Currence pleads guilty in child death case

BY CORNELIA GRACE Harrison News-Herald Reporter

CADIZ—Jessica Currence appeared in court on Tuesday for a change of plea. The case, involving the death of 8-year-old Paityn Merkins, began in June of 2021. Paityn reportedly had a host of underlying medical issues but had also allegedly been victim to abuse by both her father and Currence.

Currence was originally charged with four counts of child endangerment and one count each of manslaughter, reckless homicide, permitting child abuse, felonious assault, domestic violence, and tampering with evidence. While it initially appeared that Currence would be tried before a jury, which had been scheduled for this week, she and the state, represented by Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Knight, came to an agreement instead.

Currence pled guilty to four charges: reckless homicide, tampering with evidence, and domestic violence. The fourth charge, originally endangering children, was amended to attempting to endanger children. The rest of the charges were dismissed.