GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Court TV) — A Georgia dentist faces a life sentence after she was convicted of killing her boyfriend, who was shot through a door.

Suzanne Mericle, 62, faced a list of charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and criminal damage in the death of James David Barron, who was killed on March 7, 2025. After deliberating for several hours over two days, the jury delivered a verdict of not guilty of malice murder, but guilty of felony murder, also finding her guilty of the commission of first-degree criminal damage to property.

Mericle is scheduled to face sentencing on May 11.

Suzanne Mericle sits in court during opening statements on March 18, 2026. (Court TV)

Mericle and Barron began a serious relationship in 2024, and in October of that year purchased a home together on Lake Lanier. But prosecutors said that by March, the relationship was having problems — specifically because Mericle had become aware that Barron was sending money to a woman from his past who lives in Moldova. Mericle’s defense said it went beyond just sending money: Barron was allegedly bringing the woman and her daughter to the United States, and was paying for a $3,500-per-month apartment in New Jersey for them.

In opening statements, Prosecutor Jennifer Bagwell described Mericle as becoming “unhinged” and shooting the victim “in a fit of rage” after an argument. Investigators say when Barron retreated upstairs to the bedroom and locked the door, Mericle came after him and fired her Glock 9 mm through the door. The bullet struck Barron, killing him. Bagwell said Mericle then got a hammer and used it to bang holes in the door until she could unlock it and get in.

Once inside, Bagwell said in her opening statement, Mericle went into “damage-control mode” rather than deliver any first aid to the victim. Mericle allegedly grabbed Barron’s Beretta firearm and placed it by his hand, then fired two to three shots from the weapon. Bagewell also said that Mericle admitted to police that she flushed several rounds down the toilet before officers arrived.

But Mericle’s defense attorney, Brett Willis, told a very different story in his opening statement. He told the jury that while Mericle initially thought she was in a relationship with “Prince Charming,” the reality behind closed doors was very different. “This was somebody who had opinions about what she wore, what she was to eat, what she was to do with the money from the sale of her dental practice. This was someone who put their hands on her over and over and over again.”

Mericle’s defense said that on the evening of March 7, Barron sexually assaulted the defendant before taking away her phone and the keys to the only functioning car before retreating to the bedroom. While her defense conceded that Mericle fired a shot through the door, they said she was trying to break the lock so she could get her phone.

Responding to allegations that Mericle tried to stage the scene with Barron’s Beretta, Willis said that the two shots fired from that weapon were suicide attempts.

DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 8 – 3/27/26

• LIVESTREAM: GA v. Suzanne Mericle – Day 8 | Dentist Behind the Door Trial
• LIVESTREAM: GA v. Suzanne Mericle – Day 8, Part 2 | Dentist Behind the Door Trial
• The jurors returned to their deliberations.
  • The jurors asked a question: In order to find the defendant guilty of criminal damage of property, we do not need to confirm her intent was to injure him, correct? We do need to agree that her intent was to shoot the door and that a natural consequence of shooting the door caused his death, correct?
• The jurors reached a unanimous verdict.

DAY 7 – 3/26/26

• LIVESTREAM: GA v. Suzanne Mericle – Day 7 | Dentist Behind the Door Trial
• The prosecution delivered closing arguments.
  • Mericle was jealous and became unhinged.
  • She fired the gun when she was six inches away from the door after yelling threats that were frightening enough for Barron to be hiding.
  • Mericle went into “self-preservation” mode and began covering up what happened; the easiest defense was to make it look like Barron was firing back at her.
  • Barron had no alcohol in his system at the time of his death.
  • Mericle flushed shell casings and bullets to obstruct prosecution and planted the gun and wiped up blood to protect herself.
  • WATCH: Cover-Up in Dentist Murder Driven by Self-Preservation: Prosecutors
• Mericle’s defense delivered closing arguments.
  • The state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mericle’s actions weren’t justified.
  • Mericle was the one who called the police, she was hysterical and could barely get her own name out.
  • Mericle repeatedly says she was scared and “I thought he was going to kill me.”
  • She wasn’t mad at him, she was just tired.
  • If Barron was afraid, he could have left out the front door.
  • Barron saw the text messages and became enraged and unhinged.
  • This was an acute trauma response and Mericle had no intent to kill that night. Self-defense means she is allowed to use deadly force.
  • WATCH: Accused Dentist Killer Did Not Intend To Kill Boyfriend: Defense
• The jury began its deliberations.
  • The jury sent back a note saying one juror was refusing to deliberate.
  • MORE: Juror refuses to deliberate in Suzanne Mericle’s murder trial

