Marshal's Office.
Because of Merritt's occupation and because he knew people in a lot of places, US Marshal's investigators said they believe he could be anywhere. They believe he may be in his mother's SUV -- with Georgia license tag CBV 6004.
Merritt has been on the run for nearly two weeks. Police said he killed his own mother and skipped town, leaving bewildered and frightened clients and relatives in his wake.
According to prosecutors, the malpractice attorney settled suits without telling clients and pocketed the proceeds. A Cobb County judge sentenced Merritt to 15 years in prison as a result.
The judge granted Merritt until Feb. 1 to surrender to authorities, which under ordinary circumstances would allow him to get his affairs in order.
Instead of coming to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on that Friday, investigators said Merritt cut the ankle monitor off of his leg and didn't show up.
His mother, Shirley Merritt, was found stabbed to death inside her home in DeKalb County a day later.
Merritt's brother Robert said he has been estranged from Richard for 11 years. He said he never would have expected Richard to be so violent, but he places some of the blame on the judge who allowed Richard to remain free following his sentencing.
“If they had taken him into custody immediately she'd be alive,” Robert said.
Relatives and clients victimized by the now-disbarred attorney are left in fear for their lives.
Photos: Richard Merritt
“The rest of us, we don't want to have to look over our shoulder for the rest of our lives,” Robert said. “We all [her] children...everyone is flabbergasted by the brutality that was done.”
Some of Merritt's former clients told 11Alive they were too afraid to speak about Merritt about the situation on camera.
There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to Merritt's arrest.
WHERE IS RICHARD MERRITT? |