Nearly two years following the discovery of a Texas landlord’s body in his own backyard, a woman was arrested on Friday in connection with his death, according to official records. The landlord, Colin Kerdachi, aged 78, was reported missing in February 2021 and was found dead later that year on December 6, as per the Houston Police Department.
According to an arrest affidavit, investigators believe that Merritt fatally stabbed Kerdachi around February 15, 2021. She is suspected to have hidden his body behind an exterior staircase with the assistance of a roommate.
In May 2023, authorities charged Pamela Ann Merritt, 43, with murder and sought public assistance in locating her. Merritt, who was believed to be homeless at the time, has now been arrested and is currently detained at the Harris County Jail with a bond set at $250,000.
A tenet discovered human remains under the staircase while cleaning on December 6, 2021, and alerted the police. Merritt was brought in for questioning the following day. During the interrogation, Merritt reportedly denied that Kerdachi was dead, insisting that the corpse found was merely a deceased dog. She also suggested that Kerdachi had faked his death to commit fraud and was likely alive in Africa.
Michael Brown, the man suspected of helping Merritt dispose of Kerdachi’s body, is facing a charge of tampering with evidence, according to the police.