“That’s My Body!”—Daughter Murders Her Stepfather After Seeing Her Nudes on His Computer

This incident, which took place in a quiet suburb of San Diego County, California, is like a terrifying psychological thriller. On 23 December 2020, 39-year-old interior designer Jade Janks discovered that her stepfather, Tom Merriman, had hundreds of nude pictures on his computer, and they were of her.

That emotional shock led to a horrific murder that has stirred up courtrooms across America for years.

A Discovery That Changed Her Life

On December 23, 2020, while cleaning her stepfather’s apartment during the Covid pandemic, Janks’s life turned dark.

Merriman was in a rehabilitation center after an accidental injury. While cleaning his room, a sleeping screen suddenly woke up on his computer screen—and a picture of a woman’s breasts appeared. Janks instantly realized that it was his body.

After being shocked, she began to rummage through the computer. There she found hundreds of nude photos. Some in the bathroom, some in the bedroom, and even some taken when he was a teenager. While testifying in court, Janks said,

“It was the most disgusting, most inhumane experience. I hated even touching my own skin.”

The investigation revealed that the photos were actually taken with Janks’s boyfriend, which somehow ended up on Merriman’s computer.

From Mental Breakdown to ‘Revenge Plan’

After the incident, a mentally disturbed Janks contacted a security guard named Alan Roach on social media. Roach wrote to him, “If you have a problem, I can fix it.”

Their conversation then moved from Facebook to phone. The police investigation later uncovered multiple messages—in which Janks wrote to Roach,

“I just dosed the hell out of him.”

“He is waking up… I can’t control my temper.”

“I’m about ready to club him.”

These messages were later presented as key evidence in the murder plot in court.

Body Discovery and Arrest

On January 1, 2021, a friend of Janks’, Adam Siplyak, called police to say that Janks had confessed to killing his stepfather and was asking for help in removing the body.

The next morning, Merriman’s body was found in the driveway of his home—wrapped in a blanket, covered in dirt, cartons, and appliances.

Janks was driving her own car when she left the house. When police stopped her and questioned her, she initially said that she had not heard from Merriman since she was brought home from a rehabilitation center.

But later, cell phone texts and phone records revealed the full picture of the murder.

Trial and Verdict

After a lengthy investigation, Janks’ trial began in December 2022. Prosecutors claimed that Janks had cold-bloodedly overdosed his stepfather and then strangled him to death.

In court, they presented his messages—“I just dosed the hell out of him” and “It’s going to be Weekend at Bernie’s”—which hinted at murder.

Janks’s lawyer, Marc Carlos, however, claimed that Merriman was mentally unstable and physically weak. Eventually he himself overdosed on the drug, and Janks only hid his body out of fear. But the court did not accept that argument.

In a 2023 verdict, she was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for first-degree murder. Later, in October 2024, the California Court of Appeal upheld that verdict.

Janks and Merriman’s relationship was as deep as father-daughter. According to neighbors, Merriman often called her “my daughter” and even ate dinner together.

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