Sherri Mendenhall, 63, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, was killed on January 15, 2017, in a double-homicide that also took the life of her neighbor William Skip Brown, 44. Mendenhall was born in Rome, New York, lived much of her life in Huber Heights, and was a single parent to four sons and eight grandchildren. She supported breast cancer research and animal welfare causes.

Investigators say brothers Dustin Merrick, 27, and Bret Merrick, 25, were arrested five days after the killings and charged with two counts of aggravated murder. According to Bret Merrick’s statement, Dustin suggested a drive and brought several weapons; Dustin had previously worked for Skip Brown and quit in fall 2016. The brothers parked behind a barn and climbed to the second-floor entrance of Skip’s apartment. Sherri Mendenhall, who was not known to the Merricks, encountered them while investigating a disturbance and was shot when Dustin Merrick tried to silence a potential witness.

Both brothers later entered plea agreements that removed the possibility of capital punishment; Dustin Merrick received life without parole and Bret Merrick received 25 years. The motive beyond the robbery described in statements remains unclear. Does anyone have memories of Sherri or information about that night that could add context to what happened?