Ex-Cobb Lawyer, Accused Of Killing Own Mother, To Face DeKalb Court

DECATUR, GA — A former Cobb County attorney accused of stabbing and beating his 77-year-old mother to death in her DeKalb County home is set to stand trial next week.

According to DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston's office, Richard Merritt, 49, is charged on suspicion of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony.

Investigators said he stabbed and beat his mother to death in 2019 before he was expected to turn himself in after pleading guilty to theft and elder abuse in Cobb, according to a May 2022 Patch report.

Merritt was originally convicted on theft and elder exploitation charges. Channel 2 Action News reported investigators said Merritt settled civil lawsuits without client knowledge, took money from his clients and used the money to buy a Porsche or go on vacation.

After pleading guilty to theft and elder abuse, Merritt was scheduled to report to custody February 1, 2019, reported WXIA-TV, but he was accused of disappearing, removing his ankle monitor, going to his mother’s home and stabbing her to death.

In January 2019, a Cobb County judge sentenced Merritt to 15 years in prison for stealing more than $454,706 from 17 different clients, reported WAGA-TV, but Merritt was given two weeks to get his affairs in order.

His mother cooked him his last family meal the day before he was scheduled to turn himself in, reported WAGA-TV. With plates still on the table and pots on the stove, investigators accused Merritt of brutally killing her and running away from the scene.

He took on a whole new life, living and working as a bartender in Tennessee, reported WKRN. Merritt changed his look, had a fake ID and went by the alias Mick Malveaux, the outlet reported.

Frank Lempka with the U.S. Marshal's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force told the local station that Merritt was still driving his mother’s stolen Lexus SUV, which had a stolen tag on it. Investigators from the task force worked in conjunction with the U.S. Marshal's Service in Nashville to arrest Merritt in October 2019.

After two trial postponements, jury selection is set to begin in Merrit's trial at 9 a.m. Monday in courtroom 7D. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson will preside. The trial is expected to last about a week.