911 call on Rio Arriba County Sheriff's death released
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – For the first time, we are hearing the distraught 911 call from a friend of the Rio Arriba County sheriff, to report the sheriff's death, shedding light on what led up to his body being found in his work vehicle.
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That friend of Sheriff Billy Merrifield called 911, describing some of the events that unfolded before he found his friend's body. It started when the friend got a call about the sheriff getting into a crash in the middle of the night.
Friend: 'My phone rang at 3 o'clock, and this girl that was with him told me that they were in Abiquiu somewhere by his house, and she sounded desperate and was crying.'
Merrifield was off duty, and the friend said he didn't know the woman with him. The friend met up with the two, and the woman drove the sheriff's unit back to the sheriff's house. The friend told dispatch he believed Merrifield was drunk, and he told him to go inside. The friend then drove the woman home, leaving the sheriff behind, still in his car. Later in the morning, the friend said he repeatedly called Merrifield's phone and decided to go check on him.
Friend: 'He's in his unit, he's unresponsive, I think he's dead.'Operator: 'And you're saying it's for sure?' Friend: 'Yeah, Billy Merrifield. He's my friend.' Operator: 'Okay. And he's unresponsive?' Friend: 'Yeah, I honestly think he's dead.'
Merrifield was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of Sheriff Merrifield's death is being investigated by New Mexico State Police. The autopsy report is still in progress. New Mexico State Police said they are also checking to see if the sheriff was under the influence of drugs or alcohol before his death.
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