Natalie Merrick Memorial Service

Natalie Merrick, my little sister, was a loving  free spirt, and was taken from us way too soon. Since birth, she was such a happy girl. Although we got separated at very young ages, we finally found each other in 2006. One of the happiest days of both our lives. She told me stories of how hard her life was, from not feeling accepted because she was biracial, to not having a father in her life. She had very trying and difficult relationships and one of them led her into the hospital unconscious. She then found her ex boyfriend (the accused). He helped her out of that horrible relationship and eventually their friendship grew into the love of her life. She would tell me stories of how great he was to her and her daughter. They soon after gave birth to a baby boy and life for her was complete. But soon things started to change. He became controlling and aggressive, his family was very rude and disrespectful to her on many occasions. She started to doubt him and their relationship. Their on again off again relationship soon turned into her trying to find a way out. He would start giving her false hope on him helping her better herself, just to tear her down once she came back. He would  cut her hair out while she was sleeping and blame it on their son. He would turn her phone service off so she could only use his phone to monitor her calls. He isolated her from friends so all she had and could depend on was him. She eventually got two jobs and found a roommate, but that was short lived when the roommate was stealing her money, leading her back to living with her ex boyfriend (the accused). In earlier months during a breakup, he was granted primary custody of their son due to my sister not having a stable home. She didn’t want to leave the city or state, because their son has a Sensory Disorder and she was the only one he found comfort in and the only one who participated in his therapy actively. Eventually my sister found a way out of this nightmare and prepared to move with our mother in Atlanta, Ga.  Late October, she took the train to drop her daughter off to our mother, telling our mom she would be back. She just was going to stay with (the accused),for a few days to get more hours on her last paycheck before moving to Atlanta with her. Unfortunately that was the last time our Mother would ever see her warm smile or receive a gentle hug again. My sister Natalie Merrick was Murdered by strangulation by her sons father in their apartment, and can only assume their son was present. He then drove over an hour across state lines and left my little sister on the side of the road by a bridge on top or rocks near a cold creek. She deserved way better than this.  She was just a 23 year old mother of two trying to get on her feet and stable for her children. She never harmed or wished bad on anyone. Nothing but sweet caring words came from her, and now she’s gone. Because of this tragedy she has left behind her son and daughter, who both are in need of basic essentials. My mother and I are trying to do all that we can. Being that she was so young there was no will, or funds set aside. We literally have zero dollars for the costs of cremation, travel expenses, flowers, transporting her to Atlanta, GA, funeral home expenses, legal documents, and clothes, food and toys for the children. Please find it in your hearts to help us give our Mother, Daugher, Sister and Friend a beautiful memorial service as she was beautiful inside and out. Any dollar amount will help, God Bless. 

Please click on on the link to follow the local news on my sisters story. 

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/cmpd-charge-man-in-slaying-of-woman-and-her-unborn-child/629730752