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Dad: Fla. Thanksgiving Shootings Were Planned

Tuesday, 01 December 2009 11:36 AM EST

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The father of a girl slain along with three relatives after a Thanksgiving dinner in South Florida says the suspected shooter told family members he had been waiting 20 years to kill them.

Jim Sitton said Tuesday that Paul Michael Merhige (MAYR'-ihj) had planned to kill his family when he showed up for dinner, ate and then shot his pregnant sister, her twin sister, his 6-year-old cousin and 79-year-old aunt.

Sitton is the father of the little girl. He says there were no arguments before the shooting and that Merhige wasn't acting strangely during dinner, dessert and singing.

But during the shooting, Sitton says Merhige pointed the gun at Merhige's uncle and said he'd been waiting to kill him, but the gun misfired.

Authorities are searching for Merhige.

© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


US
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The father of a girl slain along with three relatives after a Thanksgiving dinner in South Florida says the suspected shooter told family members he had been waiting 20 years to kill them.Jim Sitton said Tuesday that Paul Michael Merhige (MAYR'-ihj)...
us,family,shootings
132
2009-36-01
Tuesday, 01 December 2009 11:36 AM
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