Forty-one years later we’re still asking, ‘Who killed Ricky Merrill and Dori Colyer?’

Forty-one years after they were found dead, officials haven’t given up on solving the murders of a young couple whose bodies were recovered from a car that was found burning out of control.  On May 9, 1981, Ricky Merrill and Dori Colyer were last seen leaving the Hilltop Lounge on Broad Street in Brooksville, Florida.

As they were leaving the bar, Ricky and Dori told friends they would return to the lounge shortly; but they never returned.

On the same date at approximately 2:30 a.m., the fire department was dispatched to a possible “brush fire” in the 300 block of Stafford Avenue in Brooksville, about one mile from the Hilltop Lounge.

Upon their arrival, firefighters discovered a vehicle on fire. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed two bodies inside, later identified as Ricky Merrill and Dori Colyer.

Their bodies were so badly burned that Rick was identified by his dental records. Dori was identified by the jewelry she was wearing. The families waited nine days for the Medical Examiner to identify the bodies. Newspaper articles note the investigation into the murders of Rick and Dori resulted in a case file of up to 1000 pages thick.

On July 31,1981 the Brooksville Florida Police Department held a news conference. They announced they had four known suspects in the murders of Rick Merrill and Dori Colyer. They refused to provide any further suspect information.  ~ “Who Killed Ricky Merrill and Dori Colyer?”

As of this writing, Ricky and Dori’s murder suspects have not been named, no arrests made.

Anyone with information on this Cold Case Homicide is asked to contact Detective George Loydgren with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office at (352) 754-6830. If you have information on this Cold Case Homicide, please contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers. You will remain anonymous.

Hernando County Crime Stoppers can be reached by phone at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477) or **TIPS from a cell phone.

You may also submit your tip via the internet at http://www.hernandocountycrimestoppers.com .

You will remain anonymous and also be eligible for a reward up to $5,000 cash.

For more on the unsolved murders of Ricky Merrill and Dori Colyer, see the video accompanying this article.

(Source: Hernando County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter