A dentist in Georgia arrested in March for allegedly shooting her partner to death in a bedroom at their shared home is being sued by the man's family, according to multiple recently published news stories.
The sons, who have not been identified, of James Barron have filed a wrongful death lawsuit on March 19 against Dr. Suzanne Renee Mericle. Barron's sons are seeking damages, including their father's lost wages, funeral expenses, and attorney fees, according to the stories.
Dr. Suzanne Renee Mericle. Image courtesy of the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
In March, Mericle, 61, of Mericle Dentistry in St. Simons Island, GA, was charged with felony murder, aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
The family claims that Mericle, who was in a relationship with Barron, had an argument with their father on March 8 at their shared home in Gainesville, GA. Barron locked himself in a bedroom. Mericle allegedly got a gun and shot Barron through the bedroom door, ultimately killing him, according to the stories.
Barron's children also accuse Mericle of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the shooting.
At about 1 a.m. on March 8, authorities responded to the home and found an unresponsive man who had been shot in his torso in a bedroom. Baron was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. When the authorities arrived, Mericle was at the residence.
