Houston Woman Charged With Landlord’s Murder And Collecting Rent Money From His Tenants

43-year-old Pamela Ann Merritt, of Houston, Texas, is facing murder charges in the death of her landlord who went missing in 2021.

On Tuesday, it was reported that Merritt was apprehended for the death of 79-year-old Colin Kerdachi.

In December 2021, officers were called out to 605 West Clay St. This came as witnesses had discovered a skeleton in a backyard. Keradachi had owned the home.

The people who had lived in the home had found the remains after cleaning the house and yard. An autopsy found that the remains were Kerdachi’s. He had disappeared during the winter freeze in February 2021.

As an investigation went on, Merritt was identified as a suspect in Kerdachi’s death.

In May, authorities began to look for her as a warrant for her arrest had been issued.

On August 18, 2023, Merritt was taken into custody at the Harris County Jail. Her bond was placed at $500,000.

Records show that after Kerdachi went missing, Merritt took over the landlord responsibilities. She is accused of renting a room to a resident and offered a discounted price if the tenant cleaned two floors of the apartment building.

When the tenant was cleaning in October 2021, she discovered a mattress that contained blood stains and a knife. The same tenant had also found the remains.

When Merritt was first questioned in December 2021, she had stated that Kerdachi was still alive. She added that the remains in the backyard belonged to a dead dog.

She also said that she believed that Kerdachi had faked his own death to commit fraud and was probably in Africa.

Merritt’s lawyer has stated that his client suffers from mental health issues. She is set to appear in court again in November.