DAY 6 – 3/25/26

• LIVESTREAM: GA v. Suzanne Mericle – Day 6 | Dentist Behind the Door Trial
• Andrea Elkon returned to the stand.
  • Mericle felt like killing herself; she had depression and felt isolated while incarcerated.
  • Mericle said that she panicked and flushed the bullets down the toilet.
• Jim Persinger, Digital forensic specialist
  • Cybercrime software developer, he makes forensic images of data and extracts information.
  • Contacted by the state about two cell phone extractions: one for an iPhone 11 and one for an iPhone 13.
  • Looked at the phone’s data to determine that both phones climbed the stairs at the same time, but that Suzanne’s did not go back down the stairs.
  • Deleted from the search was “Hall County Sheriff.”
  • Could not say who was carrying the phones up the stairs.
• Dana Mericle Gardner, Defendant’s older sister
  • Met Barron twice; the first time was around Halloween, and a brief meeting. The second time was Jan. 18, 2025, at her sister’s birthday.
  • They arrived as a couple and it was their first time meeting the family.
  • They would interact, but sat by themselves and talked quietly to each other.
  • Mericle is normally the life of the party but that’s not how she appeared.
  • Did not see any violence.
  • Mericle told her about concerns she had with Barron and another woman with whom he was involved.
  • WATCH: Accused Killer Dentist Tried to Escape Bad Relationship Before Murder: Sister
• Anthony David Cavanaugh, Hall County Fire Rescue firefighter/paramedic
  • Med unit arrived on scene at 1:27.
  • Checked for a pulse on the victim, who was lying on his stomach.
  • There was no rigor mortis or lividity.
• McClain Culver, Defendant’s son
  • Lived in the home for three to four weeks, moved out in late Jan. 2025.
  • Worked remotely while living there.
  • His mother behaved very submissively, which was not like her.
  • Barron would fall asleep while they were playing games because he got too drunk.
  • Read text messages between him and his mother from March 7.
• Mary Madden Bishop, Defendant’s daughter
  • Met Barron for the first time in Birmingham, Alabama, where they met to meet and go to dinner and get to know one another.
  • At the initial interaction, she noticed her mother was wearing a tight body con dress, not something she would normally wear. Mericle said that Barron bought it for her.
  • The encounter was awkward and Barron was highly intoxicated the entire time.
• Defense rested its case.
• Beth Barron, Victim’s ex-wife
  • Remained friendly after the divorce; they talked often about the kids and any events they had coming up.
  • Barron was the kindest, sweetest man she had ever known.
  • Barron was peaceful, calm and loving.
• Laura Anthony Phillips, Victim’s ex-wife
  • Married Barron in 2004 and was married for almost 10 years.
  • After divorcing, they stayed in contact and were friends.
  • Described Barron as caring, kind, respectful, honest and patient.
  • WATCH: Ex-Wives Portray Murdered Boyfriend as Calm, Caring, Kind

DAY 5 – 3/24/26

• LIVESTREAM: GA v. Suzanne Mericle – Day 5 | Dentist Behind the Door Trial
• Suzanne Mericle, Defendant
  • Described her relationship with Barron as marked by domestic abuse, recounting a number of violent incidents in their past.
  • Admitted to giving multiple inconsistent accounts of the night she shot Fowler, including fabricating details about each of their actions.
  • Mericle struggled to recall key details of the scene, including where the gun was and what she touched.
  • Mericle admitted that she lied about going to the hospital and being seriously ill to make Barron feel sorry for her and get him to come see her.
  • MORE: ‘He’s in my nightmares’: Suzanne Mericle accuses victim of abuse
  • WATCH: Violence, Threats, and Coercion: Suzanne Mericle’s Shocking Testimony
• Daniel Hocutt, Personal trainer
  • Trained Mericle twice during the week of March 5, 2025, including the morning of March 6, and did not observe any injuries or bruising on her body.
  • In the six years he worked with her, he never saw any signs of physical abuse and she never mentioned any problems with Barron.
• Andrea Elkon, Clinical psychologist
  • Evaluated Suzanne Mericle for nearly nine hours and found no signs of malingering; she concluded that Mericle meets the clinical diagnosis for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
    • Mericle’s reported abuse, alleged gun threat, behavior on bodycam footage and emotional reactions are all consistent with trauma and intimate partner violence.

