In court documents, it was disclosed that a 55-year-old man confessed to the police that he was responsible for the death of the individual discovered on the Whitesburg Bridge on May 30 as a result of fighting.
Daniel Ray Shelton, 55, is accused of murder and corpse abuse in connection with the death of David Pierce Merritt and his subsequent attempt to dispose of his body on a bridge. Shelton is currently being held at the Marshall County Jail after being denied bond during an Aniah’s Law hearing on June 13.
As per the Huntsville Police Department, officers responded to a complaint of a potential deceased individual on the north side of the Whitesburg Bridge along Highway 231/431 at approximately 9:30 a.m. on May 30.
According to court documents, Merritt, the victim, was discovered in a bloody quilt blanket with his head concealed by a garbage bag. The man died from a gunshot wound, according to preliminary findings from authorities. Evidence indicated that the suspect was attempting to dispose of the corpse in the Tennessee River.
Court records indicate that sufficient information was furnished to secure a search warrant for a residence during law enforcement’s interactions with relatives. Documents indicate that blood spatter was discovered in a rear bedroom on the walls and in the carpet during the deputies’ search of the residence. A broken lamp and a bloody mobile phone charging cord were also discovered, according to the document.
Garbage bags with the same serial number as the one discovered on Merritt’s cranium were discovered in the kitchen, according to court records.
The suspect’s “estranged wife,” identified as Shelton, was interrogated by investigators, according to court documents. Shelton disclosed that she and Merritt had engaged in an altercation. Additionally, she stated that she had washed Shelton’s clothing in accordance with his request.
Documents indicate that Shelton contacted the Arab Police Department shortly thereafter and expressed his desire to engage in conversation, as well as his attempt to negotiate his surrender.
Shelton was apprehended during a traffic stop after an off-duty Arab officer observed him.
Shelton provided a recorded statement while in custody, in which he claimed that a struggle had occurred and that Merritt threw a lamp at him. According to court documents, Shelton retrieved Merritt’s.22 from the bed and fired it into the back of his skull after Merritt turned his back.
According to court documents, Shelton concealed Merritt’s wallet, cell phone, and identification in a body of water, wrapped his body in a quilt blanket, and attempted to dispose of it on the bridge.
After the interview, authorities reported that Shelton was arrested and lodged into the Madison County Jail.
On June 13, a Marshall County District Judge denied Shelton’s bond based on the information provided.
