VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- The man accused of murdering his former girlfriend with cyanide last Valentine’s Day has been scheming behind bars, according to recently unsealed search warrants.
Twenty-nine-year-old Joseph Merlino is charged with the first and second-degree murder of 35-year-old Ellie Tran.
Court documents reveal Merlino sent secretly coded letters to his mother. He told her to pressure witnesses to retract their statements. Merlino also gave instructions to several people on how to testify in court, and he created fake chat logs to help his defense.
Sergeant Steve Hoggard of the Norfolk Sheriff's Security Threat Unit said all inmate communication is monitored while behind bars. His unit is not involved with the Merlino case.
“Lots of times inmates will speak in code, or they'll use a code,” said Hoggard. “It’s our job to monitor their activity and to stay educated on the codes they use and often times. We know what codes they're using and they don't know we know.”
Investigators said Merlino had another inmate use letters and phone calls to communicate with others. He told the inmate about using a hitman, which was referred to as pizza being ordered.
Merlino had set up a P.O box in Norfolk to share documents.
According to the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, no additional charges have been filed.
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