Lawsuit says doctor covered up sexual abuse committed by son

CHARLESTON - The father of a 2-year-old boy who was allegedly sexually abused and killed is suing the father of the man accused of the crime.

Jeremy Goodall filed a lawsuit Aug. 16 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Dr. John Merrifield and the state's Department of Health and Human Resources, alleging they covered up suspicious injuries that should have been reported.

Merrifield's son, Michael, dated and lived with Pepper Dawn Eren, Logan Goodall's mother. Jeremy Goodall says that his child was treated in 2005 for injuries by Merrifield that should have suggested physical and sexual abuse.

He adds that state law required Merrifield to report the injuries, which ultimately led to the infant's death on Sept. 6.

Merrifield's wife, Diane, is also listed as a defendant. The lawsuit says she lied to a DHHR employee about the whereabouts of her son, which led to more abuse.

"The purpose of the conspiracy was to protect their son… a person well-known to them to be abusive and violent, from suspicion, investigation and prosecution for the physical and sexual abuse being inflicted upon Logan," the complaint says.

In July, Eren pleaded guilty to child neglect. Michael Merrifield has been indicted in Putnam County on charges of first-degree murder, child neglect resulting in death, sexual abuse by a parent or guardian and first-degree sexual assault.

Merrifield is a trustee for the Family Medicine Foundation of West Virginia.