Christopher Merriman called 911 around 10 p.m. on June 6 and told police that his sister had been attacked by a man during a fight over crack cocaine at a home just off Highway 58.
When Chattanooga police arrived, Merriman, 50, was sitting outside the house, talking on his cellphone. His shoes and pants were splattered with blood.
By the numbers
Murder 2012: 4 2013: 2 2014: 5 Rape 2012: 17 2013: 21 2014: 40 Aggravated assault 2012: 439 2013: 548 2014: 568 Simple assault 2012: 1,827 2013: 1,659 2014: 1,556 Source: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, as reported by Chattanooga Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Family Justice Center
Organizations represented at the Family Justice Center: * In-house staff of six employees * Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County * McKamey Animal Shelter * Adult Protective Services * Southern Adventist University * Legal Aid of East Tennessee * Hamilton County District Attorney * Southeast Tennessee Legal Services * Chattanooga Police Department * Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office * Second Life of Chattanooga * Helen Ross McNabb Center Source: Valerie Radu
His sister, 54-year-old Elizabeth Merriman, lay inside, severely wounded, in a pool of blood.