One way to become a suspect in a murder case is to submit a previously unknown will that names you as the sole heir of the deceased.
Jake Clyde Merendino, a wealthy man after an inheritance from his parents and the success of a business of his own, traveled a great deal and collected art. He was found stabbed to death in a Mexican ravine not far from the United States border on May 2, 2015. The story of how his body got there is a bit convoluted and very tragic.
Authorities suspect that Merendino was lured into a homosexual relationship with a San Diego man, David Meza. Unbeknownst to Merendino, Meza had a girlfriend, Taylor Langston.
Merendino and Meza apparently traveled to Mexico where Merendino wished to purchase some property. The two checked into a hotel. Meza left the hotel on his motorcycle. He was seen on camera entering the United States a little while later. A couple of hours later, Merendino told a security guard that he was leaving the hotel to help a friend who was stranded on the road. Langston was seen leaving the United States for Mexico. Meza was not seen leaving the US again, but he was seen entering the United States from Mexico again later that same night.
The FBI believes the two stabbed Merendino and left his body beside the road.
The Daily Mail has more on this chain of events in “Couple ‘lured wealthy Texas retiree into gay relationship and made him sign away his fortune before they stabbed him to death and dumped his body in a ravine’.”
Meza and Langston have been arrested and charged with the murder after authorities became suspicious when the Texas attorney who drafted Merendino’s will submitted it to probate and Meza contested. Meza produced a handwritten will that named him as the sole heir to Merendino’s estate.
Reference: Daily Mail (Dec. 24, 2015) “Couple ‘lured wealthy Texas retiree into gay relationship and made him sign away his fortune before they stabbed him to death and dumped his body in a ravine’.”
