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Sister of slain pregnant woman says she knew of toxic relationship

By Stephanie Tinoco
By Stephanie Tinoco

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Natalie Merrick was just 23 years old when police found her body on the side of Dobys Bridge Road in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Last month, police said the pregnant woman’s boyfriend is responsible for her death.

Merrick’s older sister, Jazzmyn Knox, reached out to Channel 9.

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Knox said it took her 20 years for the sisters, who have different fathers, to be reunited.

Knox said it is painful knowing she will never see her youngest sister again.

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“She found me on Facebook, and since then, we stayed in touch through social media,” Knox said. “I’m never going to get to hug her or hold her or anything like that.”

Merrick disappeared from her Charlotte home in October and was found in York County.

Days later, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested her boyfriend, 28-year-old Mahmood Bhatti. Detectives believe Bhatti killed Merrick and her unborn child.

(Mahmood Bhatti)

Knox says her sister was in a toxic relationship with Bhatti.

"In the back of my head I knew if she stayed and this continued, it could lead into what it eventually did, but you never really think that,” Knox said.

(Natalie Merrick)

Records show before Merrick’s death, police arrested Bhatti and charged him with assault, but the charge was later dismissed.

Knox said her sister confided in her about much worse.

"The things she would tell me were just absolutely horrific," Knox said.

Knox said the last time the family heard from Merrick was when she made a trip to Atlanta in October. Merrick dropped off her 5-year-old daughter at their mother’s home.

She was supposed to head back to Charlotte, grab her stuff and start a new life in Atlanta.

“That's the last time my mom saw her and the last time we heard from her,” Knox said.

Bhatti's was on the calendar for court Thursday, but it was postponed to February. Prosecutors are expected to announce whether or not they will be requesting the death penalty in this case.

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