Mendota, California — Four-year-old Alex Mercado’s body was discovered by a Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy in a neighbor’s clothes dryer on Saturday, October 31 – about 24 hours following his disappearance. Autopsy reports show that the young Mercado’s cause of death was drowning and was placed in the dryer following the incident. It is not clear whether or not the dryer was run after he was put in it.
Sheriff’s deputies say the incident does not appear to be an accident and have arrested and charge a 14-year-old under the suspicion that he killed the boy.
“The children are not in danger – this teenage boy hurting their children – he is in custody,” said Sheriff Margaret Mims.
Although there is some comfort in knowing this, it does nothing to alleviate the family’s loss. Since the discovery friends, family, neighbors, and community leaders have laid flowers and paid their respects at the makeshift memorial set in front of the Mercado residence.
To help the Mercado family, you can donate money at any Westamerica Bank branch under the “Alex Mercado Memorial Fund.”
