Houston crime: Woman arrested after skeletal remains were found on West Clay Street
HOUSTON - On August 18, HPD charged a wanted woman in the death of 78-year-old, Colin Kerdachi, after asking the public for their assistance in her whereabouts.
Pamela Ann Merritt, 43, was taken into custody.
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The murder in question happened in 2021. New documents reveal several months later after Kerdachi disappeared, Merrit, along with her boyfriend, rented out Kerdachi's room to a woman named Tabatha. They offered her a discount if she agreed to clean the 2nd and 3rd floor of the home.
On October 2nd, 2021, while cleaning, Tabatha found a blood-stained mattress, puddles of blood, and a blood-filled bin hidden in a crawl space and a knife.
Tabatha called the police and showed them the scene; she also told them that Merrit and her boyfriend said there was an accident, and they had taken the landlord to the hospital. Those officers made a report and left the scene.
Courtesy of HPD : Pamela Ann Merritt
On December 6, 2021, Tabatha called the police back to the home. This time, she found skeletal remains in the backyard.
On May 30, 2023, after Kerdachi's skeletal remains were found, and two years after he vanished, Houston police issued a warrant for Merrit's arrest.
Officers took her into custody last Friday. The suspect told police that the blood officers found in the home came from rotten meat and that her landlord may have faked his death and moved to Africa. However, at least two witnesses came forward telling police they heard her openly admit that she killed him and that he was quote 'under the stairs'.
Police say Merrit made numerous conflicting statements about Kerdachi's disappearance and death, but that they've collected enough evidence to charge her with murder.
She appeared in court Tuesday morning. A judge raised her bond to $500,000 and ordered her to house arrest if she is able to post bail.
She's expected back in court on November 1.