Saturday, February 25, 2023

Serial drunk driver who killed Neosho man, Joplin child in 2004 petitions to have driving privileges restored


An 11 a.m. May 30 hearing is scheduled in McDonald County Circuit Court for a Noel man who wants to have limited driving privileges restored after being released from prison after serving a sentence for driving while intoxicated.

Edward Meerwald, 68, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2019 after pleading guilty to his most recent DWI.

The Joplin Police Department arrested Meerwald for drunk driving at a time when he was already awaiting trial on a separate DWI charge in McDonald County. Meerwald was also sentenced to four years on that charge in January 2020, with the sentences to run concurrently, following a plea bargain agreement.







Meerwald was the driver who was behind the wheel and driving impaired on July 30, 2004 on MO 86 when he ran off the road and killed Jessica Mann, 8, Joplin, and her grandfather, Jim Dodson, 69, Neosho.

The vehicle Meerwald was driving at a high rate of speed ran off Highway 86 and ran into the eight-year-old and her grandfather killing them.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and served time in prison.
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7 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:15 PM

    Just say no to letting serial offenders drive again, let this repeat offender walk!

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  2. Anonymous7:10 AM

    He will drive no matter the ruling. You are kidding yourself if you think suspended or revoked driver's give two craps about their imposed sanctions...

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  3. Anonymous2:02 PM

    The solution to 7:10-- If he drives with no license and this history this then LOCK HIM UP!!!!

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  4. Anonymous8:55 AM

    Again - this guy should not be given his Priveledge to Drive EVER!!! What does it take for the Courts / Judges to Realize this guy is a Persistant Offender -- How Many People does he have to Kill or Families Lifes he has to ruin - so that the Religious Sector or the Liberal Crowd - can Say he is Reformed - Just Forgive and Forget!

    Look up Edward Meerwald on Case Net - you will see that he has over 23-Court Convictions.
    How many is ENOUGH - THIS IS RIDICULOUS - -

    Hopefully you or your Family or Friends - will Never Become a Victim of this Man...

    Stop Feeling Sorry for the Criminals and Feel Sorry for the Victims!!!

    https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/nameSearchResult.do?courtType=SW&countyCode=&newSearch=Y&essn=&courtCode=SW&lastName=Meerwald&_inclAlias=on&firstName=Edward+&middleName=&caseType=All&yearFiled=+




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  5. Anonymous4:35 PM

    My cousin Jessica Mann was seven not 8

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  6. Anonymous10:04 AM

    He's a proven threat to society and needs to stay in prison.

    ReplyDelete