Ex-wife of fugitive former attorney speaks as manhunt continues

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. (WGCL) - The ex-wife of a fugitive former attorney suspected of killing his mother says she and her children are terrified he'll show up.

On the day he was supposed to begin serving a prison sentence for fraud, police say disbarred Georgia attorney Richard Merritt killed his own mother.

A nationwide manhunt has been underway ever since.

Merritt’s ex-wife and children are in protective custody.

"We are scared, we've been hiding, we have protection from the US Marshals office,” Dr. Merritt said.

She says her ex led a double life, was a verbally abusive drunk and allegedly snapped on Feb. 2, when he allegedly killed his own mother.

That was the same day he was set to turn himself over to authorities for a 15-year prison sentence for defrauding clients.

"I think he was drunk and I think he told her he wasn't going,” Dr. Merritt said.

She says she believes others are helping Merritt evade capture. Dr. Merritt added that she's fearful of how a confrontation with police will end.

"I think suicide is a possibility,” she said. “He destroyed us with what he did."

The US Marshals service is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to Merritt's capture.

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Ex-wife of fugitive former attorney speaks as manhunt continues

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Disbarred Georgia attorney Richard Merritt on the run after allegedly killing his mother

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