48 Hours “Jade Janks and the Secret Photos” October 14 2023 Recap & Preview
On New Year’s Day 2021, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department received a call from a man expressing concern that his friend, Jade Janks, may have been involved in the death of her stepfather, Tom Merriman. In a report exclusive to “48 Hours,” contributor Tracy Smith delves into the case against Janks, revealing previously unseen clues uncovered by investigators. This episode, titled “Jade Janks and the Secret Photos,” is scheduled to air on Saturday, October 14, from 10:00 to 11:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network and will be available for streaming on Paramount+.
According to assistant district attorneys Jorge Del Portillo and Teresa Pham, the caller informed sheriff’s deputies that Janks had allegedly confessed to drugging, suffocating, and strangling Merriman to death. This led to a search for Merriman, who was ultimately discovered deceased in his driveway, concealed beneath a pile of trash. Janks was subsequently arrested and charged with his murder, although she maintained her innocence. Janks claimed that Merriman, who had recently been discharged from the hospital, had fallen asleep in her car and had passed away there. She asserted that she found Merriman’s lifeless body in her car the following morning and, in a state of panic, attempted to hide his remains.
Initially, the autopsy results seemed to corroborate Janks’ version of events, indicating that Merriman’s cause of death was a prescription drug overdose rather than strangulation, as prosecutors had initially suspected.
However, the case took a surprising turn when investigators learned that just ten days before Merriman’s death, Janks had discovered hundreds of explicit photos of herself on his computer. Janks described the experience as deeply violating and disturbing.
Another twist emerged when prosecutors uncovered text messages from Janks that they deemed “suspicious” and “incriminating.” Yet, the question remained: did these messages constitute evidence of murder?
What Happened to Jade Janks & Tom Merriman?
Jade Janks, a 39-year-old woman from Solana Beach, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of her stepfather, Tom Merriman. This decision came after Janks was found guilty of killing Merriman upon discovering hundreds of explicit photos of herself on his computer.
During her trial, Janks testified that the nude photos were taken when she was between 16 and 26 years old. Prosecutors alleged that she drugged Merriman and strangled him on December 31, 2020, after finding the explicit photos. Her defense argued that he had overdosed on sleeping pills in her car, and Janks hid the body under a pile of garbage next to his home because she feared being blamed for his death.
While Merriman’s death was initially considered an overdose, text messages surfaced during the trial that prosecutors used to argue Janks intended to kill him. These texts included statements about harming him and seeking assistance.
Janks testified that Merriman had exerted a negative influence on her since childhood, involving inappropriate touch, coercion, and psychological manipulation. She expressed regret for her actions during the incident, acknowledging that she should have acted differently.
The judge ruled that Janks would be eligible for parole in 25 years. Janks’ defense attorney, Marc Carlos, planned to file an appeal on her behalf.
