Chilling new details revealed in search for missing Charlotte woman

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A newly unsealed court affidavit is laying out a chilling, high-tech forensic trail in the case of a missing Charlotte woman. It details why prosecutors are holding Derrick Randall, Junior without bond for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Brandi Merrick.

According to court records, the breakthrough came after a search warrant for Randall’s Abercromby Street home in Charlotte revealed splattered blood in his garage. DNA testing confirmed it was 37-year-old Merrick’s.

Detectives then used Ring cameras, Flock cameras, and cell phone logs to track 36-year-old Randall’s truck to a wooded area on Hudson Chapel Road in Catawba County. Records show Randall’s phone pinged there for 21 minutes on June 10. Then it disconnects from service.

At that location, investigators found tire tracks, a depression in the dirt, blue gloves, and a green ratchet strap with Merrick’s DNA on it.

And then there’s this. Police say Randall had someone rent an excavator for him on June 12 in Statesville. He told the person he needed to do some work around his Charlotte home. Detectives say no work was done at Randall’s home. But Flock cameras in Catawba County caught Randall’s truck towing the heavy machinery first with a clean bucket, then, about 90 minutes later, with a dirty bucket.

The court documents also expose a violent past. In 2017, Randall was charged after allegedly kidnapping Merrick holding her hostage for three days, and physically and sexually assaulting her.

Police now say Randall killed Merrick. They have not found her body.

Randall is charged with first-degree murder. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 21st.