A San Diego inside designer is on trial for murdering her butterfly farm-owning ex-stepdad after catching him utilizing a stolen nude picture of her as his screensaver.
Jade Janks, 39, is {accused} of drugging, suffocating and strangling Thomas Merriman, 64, in San Diego on New 12 months’s Eve 2020. She denies homicide.
Janks, who runs a profitable inside design agency, was described by prosecutors as being ‘past freaked out’ after she discovered a number of bare pictures of herself in Merriman’s residence, one in every of which he was even utilizing as a pc screensaver.
Information present that Janks’ mom divorced Merriman in 2008 after a number of cases of home abuse, though Janks and Merriman maintained a relationship.
Deputy District Legal professional Jorge Del Portillo stated: ‘This was no accident. This was homicide by design.’ In courtroom, it was alleged that Janks suffocated Merriman with a plastic bag.
Nonetheless, Janks’ lawyer, Marc Carlos, says that Thomas Merriman, 64, the co-founder of a preferred butterfly farm in Encinitas, died as a consequence of ailing well being and his personal cocktail of sleeping tablets. His physique was discovered beneath a pile of trash exterior of his residence on January 2.
She has pleaded not responsible to homicide. If convicted, Janks might face life in jail.
Jade Janks, who operated an inside design enterprise in San Diego, allegedly drugged, suffocated and strangled her stepdad after discovering he was in possession of nude images of her
Carlos stated: ‘The medical expert is not going to let you know it was strangulation. The science doesn’t help strangulation.’ The official explanation for dying was acute intoxication, stories the San Diego Union Tribune.
The lawyer went on to say accuse Merriman of being an alcoholic who was hooked on tablets.
Carlos additionally stated: ‘Jade Janks beloved her stepfather. Tom Merriman beloved Jade Janks. Sadly, Tom Merriman was a troubled particular person, and he beloved her in several methods.’
Merriman’s physique was discovered beneath trash luggage by police exterior of his residence in Solano Seashore. Officers had gone to the house to conduct a welfare examine.
Prosecutors say that Janks informed others that she killed Merriman. Even though her mom had lengthy since divorced Merriman, the pair have been nonetheless shut.
Thomas Merriman, pictured right here, was recovering from accidents sustained after a fall when he died
Janks maintains her innocence along with her attorneys arguing that Merriman died on account of his personal habit to medicine and alcohol
Merriman was returning residence on New 12 months’s Eve after he was hospitalized as a consequence of a fall. Janks had picked him from a care facility. Her lawyer stated that when he left the power, he was given a provide of varied tablets.
A number of days earlier, Janks was cleansing in Merriman’s residence when she ran into his pc, waking it. That is when she noticed a nude picture that she had taken years beforehand as his screensaver.
The prosecutor stated that the invention of the pics left her ‘distraught’ and ‘disturbed to the core.’
A former good friend of Janks’, Sarah Jacobs, testified that the suspect informed her concerning the picture however stated that did not point out that Merriman would face any repercussions. Jacobs described the picture as displaying Janks ‘scantily clad.’
Her attorneys say that the photographs have been taken consensually with a boyfriend years beforehand. It isn’t clear how Merriman obtained the images.
From there, prosecutors allege, Janks started hatching a plot to kill her stepdad.
The prosecutor stated that the invention of the nude pics left Janks ‘distraught’ and ‘disturbed to the core
A number of days earlier than he was launched from the hospital, Janks was cleansing in Merriman’s residence when she ran into his pc, waking it. That is when she noticed a nude picture that she had taken years beforehand as his screensaver
In courtroom this week, prosecutors confirmed messages that Janks despatched to mates, one learn: ‘I simply dosed the hell out of him. Stopping for whiskey at Dixieland to stall. LMK’
This week, prosecutors confirmed textual content messages in courtroom that Janks despatched to numerous mates.
They learn:
‘I simply dosed the hell out of him. Stopping for whiskey at Dixieland to stall. LMK.’
‘He’s waking up. I actually don’t wish to be the one to do that.’
‘I can’t carry him alone and I can’t preserve a kicking physique in my trunk.’
‘I’m about to membership him on the pinnacle as he’s waking up.’
