Possible plea deal in the works for Paul Michael Merhige, accused of the 2009 Thanksgiving massacre

A possible big turn in a high profile murder case could happen Thursday.

A plea deal could be in the works for Paul Michael Merhige.

He's accused of killing four of his own family members in Jupiter on Thanksgiving night in 2009.

NewsChannel 5 has learned that the death penalty could be off the table as part of this deal, which is expected to be laid out in a hearing today at 12:30 p.m. in Palm Beach County court.

WPTV photojournalist Jim Sitton's daughter was killed during the Thanksgiving day shooting.

Sitton says the state attorney's office plans to offer Merhige 7 consecutive life sentences for a guilty plea, but plans to possibly take the death penalty out of the picture.

Sitton doesn't agree with the possible move.

He may ask for any plea deal to be postponed because he tells us he hasn't had time to prepare for this turn in the case.

It's unclear why this plea deal could be offered now.

Merhige was expected to go trial in January.