Reward offered in U.S. Marshals search for former attorney suspected of killing mother

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - DeKalb County Police and U.S. Marshals are on the lookout for a man suspected in the death of his own mother.

According to police, 44-year-old Richard Merritt may have stabbed his mother to death at her home on the 1500 block of Planters Row in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Officers found Shirley Merritt stabbed in the home Saturday morning at around 9:30. Investigators say the stabbing appeared to be an isolated, domestic-related incident.

RELATED: Cobb County attorney sentenced for stealing clients settlement checks

Merritt has been the subject of several FOX 5 I-Team investigations for stealing nearly $500,000 in legal settlements from his clients.

Last week, a Cobb County Judge sentenced the disbarred attorney to 15 years in prison.

The judge granted Merritt's request for time to get his affairs in order. He was supposed to turn himself in on Friday but never showed up.

Authorities described Merritt as 5-feet-10-inches tall with a weight of around 175 pounds. He has brown eyes and hair.

He could be driving his mother's brown 2009 silver Lexus with Georgia tag CBV6004.

A reward of $5,000 is now being offered for information leading to Merritt's capture.

Anyone with any information on Merritt's whereabouts should contact the U.S. Marshals tip line at 1-877-926-8332.