DAY 4 – 3/23/26

• LIVESTREAM: GA v. Suzanne Mericle – Day 4 | Dentist Behind the Door Trial
• Matthew Mefford returned to the stand
  • Testified to body camera that showed Merical describing a violent encounter with Barron in which he allegedly threatened to kill her and shoved a gun down her throat.
  • The footage shows Mericle crying, hyperventilating and references prior instances of violence and a DUI.
  • Noted inconsistencies in her statements, including her portrayal of Barron as a “good man” despite his threatening behavior.
  • Describes marks on her face but did not mention a significant head injury.
  • WATCH: Investigator Admits Shocking Mistake in Accused Boyfriend Killer’s Trial
• Prosecutors rested their case.
• The judge directed the defense’s motion for a directed verdict of acquittal.

DAY 3 – 3/20/26

• LIVESTREAM: GA v. Suzanne Mericle – Day 3 | Dentist Behind the Door Trial
• Gavin Swiecicki, Forensic toxicologist
  • Explained that alcohol elimination stops after death, so the blood sample provides a snapshot of the person’s alcohol level at the time of death.
• Evan Barron, Victim’s son
  • Testified to his relationship with his father, family dynamics and his interactions with Mericle.
  • Met Mericle for the first time during a family vacation in Aug. 2024.
    • WATCH: Son Saw ‘No Red Flags’ from Accused Killer Before Father’s Death
  • Detailed a tense phone call on Dec. 28, 2024, during which Mericle claimed she had pulled a gun on his father over a woman named Lilia, who was reportedly receiving money from him.
  • Reviewed numerous text messages from Mericle expressing concern over his father’s financial involvement with Lilia and urging him to intervene.
  • Explained efforts he and his brother made to discuss the situation with their father; ultimately, he stopped communicating with Mericle after Feb. 16, 2025.
    • WATCH: Shocking Texts: Accused Boyfriend Killer Said Victim Spent Money on Other Women
• Matthew Mefford, Investigator
  • Played interrogation footage where the defendant could be seen explaining what happened leading up to the shooting. She admitted she fired a gun at the door where the victim was standing, and was crying hysterically while she recounted what happened.
    • WATCH: Interrogation Video Shows Accused Killer Admitting to Shooting Boyfriend Through Door
  • Mericle said she felt threatened as the victim pulled out his gun and so she went and got her gun; she said the victim was hiding behind the door and was holding her phone, which she wanted to get back. Mericle said she shot the door to break the lock and get her phone.
  • Text messages revealed the couple argued about marriage and infidelity. The defendant wanted to get married, but the victim kept pushing it off. The defendant said that she believed she deserved better.
    • WATCH: Explosive Texts Reveal Bitter Fights Before Boyfriend’s Murder

DAY 2 – 3/19/26

• LIVESTREAM: GA v. Suzanne Mericle – Day 2 | Dentist Behind the Door Trial
• Cameron Durham returned to the stand.
  • Durham testified about the trajectory of the fatal shot through the door. He said that it was fired almost flat — around five to seven degrees — and the short-barreled Glock used made accuracy over distance less predictable.
  • Test shots at three and six inches confirmed the stippling on the door matched the muzzle’s proximity, showing the gun was fired very close to the surface.
  • Explained that gunpowder can be displaced by movement, and that blood patterns and footprints at the scene were consistent with someone entering the room, handling a bloody gun and holster and moving through the area.
  • Noted that missing shell casings that were found later in the septic tank indicated possible scene manipulation.
• Bryson Miller, forensic serologist, Georgia Bureau of Investigation State Crime Lab
  • Tested two swabs submitted from the case: one from a firearm magazine and one from a holster.
  • The swabs were tested for the presence of blood using chemical color-change tests.
  • The swabs from the magazine tested negative, while the swabs from the holster tested positive for blood.
• Martin Gravely, firearms examiner, Georgia Bureau of Investigation
  • Examined the Glock and the Beretta, confirming the firearms were operational and that certain bullets and cartridge casings were likely fired from those guns.
  • Explained how issues like a “limp wrist” or user unfamiliarity could cause a spent casing to remain in a semi-automatic firearm’s chamber rather than being properly ejected.
• Lt. Jacob London, Hall County Sheriff’s Office
  • Testified to the process of examining cell phones and computers for digital forensic evidence.
  • Detailed the extraction process for a blue iPhone 13 Pro Max and a gray iPhone 11.
  • Various communications recovered from the phone showing conversations between Mericle and various individuals over several months were shown to the jury.
• Brandon Melton, Glenn County Police Officer
  • Responded to a third-party report of a domestic disturbance and separated the parties: Mericle and her boyfriend.
  • Noticed that Mericle was upset and had a large contusion on the back of her head.
  • WATCH: Accused Killer Spotted with Head Bump Following Alleged Domestic Dispute: Officer
• Christopher Wooten, Glenn County Police Officer
  • Discusses how officers approach domestic violence calls, noting that victims may deny or downplay abuse even in the face of physical evidence.
• Beth Barron, Victim’s ex-wife
  • Discussed her 25-year relationship with her ex-husband, James David Barron, including their 22-year marriage and two sons.
  • Mentioned meeting the defendant on three occasions and communicating with her via text messages.
  • WATCH: Victim’s Ex-Wife Says She Texted with Accused Killer Before Alleged Murder

DAY 1 – 3/18/26

• LIVESTREAM: GA v. Suzanne Mericle – Day 1 | Dentist Behind the Door Trial
• Prosecutor Jennifer Bagwell delivered the opening statement for the state.
  • Suzanne Mericle became “unhinged” and shot the victim in a fit of rage after a fight about a woman James David Barron had been sending money to.
  • Physical evidence shows that Barron retreated to the upstairs bedroom; Mericle followed him up and shot him through the door.
  • Mericle then used a hammer to break down the door.
  • Mericle staged the scene using the victim’s Beretta; she wiped up blood and flushed shell casings down the toilet.
  • Mericle used the Beretta to fire 2-3 shots to make it look like she acted in self-defense.
  • WATCH: ‘Unhinged’ Dentist Shot Boyfriend in ‘Fit of Rage’: State
• Brett Willis delivered the opening statement for the defense.
  • Mericle met Barron after raising kids and running a dental practice for 32 years; she thought she had met her “Prince Charming.”
  • It was a fast relationship; by October 2024, the couple had purchased a house together.
  • Barron was controlling and abusive, but Mericle did not confide in anyone.
  • On March 7, she made him dinner and then the victim became enraged after seeing something on her phone. Barron assaulted and abused Mericle and took her phone and keys into the locked bedroom.
  • The shots fired from the Baretta were from failed suicide attempts.
  • WATCH: Murdered Boyfriend Was Anything But a ‘Knight in Shining Armor’: Defense
• Zachary Martin, Hall County Sheriff’s Office
  • Responded to 911 call, which came in as “problem unknown.”
  • Jury heard three 911 calls, which featured Mericle screaming, “Oh my God, I need help” and “Please help me”
    • WATCH: ‘I Have an Emergency! He Is Dead’: Accused Boyfriend Killer’s 911 Call
  • Saw Mericle through the window with a white object in her hand, scrubbing the floor.
  • The jury saw body camera footage of Martin’s response, showing Mericle covered in blood when she answered the door.
• Deputy Richard Thomas, Hall County Sheriff’s Office
  • Testified to his body camera video of the seen, showing Mericle leave the house hysterical.
  • Mericle told officers that her boyfriend said he was going to shoot her and had grabbed her by the throat after drinking too much.
  • WATCH: Alleged Killer Dentist Claims Boyfriend Was Going to Kill Her: Bodycam
• Cameron Durham, Hall County Sheriff’s Office
  • Investigated the crime scene at the home on March 8.
  • Saw bullet holes in the upstairs window.
  • Went over photos for the jury showing the bloody crime scene.
  • Told the jury the Baretta had to have been low to the floor when it was shot.
  • The bullet went through the door and a wall before hitting the victim.
  • WATCH: Bullet Fragments Flushed After Alleged Boyfriend Murder: Police