Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this letter are solely those of the author and do not reflect the editorial stance of the Journal. Anyone with information regarding the death of Daniel Madison Merritt is urged to contact local law enforcement or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers or call the Minden Police Department at 318-377-1212.
A Letter To My Son’s Killer
I have started this letter many times in my head & on paper but have never finished it. Not sure why I even want to write you because I’m not sure which one of you did it. I have a pretty good idea though. There was several of his so called friends there that night he was murdered but nobody is being held responsible for it. My son, Daniel Madison Merritt, was 26 years old. He had is whole life in front of him. He was my first born child. He was born May 18, 1996 & one of you cowards took him from me on May 2, 2023. What did he ever do to any of you to deserve this??? Madison wouldn’t hurt anyone & would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it.
I wonder if the person that killed him has any regrets??? Do you??? Do you see his face when you go to sleep every night??? I sure hope you do!!! I can’t even look at his picture without breaking down. What did I do to any of you to deserve the pain & torment I go through on a daily basis. I need answers!!! I’m sure none of you would ever tell me the truth though. People always tell me that I need to forgive whoever did this. How can I forgive somebody when I don’t know who did it???
It seems though the justice system is on your side. Only one of you went to jail for his murder & they didn’t have enough evidence to convict you of murder. Why won’t one of you speak up & tell the truth & tell who actually did it??? If this was your son, daughter, mother, brother, or anyone in your family wouldn’t you want to know??? Wouldn’t you be begging for answers as I am doing??? Do any of you there that night have a conscious??? Don’t you want to feel some kind of peace knowing that you did the right thing for once & told me what I need to know???
My son was not perfect by any means & neither is anyone else but he didn’t deserve what you all did to him!!! I know more than one of you buried my son. How did you feel after doing that??? Do you replay that moment over & over in your mind daily??? I replay the day we found him buried in that shallow grave covered with sticks over & over in my mind constantly. You all even left the shovel laying there. I wish I could understand what was going through your mind at that moment. Did you think he wouldn’t be found???
I feel like someone needs to read this that is wanting to get this off their chest. I need one of you to have a heart & do the right thing & give me the answers I am looking for.
To anyone that is reading this & knows what happened that night, you know who you are, please do the right thing & tell someone. I hope one day I can find solace, some kind of understanding, & maybe forgiveness.
Shan Merritt
Daniel Merritt’s mother
Gone but never forgotten!!!