Why The Merrifields Are Calling Roberta A Scammer

Summary

• The Merrifields sent Roberta $10,000 only to have her break up with them via text, accusing Lea for the breakup.
• Garrick and Dannielle suspect Roberta of being a scam artist, believing she left once the money cleared.
• The Merrifields are courting another Brazilian woman on SSW Season 5, risking another failed polygamous relationship.

Seeking Sister Wife stars Garrick and Dannielle Merrifield courted potential sister wife Roberta Pache during seasons 3 and 4 of the hit series, but the couple has shaded Roberta for allegedly scamming them out of thousands of dollars. Roberta was 33 years old when she and Garrick met online. Roberta is a native of Brazil and spoke no English on the show. She and the Merrifields relied on translator apps to communicate, and they hired a translator on one trip to Brazil. Garrick had a vision from God in which he would live happily with a total of five wives.

Roberta and the Merrifields were introduced in Seeking Sister Wife season 3, as Garrick and Dannielle looked to expand their family and relationship by embracing a polygamous lifestyle. They had been monogamous for thirteen years. They went so far as to have Dannielle and Garrick divorce so Garrick could bring a foreign bride to America. The duo wanted to bring Roberta into their clan, but that goal would ultimately fail, after the addition of potential sister wife Lea Newton. After Roberta departed, the Merrifields shared what they believe is the real reason why Roberta left their family so abruptly.

The Merrifields Sent Roberta $10,000 Prior To Her Departure

Roberta Broke Up With The Merrifields

Garrick and Dannielle were planning on bringing Roberta to the U.S. on a K-1 fiance visa, so she and Garrick would have 90 days to get married once she moved to Colorado. Roberta’s visa was approved and she was set to join Garrick and Dannielle in America. However, Garrick revealed to his friends and family that he and Dannielle had sent Roberta nearly $10,000 in Seeking Sister Wife season 4 before her arrival in the U.S.

The Merrifields had consistently sent Roberta money in the past but this was the most they’d sent. Shortly after the money was sent, Roberta chose to call off her four-year courtship with the couple. In fact, Roberta acted immature and shady by breaking up with the Merrifields via text.

Roberta Blamed Lea For The Breakup

Lea Was A Potential Sister Wife

When Garrick and Dannielle left Brazil the final time they saw Roberta, Roberta made it clear she did not want Garrick and Dannielle courting another potential sister wife until she joined them in the U.S. Garrick and Dannielle chose not only to ignore Roberta’s wishes, but Garrick took things further and kissed Lea while they were courting. Garrick and Dannielle even made Roberta sit through a video call with Lea where Roberta was obviously upset and uncomfortable.

In the series of text messages Roberta sent to the Merrifields upon their breakup, Roberta confessed that discovering that Garrick was intimate with his new potential sister wife Lea was her breaking point.

“It was so humiliating for me, all asking how I was feeling, finding out that Garrick and Lea went beyond just conversation and dinner. After that day, I kept thinking that everything we had that was most beautiful, special and pure has broken a piece and is hurting too much,”
one of her messages read.

While the timing of Roberta’s breakup coinciding with the large sum of money sent is dubious, Roberta did seem to have a strong point since the Merrifields crossed her boundary.

Garrick & Dannielle Merrifield Accuse Roberta Of Misconduct

Is Roberta A Scam Artist?

Garrick and Dannielle believe that Roberta’s separation from the family was due to her being a scammer, and no longer needing to use them for money.

“After the money cleared her bank account, the next morning is when I got the message that she wasn’t coming,”
Garrick stated.

The red flags in the Merrifields’ relationship were even more visible when it was revealed that, on top of sending Roberta $9,800 after their final Brazil visit, Dannielle and Garrick had also been sending Roberta money every month.

“For over three years now, we had sent her quite a large sum of money a month. It was thousands of dollars. Definitely thousands and thousands,”
Dannielle revealed.

It’s hard to say whether Roberta would have stayed in the Merrifields’ lives if Garrick and Dannielle hadn’t gone against her hard request for them not to court anyone until she was in America.

In any case, Roberta proved herself to be sketchy by absconding with the Merrifield’s money. It was extra-shady that she didn’t have the decency to break up with them over video call.

The Merrifelds’ Seeking Sister Wife Relationship Was Doomed

There Were Red Flags Everywhere

The Merrifields experienced a rocky start to their polygamist goals during season 3, which saw Garrick divorce his first wife Dannielle in order to propose to Roberta. However, the Merrifields were determined to make their plural relationship with Roberta work and bring her to the United States. Unfortunately, the Merrifields’ relationship with Roberta would come to an end by the time season 4 was over. There were a lot of factors working against their union with Roberta, and they wasted a lot of time, money, emotions, and energy on their far-fetched connection with Roberta, and they paid the price.

The Merrifields May Be Getting Scammed Again

They Are With Another Brazilian Woman In SSW Season 5

The Merrifields apparently don’t like to learn their lesson. They are back on Seeking Sister Wife season 5 and courting another Brazilian woman, 25-year-old Nathalia Lima who also doesn’t speak English. While the Merrifields haven’t been cashing out for Nathalia like they did for Roberta, their plural dreams with Nathalia are still difficult. Dannielle has been hesitant about dating Nathalia so soon after Roberta, repeating old patterns, and opening their family up to the possibility of being hurt again (via TLC.)

Seeking Sister Wife

airs Mondays at 10 p.m. EST on TLC.

Source: CheatSheet, TLC/YouTube