A Missouri man will spend the rest of his days behind bars murdered a young teen before stuffing her in a suitcase and discarding her at a wildlife preserve.
According to the Illinois State Police, 35-year-old James A. Merritt received a life sentence earlier this month for second-degree murder. He was also given 20 years for armed criminal action, four years for tampering with physical evidence, and five years for trafficking for sexual exploitation. Additionally, he was fined $25,000.
This sentencing stems from the discovery of a body in Pulaski County in March 2020, identified as Haley Decker, 18, from Normal, Illinois. Investigators said she was found in the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, stuffed inside a suitcase.
Law&Crime reports that the discovery occurred when a man walking with his child noticed blonde hair protruding from luggage. Law enforcement determined that the victim had sustained repeated blunt-force trauma to the head.
Investigators cross-referenced recent missing persons reports, which helped them identify the victim. Cell phone evidence linked the victim to Meritt.
Further investigation revealed that Decker had once lived with Merritt and had been a sex worker at the time of her death. Merritt subsequently confessed during a police interview, admitting to meeting Decker online and setting her up with men to have sex for money.
Phone records indicated that Merritt and Decker were together on January 25, 2020, before traveling to the wildlife refuge where Decker’s body was found. Blood was later discovered in Merritt’s residence and his vehicle showed signs that he tried to clean up blood.
After deliberating for 90 minutes, jurors unanimously found Merritt guilty of all charges. The trial, initially held in Pemiscot County, was moved to New Madrid County, where Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Lawson said he was happy with the verdict.
“I am extremely pleased with the jury’s verdicts in this case,” Lawson said after the verdict, according to the Standard Democrat.
“Without the tireless efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, this verdict would not have been possible. Thanks to the outstanding cooperation between the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department and the Illinois State Police, the defendant was arrested within three weeks of the victim’s body being discovered.”
Decker’s aunt, Shari McDaneld, told the Daily Beast that Decker was a “sweet girl” with an “unfortunate life that her family tried to keep her from.”
[Feature Photo: Haley Decker/”Missing in Illinois”]