FORT MORGAN, CO -- The man who was hired as manager in the Village of Ontonagon has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the city of Fort Morgan, Colorado.
According to online court records, a Morgan County judge issued a warrant for Merrill's arrest on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography two days before Merrill killed himself.
The investigation dates back to October, but for almost a year, Merrill successfully hid the existence of the investigation, not only from Fort Morgan City Council members, but also from council members in Ontonagon, Mich., who hired Merrill as their new city manager in August.
According to President of the Ontonagon Village Council, Bill Johnson, Merrill was recently hired by the Village of Ontonagon and was to start work this month.
"This is all news to me," said Johnson in a statement to Upper Michigan's Source.
There was no mention made of the accusations during Ontonagon's communications with Fort Morgan.
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