Jade Sasha Janks was found guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday. The prosecution claimed that the California interior designer killed her stepfather, a butterfly conservationist, after discovering nude images of herself on his computer.
The Jade Janks’ murder trial, which lasted more than a week, came to a conclusion with the jury’s decision. According to the prosecution, Janks drugged and strangled Tom Merriman on December 31, 2020.
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Who is Jade Janks?
Jade Janks is based in Solana Beach, California. She is an interior designer. Janks is the owner of the upscale interior design and decor studio Jade Janks Interiors.
Her business, which focuses on creating “functional and fabulous” spaces or homes, offers “a unique custom tailored experience” to “Remodel, Refurnish, or Restyle” projects, according to her LinkedIn bio.
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According to reports, the interior designer attended MiraCosta College and San Diego Mesa College. She formerly worked in outside sales for Suntile and as a project engineer for Gordon Prill.
Before joining Peter Lik USA as a Senior Art Sales Consultant in 2013, she also contributed to sales and design at Janks Tiles & Stone. After two years of employment at Nativa Interiors, she launched her own interior design business in 2018.
Janks was convicted of first-degree murder for killing her step-father, Tom Merriman, after discovering nude photos of her in his computer.
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Prosecutors contended throughout the week-long trial that Janks had plotted to kill her stepfather after seeing hundreds of his computer’s collection of nude pictures of her. According to Janks’ attorney, the pictures were shot when Janks was as young as 16 years old and were arranged by body part. They were also taken in different situations, including while Janks was in the shower.
Prosecutors said that this was the motive for the murder. Text messages that Janks sent to friends on the day of Merriman’s murder, according to the prosecution, were discovered.
According to authorities, she texted for assistance after killing him.
She allegedly stated in one of several texts, “I can’t carry him alone and I can’t keep a kicking body in my trunk,” among other things. She also allegedly wrote, “I am about to club him on the head as he is waking up.”
One of the texts sent on the day of Merriman’s murder read in court stated, “I just dosed the hell out of him,” while another read “it’s pretty much done.”
The 39-year-old Solana Beach resident’s eyes widened as the San Diego County jury announced its decision against Janks, and she appeared to be in startled amazement as she turned to face her defence attorney.
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“They’ve been excellent and patient and kind and attentive throughout this whole trial and we’re just happy we achieved some justice for Tom and his family,” the prosecutor commented to reporters following their win.
Merriman’s death, according to Janks’ defence, was caused by his own long-term drug usage and bad health. An overdose of a prescribed medication was declared as Merriman’s official cause of death. The jury ruled against Janks.
