Friends and family are mourning the loss of Rowan County teen Jennifer Merriman, who was killed a week ago during a domestic disturbance involving her sister’s estranged husband, Montannez Antonio Moody.
Moody broke a window to the Richfield home were Merriman, along with her aunt Bernice Merriman, Montannez Moody’s wife, Julia, and their two infant boys slept.
Authorities said he fired shots through a window, killing Jennifer Merriman and seriously wounding Bernice Merriman, and sending Julia Moody and her children fleeing to a bedroom closet for protection.
Moody then went to Guilford County, held a couple at gunpoint, eventually ditched the man and kidnapped the woman.
Sometime after 9 a.m. Sunday, authorities were led to Edgecombe County when a woman called saying she’d been raped. The woman reported she had been held captive by Moody for more than eight hours in the area and had escaped when Moody passed out in the car.
Investigators evacuated a number of homes while they searched for the gun-wielding Moody.
Moody was found dead of an apparent cocaine overdose in a wooded area, lying face down in a swamp.
Once news spread that the victim in the shooting was Jennifer Merriman, friends, teachers and those who knew her were left with only their memories of a young girl who was smart and always happy.
Andrea Gardner of Georgia met Merriman about three years ago at a summer program for academically talented and gifted students held at the University of Georgia.
Merriman didn’t know anyone in the program, but struck up a conversation with Gardner while the two walked to dinner. They learned they had the same taste in music and other things in common. They returned to the summer program and eventually became counselors.
The two became fast friends and maintained contact through Facebook. They even planned to attend Appalachian State University together.
“We had a bunch of plans for the future that included each other,” Gardner said.
Gardner said her father showed her a screen shot of something he’d received from a family member detailing Merriman’s tragic death.
A mutual friend of Jennifer and Andrea also messaged Andrea’s stepmother telling her he had bad news to report.
Andrea’s father broke the news to her while she was at school. Gardner said she became so upset she could not continue.
“I still don’t feel like it’s actually happened. I am waiting to get another message from her, another picture or status update and there’s nothing. There’s not going to be nothing,” Gardner said.
She said her friend was carefree and easygoing. Gardner said when everyone at camp first met Jennifer, they were intimidated by her height. She was about 5 foot 9. “She was so tall, but she was the sweetest person ever,” Gardner said.
Gardner said Merriman would do anything for a friend and the two would always be seen laughing about something.
“She was so kind to anyone and everyone. She was always happy,” Gardner said.
“I felt like I could say anything to her and she not judge me, and I felt like she could do the same, “ Gardner said.
Others who knew Merriman, and some who didn’t, have left heartfelt messages and condolences through social media, including Facebook. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.