February 9, 2010

14-year-old Arrested: Accused of Killing 4-year-old Boy

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By Theresa Freed

Story Published: Nov 1, 2009 at 12:25 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2009 at 7:05 PM EST

Federal and local authorities spent Friday evening and Saturday morning searching for Alex Mercado,4. Relatives tell KSEE 24 that the boy was last seen Friday afternoon. His sister was watching him while their father took a shower. The relative said the boy did not have a habit of wandering off.

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In the middle of that interview, a woman nearby started screaming. As she fell to her knees authorities rushed inside and immediately pushed everyone back. Crime scene tape went up as law enforcement began their homicide investigation.

It was not until Saturday evening, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims announced that the boy's body was found inside of a dryer. A 14-year-old male who lives at the apartment complex has been arrested for murder.

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View Oldest Comments First

Thursday, Nov 5 at 2:03 PM ANONYMOUS wrote ...

The 14 yr old should be tried as an adult. Obviously he knew he did wrong in sodomizing this innocent child that's why he killed him. He knew wrong from right. He made the decision to hurt this child and there is no justification for this.

Wednesday, Nov 4 at 11:40 AM LOVING MOTHER wrote ...

May our hevenly father comfort this sweet lil angel. I can honestly say that we should not wish bad on others for it will return on you sven times fold, but instead pray for those who harm us and sahme us. We should not play the role of God in this world cause we are all in a line waiting to be judged. I feel the mothers pain cause I am as well a mother, we are only human and we make the most commnly mistakes but we dont admitt to them until someone points it out. I have have him in my prayers..

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 11:44 PM sonja wrote ...

i think they should put the boy in the washer nd dryer and feel the pain he deserves. if not they should hang him to death because killing a four year old boy is not what anyone expected. i will pray for ALEX and hope to feel his presence. I also give my heart out to the mercado's family. All i hear is fallin off the roof top.

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 11:44 PM nan wrote ...

The 14 yr old apparently has exhibited odd behaviors for along time, yet did not rise to the level of intervention. If he is tried as an adult, he will not be out in 4 yrs, but sounds like he needs psychiatric care.

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 9:00 PM get right wrote ...

what happened to alex was wrong! the mom has 5 kids already and is pregnant again be more responsible stop having kids on welfare and WATCH your kids

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 7:04 PM You dont want to know wrote ...

I hope they move out of that area for more protection.

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 6:07 PM Anonymous wrote ...

the monster name is RAUL CASTRO a.k.a "r/c"....

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 4:58 PM Anonymous wrote ...

BUT regarless of what occurred. We would alway say how the parents were lucky that ALEX had an angel to care for him. I hope that they can recuperate from this but I truly believe that this incident could of been prevented. The 14-year old boy was always in issolation in his home and seemed to be not mentally stable. Keep in mind that he could of had been a victim at one point of his life. My heart goes out the offenders family and I pray for the Victim's parents to be better parents.

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 4:48 PM Anonymous #2 wrote ...

The parents knew that her FRONT neighbors were not stable and YES they were both very close friends. If the parents were watching Alex they would of known that he was at her FRIENDS house. It was countless times that Alex almost got ranned over by vechiles driving by the house or that he would end up on the other side and to go a ditch that is in back of the housing area. The parents would never find out of these incidents until my little sister would knock at her house. ALEX WE MISS YOU!!!

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 4:40 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Mindi the mother of the victim neglect her children constantly. We made several CPS reports on her and none has an outcome. Alex and his sibling were constantly outside early in the morning and late at night. The father was either snoring COKE or watching T.V. The mother never knew where her children were. Alex was also going to my little sister and asking for food because her was hungry.

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 3:18 PM a mendotian wrote ...

Prayer 4 both families goes out in a time of tragedy...don't judge those whom you don't know. You too will be judged for you actions. So keep both families in prayer.

Monday, Nov 2 at 11:52 PM Devon wrote ...

The more I think about it the more it makes me mad and heart broken. Everyday we lose another child to stuff that could of been pervented. I don't let my kids out of my sight. If i'm not with their father is. But it's okay the 14 year will be out 10 or 21 and his record sealed. Sorry it just upsetting as a mother

Monday, Nov 2 at 10:11 PM Devon wrote ...

All I'm asking is where are the 14 year olds parents when this happened?

Monday, Nov 2 at 9:19 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Little Alex was drowned and then put into the dryer after he was dead... the 14yr old that day went to school dressed up as Moses a religious figure on Friday the day Alex went missing.. Hope the truth comes out, Another thing is that Alex was missing from a community event at Rojas Pierce park in Mendota, not at home. Parents are very unresponsible nowadays.. they should learn to watch their kids instead of letting them run loose like wild animals, Its a sad story, another innocent victim.

Monday, Nov 2 at 8:14 PM braynard wrote ...

a 14 year old MONSTER !!!!!!!!!!

Monday, Nov 2 at 7:51 PM J wrote ...

The KSEE 24 reporter on the top of this page was there trying to film the family and the other children on Sunday she went around to all of the neighbors and everything.

Monday, Nov 2 at 7:45 PM YoDaddyBritney wrote ...

