Jade Janks, once a respected interior designer, became the subject of national headlines following her conviction for the first-degree murder of her former stepfather, Jade Janks Thomas Merriman, in 2021. This deeply tragic case is marked by layers of familial complexity, betrayal, and controversy. Here’s an in-depth look at her life, the circumstances leading to the crime, and its aftermath. Jade Janks
Jade Janks: Early Life and Background
Jade Janks grew up in California, where her mother married Thomas Merriman when Jade was a teenager. Despite their eventual divorce, Janks and Merriman maintained a close, father-daughter-like bond for years. Merriman, a co-founder of Butterfly Farms, was described as an eccentric but well-loved figure in his community. Janks herself built a career in interior design, Jade Janks running her own business in Solana Beach. Jade Janks
The dynamics between Janks and Merriman shifted drastically in late 2020 when Janks discovered explicit photos of herself on Merriman’s computer. This discovery reportedly led to a deep sense of violation and betrayal, which would later become central to the legal proceedings. Jade Janks
The Incident on New Year’s Eve 2020
The tragic chain of events began when Merriman was hospitalized after a fall and returned home on December 31, 2020. According to prosecutors, Janks discovered the explicit images during this period and devised a plan to confront him. Merriman, who was heavily medicated and reportedly inebriated, never made it back inside his home. Jade Janks
Prosecutors argued that Janks drugged Merriman with an overdose of sleeping pills and subsequently strangled him. Merriman’s body was later found wrapped in blankets under a pile of trash in the driveway. Janks claimed she panicked after finding Jade Janks him unresponsive and attempted to conceal his body out of fear.
Legal Proceedings and Conviction
The trial, which began in December 2022, painted two conflicting narratives. The prosecution relied on text messages and witness testimonies to prove premeditation. Messages such as “I just dosed the hell out of him” were presented as evidence of intent. Jade Janks
The defense argued that Merriman’s death was not intentional and resulted from his poor health and substance use. Despite these arguments, Janks was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in early 2023. Jade Janks
Public Reactions and Controversy
The case stirred debates on issues of self-defense, trauma, and justice. Many questioned whether Janks’ actions stemmed from the emotional impact of discovering the photos, while others criticized her handling of the situation. The inclusion of explicit evidence and personal testimonies added layers of complexity, fueling discussions about privacy and the legal boundaries of retaliation. Jade Janks
Jade Janks Today
Janks is currently serving her sentence at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla. She will be eligible for parole in 2038. Despite her incarceration, her legal team has hinted at plans to appeal the verdict, maintaining her claims of innocence. Jade Janks
A Case That Resonates
Jade Janks’ story is a stark reminder of the complicated intersections of family dynamics, personal trauma, and legal responsibility. As the case continues to be discussed and analyzed, it raises important questions about justice, emotional responses, and societal expectations. Jade Janks
Tom came into my life when I was just a little girl and exerted influence during that early stage of development when I was still figuring things out,” said Janks during her statement to the court Monday.
“Unfortunately, that influence manifested itself into inappropriate touch, coercion, reckless behavior and complete violation of what I now realize was years of psychological manipulation. All of this came crashing down on me when I found hundreds of naked photos of myself on his computer. I felt shattered,” she said. Jade Janks
“I’m sorry I didn’t act the way I was supposed to that day,” she added. “I think about it every day since. And to Tom’s family, I understand you hate me for what you believe I did to Tom, however, there’s a lot more than you’ll ever understand,” she said. Jade Janks
The judge also heard from five of Merriman’s loved ones.
Patrick Merriman, Tom’s brother, grew emotional as he spoke. “I think about Tom every day,” he said. “And wonder how and why this heinous crime was committed. Everyone I knew loved Tom.”
Outside the courtroom, Janks’ defense attorney Marc Carlos was asked why Janks never brought up the alleged abuse during the trial.
