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48 Hours on Investigation Discovery is set to re-air an episode from its 37th season about Tom Merriman's case on September 5, 2024. Titled Jade Janks and the Secret Photos, the episode delves into the demise of Merriman while highlighting the complicated relationship dynamics within his family. The episode has a special focus on his stepdaughter, Jade Janks.
As reported by CBS, 64-year-old Tom Merriman was found dead on January 2, 2021, in a disturbing scene outside his home in Solana Beach, California. His body was discovered hidden under a pile of trash and wrapped in a blanket. This finding came after a sequence of events that started on December 15, 2020, when Merriman was hospitalized at Scripps Hospital following a serious fall at home.
CBS reported that while Merriman was in the hospital for his injuries, Janks made a shocking discovery.
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How did Tom Merriman die?
The sequence of events started with Merriman's serious fall at his home on December 15, 2020, which led to his hospitalization due to injuries and complications from alcohol withdrawal.
While Tom Merriman was hospitalized, his stepdaughter Jade Janks made a shocking discovery. She found explicit photos of herself on Merriman’s computer leading to suspicions about his intentions and their familial relationship. Some of these images were stored under explicit file names and appeared to have been taken without her consent.
A interior designer, Janks and Merriman maintained a close relationship despite the dissolution of the latter's marriage to the 39-year-old’s mother. They lived as neighbors in a quiet street near the ocean.
In the days following her discovery, Janks’ actions raised suspicions. As per CBS, she was seen purchasing various items from local stores, including gloves, towels, and nylon cord, which prosecutors later suggested were part of a "murder kit." Surveillance footage captured her movements, adding to the evidence against her.
CBS reported that the case took a darker turn when the San Diego Sheriff’s Department received a call on the morning of January 1, 2021 from Adam Siplyak who claimed that Janks might have killed her stepfather. Subsequently, Merriman's body was discovered by the police.
The investigation revealed that Merriman died from an overdose of Zolpidem, potentially showing signs of foul play. As per CBS, Jade Janks was arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the discovery of incriminating evidence.
CBS reported that throughout the investigation and trial, text messages from Janks’ phone revelaed information. In one text, she mentioned having "dosed the hell out of him," which prosecutors used to argue her culpability in Merriman’s death.
The trial concluded with Janks being found guilty of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. The case is featured in the 48 Hours episode Jade Janks and the Secret Photos.
The episode will re-air on Investigation Discovery on September 5, 2024.
