Episode 93 Murdered in Brooksville

Southern Mysteries Podcast

Shannon Ballard

True Crime, Society & Culture, History

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 2 August 2021

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On May 9, 1981, Ricky Merrill and Dori Colyer left Hilltop Lounge in Brooksville, Florida. They never returned. 40 years on, their families are still waiting for justice Anyone with information on this Cold Case Homicide is asked to contact Detective George Loydgren at 352-754-6830.If you would like to remain anonymous – Please call Hernando County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477) or submit your tip online at hernandocountycrimestoppers.com Want more Southern Mysteries? Hear the Southern Mysteries show archive and immediately access exclusive content when you become a patron of the show. Join now at patreon.com/southernmysteries Connect Website: southernmysteries.comFacebook: Southern Mysteries PodcastTwitter: @southernpod_Instagram: @explorethesouthEmail: southernmysteriespodcast@gmail.com Episode Sources Who Killed Rick Merrill and Dori Colyer? RickAndDori.comFather of car’s owner fears worst. St. Petersburg Times/Hernando Times. May 12, 1981Families complain of delay in identifying bodies. Tampa Bay Times. May 14, 1981Services planned, but car-fire victims' identities still unconfirmed. Tampa Bay Times. May 15, 1981Identities confirmed of 2 found in burning car. Tampa Bay Times. May 16, 1981Cause of death still unknown in care fire. St Petersburg Times, Hernando Times. May 19, 1981Police have four suspects in murder of two persons found in burning car. St Petersburg Times/Hernando Times. August 1, 1981Quest remains unfulfilled as tragedy strikes again. St. Petersburg Times/Hernando Times. September 9, 1988Case of double murder, vehicle arson still cold after 38 years. Fox 13 Tampa. May 10, 2019Deputies need your help solving 39-year-old Brooksville cold case. WTSP. May 8, 2020Cold Cases: Ricky Merrill & Dori Colyer. Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. October 12, 2020 Episode Music Tranquility Base, Clean Soul, Slow Hammers, Virtutes Instrumenti, Drone in D by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: http://incompetech.com; Spirit of Fire by Jesse Gallagher. The Dark Glow of the Mountains by Chris Zabriske Licensed under Creative Commons.Theme Song “Dark & Troubled” by Pantherburn. Special thanks to Phillip St Ours for permission for use

Transcript

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0:00.0	Rick Merrill and Dory Collier were best friends whose lives were cut short far too soon.
0:15.0	On May 8, 1981, the two met up at a lounge in Brooksville, Florida.
0:20.8	Around 1 a.m. They told friends they were headed out to score some drugs and
0:25.2	would return in about half an hour. 90 minutes later, the
0:31.2	Hernando County Fire Department responded to what they believed to be a call
0:36.5	about a brush fire near Stafford Avenue in Brooksville. They found a car on fire and when the flames were extinguished, discovered
0:46.6	the bodies of 24-year-old Rick and 20-year-old Dory. The coroner found the victims had been injected with drugs and both were alive
0:58.0	when the car was set on fire. Initially, the fire would be rolled accidental.
1:05.0	Months later, authorities listed the fire as arson and the deaths of Rick and Dory as murder.
1:12.0	Four suspects were identified, but 40 years on, their families are still
1:19.6	waiting for justice. Welcome to Southern Mysteries, exploring history and mysteries of the American South.
1:28.9	I'm your host, Shannon Ballard.
1:31.8	This is the mystery of who killed Rick Merrill and Dory Collier.
1:40.4	Rick and Dory were very close, but they were never romantically involved.
1:46.0	The 20-some things were at that stage of life where you're young and having a lot of fun,
1:52.0	but you're also coming into your own, gaining more independence
1:57.2	and trying to get your life together.
2:00.4	Rick and after high school
2:05.0	work in the service industry. Rick's family owned the Ark restaurant in
2:05.7	Wicky Watchi and after high school Rick had started managing the Ark.
2:11.0	Rick's family were always open and honest about the struggles he faced in the years before he
2:17.6	died.
	...

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