Patterson Prosecuted Without Evidence of Dead Body
By: Kristen Kennedy
Updated: October 5, 2009
District attorneys are now putting together their case against Mickey Patterson - the man accused of killing two former co-workers at the Lubbock State School.
That has some wondering how they'll prosecute Patterson for Peggy Merimon's death when no body has ever turned up. Police say Patterson's responsible for killing former Lubbock State School employees Peggy Merimon and Kay Harrelson back in 2006. Harrelson's body was found shortly after her disappearance, but police have yet to find Merimon's. Attorney Rod Hobson says the success of a case like the one against Mickey Patterson will all depend on two arguments.
"How do they know that the person's dead? How can they prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Merimon's dead? And the second strongest argument is even if they can prove that, how can they prove that this fellow who was a co-worker was responsible for her murder? What would his motive have been?," says Hobson.
Hobson believes it'll be difficult to get a jury for this case in Lubbock because it's been so highly publicized here.
That has some wondering how they'll prosecute Patterson for Peggy Merimon's death when no body has ever turned up. Police say Patterson's responsible for killing former Lubbock State School employees Peggy Merimon and Kay Harrelson back in 2006. Harrelson's body was found shortly after her disappearance, but police have yet to find Merimon's. Attorney Rod Hobson says the success of a case like the one against Mickey Patterson will all depend on two arguments.
"How do they know that the person's dead? How can they prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Merimon's dead? And the second strongest argument is even if they can prove that, how can they prove that this fellow who was a co-worker was responsible for her murder? What would his motive have been?," says Hobson.
Hobson believes it'll be difficult to get a jury for this case in Lubbock because it's been so highly publicized here.
