Former NFL star Shawne Merriman was found liable earlier this year in the 2017 overdose death of former model Kimberly Fattorini. Now, nine years after Fattorini’s death, her parents are back in court, and some disturbing alleged text messages from the night she died have resurfaced.
TMZ reports that Kimberly Fattorini’s parents, DeAnn and Ferdinand, are fighting an attempt by one of the defendants, former nightclub promoter Elias Wehbe, to overturn a $4 million judgment. Wehbe claims there wasn’t enough evidence presented at trial to support the verdict.
Kimberly Fattorini’s parents disagree, and they’re pointing to text messages that they say show what happened before their daughter died.
Alleged Text Messages From Night Of Fattorini’s Death Resurface
According to the New York Post, the court filing includes alleged messages in which Wehbe invited Fattorini to his home to do “blow,” referring to cocaine. Another message allegedly discussed drugs and “w—–” being at the house.
Kimberly Fattorini’s parents also claim Wehbe allowed their intoxicated daughter to leave in an Uber with Merriman despite receiving a message suggesting someone had put GHB in her drink.
As detailed in the original wrongful death lawsuit, Fattorini allegedly texted Wehbe, “you friend just poor’d half G in my drink.”
Her parents believe the message referred to GHB, a drug sometimes used to facilitate a physical assault. Following that text message, Kimberly wrote more incoherent texts, which led her parents to believe that she was either very very drunk or under the influence of drugs.
Fattorini, 30, was found unconscious at a Hollywood residence by first responders, allegedly “half-naked with her jeans unzipped and unbuttoned, as though someone had tried to pull her jeans onto her body before the police or paramedics arrived.”
Her death was ruled accidental after alcohol, cocaine and GHB were discovered in her system. However, police said there was no foul play, so examiners did not perform a sexual assault exam.
Shawne Merriman Has Denied Any Wrongdoing
Kimberly Fattorini’s parents filed their wrongful death lawsuit in 2019, accusing Shawne Merriman and several others of being involved in the circumstances surrounding their daughter’s death.
Merriman has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. His representatives previously said police investigated the incident and found no evidence that he committed a crime.
Fattorini’s family claimed he was present when her friend dialed 911, but Merriman allegedly made it clear to everyone that he didn’t want anyone to know he was there. The family also claimed that there are texts from Wehbe that read: “Shawn killed her a–, what a f—— idiot.” There is another supposed text from the promoter that reads: “That dumba– been drugging girls for years.”
A civil jury found Merriman, Wehbe, J.P. Castro and Monica Maass liable. The $4 million judgment was entered by a Los Angeles judge in October, and Wehbe appealed.
Kimberly Fattorini’s parents say the text messages and other trial evidence were more than enough to support the verdict.