Merimon was last seen leaving the Lubbock State School, a residential facility for mentally retarded children and adults in in the 3400 block of north University in Lubbock, Texas, at approximately 12:45 p.m. on August 9, 2006. She worked at the school as a data-entry clerk. She left on her lunch break with a coworker, Louetta "Kay" Harrelson. The women were accompanied by an unidentified Caucasian man described as middle-aged, with white hair and a gray beard. He had an unkempt appearance and wore eyeglasses with a double bar over the nose. They rode away in a rusty gray or silver four-door Buick sedan. Neither woman returned and Merimon has never been heard from again. A photograph of Harrelson and a sketch of the unidentified companion are posted below this case summary.

Harrelson's body was found in a ditch near Shallowater, Texas, ten miles from the Lubbock State School, on August 20, thirteen days after she and Merimon disappeared. There was no sign of Merimon at the scene. Harrelson's remains were badly decomposed and had been damaged further by animals. Her head was found a few feet from her body, but it is unclear whether it was intentionally removed or came off during the decomposition process. Authorities kept the body for several days trying to determine what caused her to die, but they eventually released it to he family without finding out the cause of death. Her death is being investigated as a homicide, however, due to the circumstances involved.

Authorities had a longtime suspect in Merimon's disappearance and Harrelson's murder. The man, Mickey Weldon Patterson, admitted he spoke to the women the day they disappeared, and he resembles the sketch of the man they were last seen with. A photo of Patterson is posted below this case summary. He was employed by Lubbock State School at the time of the disappearances. He called in sick to work on August 8, the day before the women vanished. He went to work on August 9, but left early, saying he was suffering from diarrhea. He called in sick the following day. Patterson was placed on paid administrative leave from the school a short time after Merimon and Harrelson disappeared. He remained on leave for more than a year before being terminated. In August 2008, Merimon and Harrelson's families filed a civil wrongful death suit against him.

Patterson was arrested in Oregon and charged with Harrelson and Merimon's murders in September 2009. He has waived extradition and will return to Texas to face trial for two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities haven't detailed the case they have against him.

Merimon is married and has seven children, one of whom was heavily pregnant in August 2006, and twenty-three grandchildren. Her loved ones stated they did not believe she had left of her own accord, as it is uncharacteristic of her to be out of touch with them. Foul play is suspected in her case due to the circumstances involved.

Left: Kay Harrelson;
Center: Suspect sketch;
Right: Mickey Patterson