After being postponed several times, the trial of the alleged killer/abuser of the little boy pictured-Logan Shane Goodall will begin January 14, 2008 in Putnam County, West Virginia. Logan Goodall was a two-year-old who was murdered in 2005. The person charged and now headed to trial for the boy’s murder is his mother’s ex-boyfriend Michael Merrifield, 32.
Prosecutors in the case say that in September of 2005, while the child’s mother Pepper Eren was at work, Michael Merrifield was left to watch Logan. At some point in time the toddler was sexually assaulted and beaten (allegedly) by Merrifield.
Merrifield insisted he was innocent of the charges against him (first degree murder and child neglect) but he was the only one home alone with little Logan. Also, at the time, an autopsy found that Logan had been severely beaten and and sexually abused before his death. According to reports, this baby was abused in the past and at the time of his death, the med. examiner found the following injuries: (Warning- the following is very graphic and sensitive readers may want to skip over)
- He was either kicked, punched or beaten so severely that his liver ruptured.
- His abdominal injuries as well as his head injuries were severe enough to cause death.
- His bottom and feet were burned by someone dipping him into either boiling water or chemicals.
- He was sexually assaulted by the application of pressure and/or pinching of his penis; his rectum was sexually violated, his scrotum was either cut, bitten or torn.
I can’t think of any earthly reason a 2-year-old baby would have to endure such cruel and sadistic punishment inflicted on them by anyone. This man, should be executed-but then of course w.va doesn’t have the death penalty, but boy do they need to bring it back, JUST FOR MERRIFIELD!
And it gets even worse. It turns out that the mother Pepper Eren, was arrested, tried and is now doing 1-10 years in Lakin Women’s prison for child neglect. She was recently denied parole on Jan. 10th for her role in the death of her son. In addition, Michael Merrifield’s parents Doctor John and Diane Merrifield are to go to trial in March of this year-each being charged with a felony count of gross neglect creating a substantial risk of injury or death.
Their negligence, prosecutors say, may have led to the death of 2-year-old Logan. Dr. John Merrifield is also accused of two misdemeanor counts of failing to notify the proper authorities about possible abuse after treating Logan for injuries. An indictment said that a few weeks before the child’s death, Dr. Merrifield treated a wound on Logan’s scrotum and treated burns on his heels and buttock area.
I hope they get convictions and very long jail sentences for protecting a murdering and abusing son-rather than protecting a defenseless child like Logan. I don’t care that Michael Merrifield was their son, and they felt they needed to protect him. They broke the law and they should be held accountable for it.
Sources: -Charleston Daily Mail -Putnam Live
6 Comments
January 15 ,2008 at 7:48 am
Day Two, 01.15.08-
Logan’s maternal grandfather took the stand today.Robert Eren said he noticed frequent injuries on his grandchild, but was given explanations each time he asked about them.Robert Eren also said he saw the stitches on Logan’s scrotum,the burns on his back,butt area, and to the boy’s heels. Logan’s Grandfather said the injuries healed up and didn’t look as serious recalling, “they weren’t fresh or nothing.”
A series of emergency medical personnel took the stand today. They said on the day Logan died he had no heartbelt by the time help arrived at the scene. A nurse who testified broke down on the stand as she describe the injuries the child suffered. She said Logan had a mix of old and new bruises on him. The nurse also says she overheard Merrifield say “My life is over.”
Jurors also heard the 911 call made by Michael Merrifield who told the dispatchers Logan had not been breathing for “several minutes” and had a seizure.
Logan’s relative Amy Anderson (his cousin) testified that she noticed Logan became timid when Merrifield came into his life and that he “looked yellow” just a month before his death. Anderson also said she noticed bruises on Logan when his mother Pepper Eren began to date Michael Merrifield.
Today the defense focused alot of attention on Pepper Eren, the boy’s mother, saying that she was “a lazy,shiftless mother with a crack cocaine/meth addiction.” She was called “the monster” and blamed for not taking her son to hospital the day of his death. It was Michael Merrifield, who called the ambulance. The defense also pointed out their belief that the state made a rush to judgement in blaming Merrifield (even though he was the only one in the house with the boy??!! ). They say the state made Pepper wear a recordable device in order to get a confession from Merrifield.
I don’t understand who is on trial at this point? Is it-Pepper Eren or Michael Merrifield? Maybe she was never in the running for mother of the year, but this is about WHO KILLED THIS CHILD isn’t it? Why focus on her at this time? She is in jail for her actions (or her inaction) involving her son. Don’t get me wrong I am not supporting her, but she made her plea and is in jail. The defense sounds like they have no case. There is supposed to be like 7 more witnesses as the trial continues on Wednesday.
