On April 21, the St. Louis County Family Court certified 16-year-old Dakota Merit to be tried as an adult for the August homicide of Derrick Merit. Dakota was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. She is being held on $300,000, cash only, no 10% bond.

All charges are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

On August 17, 2025, St. Louis County police officers from the South County Precinct responded to a call for service at 4:28 p.m. for a stabbing in the 200 block of Carrington Lane. On the scene, officers discovered Derrick, 39, suffering from life-threatening stab wounds. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. Dakota was taken into custody the same day and has been held by the St. Louis County Family Court. According to the police department’s probable cause statement, she was responsible for the injuries.

The St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are handling this investigation.