‘I’m not robust sufficient. He’s very conscious now and I’m alone.’
In line with the Union Tribune, the prosecutor referred to as a type of contacted a ‘fixer-of-sorts.’
A good friend who initially answered her name for assist, Adam Siplyak, proven right here, later stated that he could not assist and went to the police to report Janks
Janks’ attorneys say that the photographs have been taken consensually with a boyfriend years beforehand. It isn’t clear how Merriman obtained the images
Her lawyer conceded that Siplyak and Janks have cuddled and kissed prior to now however haven’t had a sexual relationship
A good friend who did reply her name for assist, Adam Siplyak, went to the house on New 12 months’s Eve however stated he wouldn’t assist her to do away with the physique. The next day, he went to the police to report what occurred.
Janks initially informed him that she wanted assist getting Merriman residence as a result of he was excessive on tablets. Nonetheless, when Siplyak confirmed up, she confessed what occurred.
The lead detective within the case, Lisa Brannan stated in courtroom this week: ‘Ms. Janks informed Mr. Siplyak that she killed her stepfather and he or she stated, ‘I suffocated him with a bag and I choked him.” She additionally stated that she gave him a bunch of medicine.’
The detective continued: ‘She wished his assist with getting the physique out of her automobile. She wished to take her stepfather to his residence and put him in his mattress. She wished to seem like he had overdosed in his mattress as he had died in his mattress.’
After refusing to assist her, Siplyak stated: ‘I’ve a son to boost.’
The pair then had a cigarette and kissed earlier than he left. The suspect’s lawyer stated that Siplyak is a recovering drug addict who has a crush on Janks.
The lawyer conceded that the pair have cuddled and kissed prior to now however haven’t had a sexual relationship.
The arresting officer later testified, San Diego Sheriff’s Workplace Matthew Gibson, he stated that Janks was calm when she was arrested.
The arresting officer later testified, San Diego Sheriff’s Workplace Matthew Gibson, he stated that Janks was calm when she was arrested
Toxicologist Raymond Gary was subsequent to testify, he stated that Merriman had excessive ranges of the sleeping drug zolpidem in his system
Toxicologist Raymond Gary was subsequent to testify, he stated that Merriman had excessive ranges of the sleeping drug zolpidem in his system.
Since her arrest, Janks has been free on a $1 million bail albeit with a GPS anklet. On the time her bail was set, prosecutors argued that the suspect has the monetary assets to flee and connections in South Africa.
Janks’ organic father, Steve Janks, is a local of South Africa and now lives in Southern California.
She proprietor of a start-up inside design enterprise, Jank Janks Interiors. On the web site for the corporate, she writes: ‘Your house is a mirrored image of you and Jade will make it easier to specific your private fashion by means of a course of straightforward and enjoyable!’
A bio additionally says: ‘You may rely on Jade to carry your hand and make your mission a enjoyable one!’ Janks additionally says that she bought her begin in inside design by means of working for her dad’s kitchen design firm.
Janks, proven right here along with her mom, Jeni, was freed earlier this 12 months on a $1 million bail
A memorial set as much as Thomas Merriman on the butterfly farm that he arrange in 2013 with a good friend
Merriman and Janks’ mom Jeni married in July 1995. The couple had a son collectively, Money. The sufferer had one other daughter from a earlier relationship.
On-line data present that there have been a number of cases of home abuse within the marriage between 2002 and 2008. The couple filed for divorce on a number of events throughout that point, lastly doing so in 2008.
Merriman based the Butterfly Farm, a nonprofit, in 2013 alongside his good friend Pat Flanagan. He informed NBC San Diego in January: ‘Tom was simply an all-around good man. He beloved being open air. He was very helpful. He cared and he actually gave loads to the neighborhood.’
Bizarrely, in 2019 a Butterfly Farm worker, Sabrina Lukosky, was murdered by her boyfriend, Henry Simon Cowen, of their residence. Cowen was sentenced to life in jail for the crime in November 2021.
Flanagan informed ABC San Diego in 2021: ‘The irony will not be misplaced right here. Any person got here in and did a donation towards Sabrina, mockingly, on Friday which is identical day apparently Tom’s physique was discovered.’