Sources:
WTRF
January 16 ,2008 at 7:28 am
Day One, 01.14.08|
->In Winfield,W.V. the trial of Michael Merrifield is underway in Putnam County Circuit Court. Jurors heard opening statements from the prosecutor Mark Sorsaia. He told the jurors that Logan Goodall was severely beaten and sexually assaulted before his death in September 2005.
The person who he says committed these crimes against this adorable little boy was Michael Merrified, the then-boyfriend of Logan’s mother Pepper Eren. Prosecutor also said the physical& sexual abuse of Logan was going on long before the day he lost his life.
Both the defense and the state warned the jurors and observers to be prepared to hear highly emotional testimony about what happened to Logan. Merrifield plead not guilty to charges of first degree murder, sexual assault,sexual abuse by a parent,guardian and child neglect by a guardian or parent resulting in death.
The prosecutor revealed that there is medical evidence and witness testimony that will prove that Merrifield “inflicted the most hideous,sadisitic physical abuse and sexual abuse that can be imagined.” He went on to tell jurors there will be times when you [are] brought to tears.”
The defense lawyer Michael Clifford said the prosecutor “had no case” and needed to appeal to jurors’ emotions because they had no eveidence. Witness to continue.
January 18 ,2008 at 10:03 am
Day Three,1.16.2008|
Much of today’s testimony was centered on Logan Goodall’s mother Pepper Eren, who was on the stand for 3 hours. In her tearful testimony, Pepper said that she “failed as a mom” to Logan and that readily admitted that she put drugs (meth and cocaine) and alcohol before her son. Eren also said she wasn’t around her sound much after she and Merrifield became a couple. He spent most of the time with his grandparents, while she continued her lifestyle of partying, drinking and drugging-and unfortunately, neglecting her son.
She testifield that she noticed the bumps and bruises on her 2-year-old son, but she believed the excuses for them that Michael Merrifield gave her. She read part of a letter she sent to Merrifield after his arrest, telling him she loved him and that they were “soulmates”. Pepper has now had a change of heart, and told the jurors she believes the former love of her life murdered her son and she is “disgusted” by him.
My questions are many, but the biggest ones are:
How did Eren not see that there was a pattern of abuse going on, with Logan?
all the bruises and especially the burns on his butt?
Why didn’t she just stay home and care for her son that day or night?
Why did she allow this man to have so much access to her son?
Why allow Logan to call this man Daddy Mike, when he already had a daddy?
Why did Eren not ask her little boy what happened to him herself? At 2 1/2 kids are very verbal and I feel Logan could have definetly let his mother know it was Michael who was hurting him while he was home alone with him.
I know people are being hard on Pepper Eren, and I may be one of those, but I hope this case is a smack in the face of reality to these moms out there who date these men and choose to have their children around these people allowing abuse/ignoring abuse they know full well is happening to their child or children. Too many moms are willing to look the other way while this is going on, and they fail to realize that ignoring the abuse, they are taking a huge chance with their child’s life, and an extended stay in jail or prison. Mothers, please put your children first!
Source:
WSAZ Channel 3
January 18 ,2008 at 10:39 am
Day Four,01.17.08|
An investigator with the Putnam Sheriff’s Office Det.Arthur took the stand and she investigated the home of Logan when he died. Another paramedic took the stand as well who tried to help revive Logan. Read More
January 25 ,2008 at 8:01 am
Justice for Logan Goodall!
Today Michael Merrifield has been found guilty for the 2005 murder of little Logan. From WBOY-TV:
The jury didn’t believe Michael Merrifield and neither did I. Especially after the E.R. nurse testified to hearing him say “my life is over!!!” at the hospital.
and….
This is all very bizarre, the brother Patrick was set to testify, but takes the 5th and then ends up in the E.R. on a ventilator? Is this all coincidence, or something totally different? I don’t know but I am happy to see Logan and his family FINALLY get the justice they deserved.
January 1 ,2009 at 7:30 pm
I think Michael Marrifild deserves to be put through the same thing as he put that little boy through. It’s one of the sickest case I’ve ever read about, It sad that there are people out there that can do something so vile and that a mother could just set back and let it go on if she would of done something about it long ago Logan would still be alive but no her drug abuse had to come first so the way i see it she got off easy. Where is what we call true
justice ?