Left: Deborah Firecloud; Right: Donald Merrill
A Baxter County woman has been charged with a felony count of hindering apprehension of a man facing trial in Marion County for rape and sexual assault.
According to the probable cause affidavit, 46-year-old Donald Merrill was scheduled to appear in the Marion County Circuit Court for a jury trial on charges of rape and sexual assault on November 21, but did not appear as ordered. The United States Marshals Service Task Force was contacted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to assist in locating and arresting Merrill.
With the help of the Mountain Home Police Department, US Task Force officers spoke with Merrill’s known girlfriend 33-year-old Deborah Firecloud at the Mountain Home Inn the following day. She told authorities she had not spoken to Merrill since the morning of November 21 after they had returned from getting breakfast. Firecloud stated she had gone upstairs to the room and realized Merrill did not follow. When she went outside to look for him, he was no where to be found. She also told authorities she tried several times to call him on his cell phone, but it would go straight to voicemail. When asked if she had any idea where he might be or be with, she said she had no idea.
Law enforcement advised Firecloud if she were to help Merrill evade capture in any way, she could possibly be charged with a felony for hindering apprehension, which she understood. Officers gave Firecloud one more chance to be truthful in Merrill’s wherabouts without being charged. She insisted she had not talked to him or seen him since they had returned. Before leaving, officers told her if information was obtained contridicting her statement, she would be charged. She was also instructed to contact them if she heard from him or thought of anything to assist in locating Merrill.
Authorities went to the office of the Mountain Home Inn where they reviewed surveillance footage and observed Firecloud and Merrill leaving the parking lot. The same vehicle returned approximately and hour later, but with only Firecloud exiting the vehicle.
Merrill was charged with failure to appear and is currently being held in the Marion County Detention Center on $250,000 bond.
Firecloud was released from the Baxter County Dentention Center on $15,000 bond.
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