A Room Preserved: Remembering Fletcher Merkel

In south Minneapolis, a bedroom on the second floor remains untouched, a poignant tribute to an 8-year-old boy. This room belonged to Fletcher Merkel, whose life was tragically cut short in a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School on August 27, 2025. For his parents, Jesse and Mollie, the room serves as a silent memorial.

Jesse reflects, “He’s not with us as we wish, but this is the best we have. It’s a highly personal monument to who he was.” Mollie shares, “If the room’s no longer his, the memory won’t feel the same.” The room holds memories of Fletcher, preserved as he left them.

Photographer Lou Bopp and I have visited numerous such rooms, documenting them in the Netflix short documentary “All the Empty Rooms,” which earned an Academy Award last March. However, the journey doesn’t end there. We continue to capture these sacred spaces for parents who wish it, as long as the U.S. faces the epidemic of school shootings.

Jesse hopes viewers gain a sense of empathy, wondering, “What if that was me?” For Mollie, showcasing Fletcher’s personality matters. “From the start, he loved bugs and animals,” she says. Jesse adds, “He was constant energy.” Photos depict the chaos inside his room: worn shoes purchased three weeks before his passing, a beloved blanket, and personal items reflecting his interests.

Fletcher’s favorite things included Legos, buffaloes, the Green Bay Packers, and the plants in “Fletcher’s Garden.” His Cub Scout uniform remains in the room. Among his possessions is a journal, detailing a playful plot to steal cookies, concluding with, “This plan was successful.” These memories sustain Jesse and Mollie, carrying his spirit forward.

When asked if sharing Fletcher’s room with America would impact change, his parents believe it would. Mollie states, “They have to feel it.” Jesse echoes, “As humans, we must ensure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”