“It’s because Jade has asserted she did nothing to cause the death of Mr. Merriman. Had she actually caused the death of him, that’s something that goes toward a manslaughter [charge]. That’s provocation,” he said.
Carlos said he will be filing an appeal on Janks’ behalf.
During her week-long trial, Janks said the nude photos were taken when she was between 16 and 26 years old.
After finding them, prosecutors say she drugged Merriman and strangled him on December 31, 2020.
Her defense argued he overdosed on sleeping pills in her car, and Janks hid the body under a pile of garbage next to his home because she didn’t want to be blamed for his death.
WATCH RELATED: Judge sentences Jade Janks to 25 years to life in jail for the murder of her stepdad
“What made the prosecutor’s case was all the texts about kicking him in the car, he’s waking up. I’m gonna bonk him over the head. Come help me take care of him,” Von Helms said.
She said prosecutors used those texts to show Janks intended to kill him.
“His defense was the gentlemen, her stepfather, had taken pills before when he was in the car that night and had an accidental overdose because he died from that pill that he put in his mouth,” she said.
Merriman was a prominent North County businessman who co-founded Butterfly Farms in Encinitas.
After over a day of deliberations, the jury ultimately found Janks guilty.
On the last day Merriman was seen alive, Janks picked him up from a medical facility and by this point, prosecutors allege she already had a plan in motion to kill Merriman with the assistance of a man prosecutors identified as a “fixer.”
Janks testified during the trial that she understood that the fixer worked in security and she wanted his protection while she confronted Merriman about the naked pictures.
After picking up Merriman on Dec. 31, Janks was accused of texting the fixer, “I just dosed the hell out of him” before stopping at a shopping center to buy items prosecutors allege were used in the killing.
When the fixer was unable to come out to Solana Beach that day to assist in the murder, prosecutors alleged he sent a friend of his instead.
When that friend arrived, Janks was accused of telling the man, “I want you to strangle him and then bring him into the house. I’ll take care of the rest.” The man did not want to get involved and left, Deputy District Attorney Jorge Del Portillo told jurors.
Prosecutors allege Janks next contacted a friend of hers. After he arrived, Janks allegedly told him that she had killed Merriman and wanted help moving the body. Prosecutors say he also left, then called police the next day.
Del Portillo said Monday that Janks then used either a grocery bag or a pillowcase to suffocate a dosed-up Merriman. When that didn’t kill him fast enough, she used her bare hands to strangle him, the prosecutor said.
Janks testified during the trial that Merriman was heavily intoxicated following his discharge from the medical facility and she had reached out to others for help moving him into her home. When she was unable to move him on her own, she left him in her vehicle to sleep it off.
On the morning of Jan. 1, she said she moved the car to Merriman’s house, then realized he was dead after he was cold to the touch.
When asked why she didn’t call 911 at that point, Janks testified that she was scared that she would be blamed for killing Merriman. In a panic, she tried to move him into a wheelchair to take him inside but his body fell onto the driveway, she testified.
Conclusion
Not wanting a neighbor to see, she said she piled empty boxes and other debris on top of Merriman to keep him concealed until she could figure out what to do.
Janks was pulled over by a police officer later that day and texted the fixer, “Lose my number. I’m getting pulled over.” Janks testified she wrote that text because she did not want the man to be unfairly suspected by the police.
On Monday, Carlos said there was “some conduct” that occurred between Janks and Merriman during her teenage years, which the attorney said affected her reaction to the prospect of Merriman returning home from the medical facility and realizing she had discovered the pictures on his computer.
Carlos said there were family members and friends she could have relied upon for help, but she “panicked.”
Janks told Superior Court Judge Robert Kearney on Monday that Merriman “exerted influence” upon her after coming into her life at an early age. She alleged that influence eventually “manifested” into coercion and psychological manipulation.
Regarding the days surrounding Merriman’s death, Janks said, “I’m sorry I didn’t act the way I was supposed to that day. I think about it every day since.”
