Man, 21, charged in sex assault-murder of mother of four

Police have arrested a man on charges of beating to death and sexually assaulting 47-year-old woman behind an Olney deli last week.

Sharod Graham, 21, of the 6000 block of Callowhill Street, was taken into custody on his block around 10 p.m. Thursday, Philadelphia Capt. James Clark said today.

Graham and his victim, Eraine Merritt, did not know each other, Clark said. They met on the night of March 24 and ended up in an alleyway behind the Olney Steak & Beer Deli on the 5600 block of North Broad Street.

Around 10 p.m. that night, employees taking out the trash stumbled upon Graham laying on top of a naked Merritt, beating her with his fists, police said.

Merritt, a mother of four, was taken to the hospital in critical condition and never regained consciousness. She died Monday morning of severe head trauma.

A surveillance video that police released this week, showing Graham in the deli earlier on the night of the murder, helped bring in tips from the public, Clark said.

"It was a vicious attack," Clark said. "We're real happy we were able to arrest him."

Graham has had prior contact with the police, Clark said, but court records show no criminal convictions as an adult.

Contact staff writer Allison Steele at 215-854-2641 or asteele@phillynews.com