This is sad. I live in Mendota and it is a shock :D

Monday, Nov 2 at 3:27 PM erica wrote ...

just hope that justice is served. My prayers are with the family. May the good Lord have that little boy in his arms. I hope that the 14 yr old is innocent.

Monday, Nov 2 at 2:54 PM Cindy wrote ...

My prayers and thoughts go out to Alex Mercado family.

Monday, Nov 2 at 1:55 PM Sad Parent wrote ...

So sorry to hear of this tragedy. My heart felt condolences to the family from one parent to another. May he find peace as God's newest little angel.

Monday, Nov 2 at 1:14 PM Kelli wrote ...

Innocent until proven guilty - that is the law that we all hope to have apply to us should we ever find ourselves in such a predicament? Right? Everyone is always to quick to judge try and persecute prior to even knowing the facts. Let the people that are trained to do their jobs do their jobs and justice will hopefully be served. I hope the 14 year old child is "not" tried as an adult and that the facts are discovered & tried according to the law. I also hope Alex's family finds peace.

Monday, Nov 2 at 12:22 PM ex viewer wrote ...

i am absolutely appalled that ksee 24 thinks it is appropriate to air the moment the family found out about their sons death. and the fact that the camera man ran to get a better angle is absolutely disgusting. you should all be ashamed. i will never watch this news cast again. to use a families pain for ratings is inexcusable.

Monday, Nov 2 at 10:58 AM Anonymous wrote ...

The 14 year old can still hav a life when he get out of prison what about the 4 year old? hes gone. Im sure both families are so hurt by this.Did this boy have mental problems? If not he should be thied as a adult.

Monday, Nov 2 at 10:52 AM Alice wrote ...

the 14 year old can still have a life when he gets of prison.. what about the 4 year old? hes gone im sure both families are so hurt by this but this boy is 14 did he have mental probelms? if not he should be tried as a adult!

Monday, Nov 2 at 9:24 AM Santa wrote ...

My respect and prayers go out to Mindy as a mother until you lose a child of your own you will understand the pain and grief you feel and yes we are not suppose to judge but when something like this happens its hard not to. This was a 4 yr.old child named Alex think about it put yourself in this mothers place right now.Keep all of the family in prayers.Love u Mindy my prayers are with you.

Monday, Nov 2 at 8:32 AM Anonymous wrote ...

If the 14yr old did the crime and it was no accident then he should be forgiven,but punished as fits the crime.We SHOULD all pray for everyone involved, they all need the lords comfort right now.

Monday, Nov 2 at 8:25 AM whitewolf82171 wrote ...

Yes by all means we should pray for all involved.And should this have been an accident we all should forgive the 14yr old. But should it turn out that this was no accident we should still fogive. But still have him tried as an adult.

Monday, Nov 2 at 3:51 AM anonymous (part 3) wrote ...

We should pray for Alex’s friends that will be asking their mommies and daddies about where he is and what happened to him. We should pray for the community of Mendota that is grieving the loss of Alex. We should pray for the family of the 14 year-old boy, since this has also been a tragedy to them. We should pray for the 14 year old boy that he can repent and find forgiveness from GOD. We should pray that something like this does not happen again.

Monday, Nov 2 at 3:51 AM anonymous (part 2) wrote ...

I may not be a religious person, but I do know that God teaches us about forgiveness. That we should forgive in order to be forgiven . Instead of asking for punshing the 14 year old boy and treating him like an adult and sending him to prision for X amount of years. WE SHOULD PRAY! We should pray for the family of Little Alex so that they gain strength in such a tough time. We should pray that the truth of this incident can be told

Monday, Nov 2 at 3:48 AM anonymous (part 1) wrote ...

It is sad to what happened to little Alex. Many of us in the community want know, why was such a crime committed by a 14 year old boy? What made him do this? Was it an accident? There many people angered and disgusted to what the 14 year old did. We should ask ourselves. “How will I react if this happened to me? If my child was murdered or If my child hurt someone else and caused their death? How will my relationship with God be? Will I be able to forgive?

Monday, Nov 2 at 12:59 AM toni wrote ...

tried as an adult? put in a dryer? come one people!! there are unknown factors in the 14 yr old's life that would cause him to be so angry. or maybe it was ignorance and he didn't realize he'd kill the 4 year old. whatever the situation...STOP judging and jumping to conclusions. this is such a tragedy and my heart breaks for both of these boys.

Monday, Nov 2 at 12:51 AM Anonymous wrote ...

this is such a sad tragedy my nephew went to school with this boy and its so sad that he had to loose his friend at sucha young age he expressed to us how sad he was to know that his friend wasnt home. this goes beyond who killed him. its just a very sad situation that will affect the family and friends of such a young child

Monday, Nov 2 at 12:34 AM gailibee wrote ...

People, please do not rush to judgment of this 14-year-old child. We do not know even one iota of the entire story. It is sad that this little boy is gone, sadder still that another boy has to endure the wrath of the ignorant masses.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 11:53 PM Lanette wrote ...

Wow I was raised in Mendota about 20yrs ago. So sad that this is what it has become. They need to try this teenager as an adult.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 11:53 PM Joan wrote ...

What a terrible tragedy, I can't assume that this 14 year old is evil. I also can't assume that he even knows right from wrong. Unless you know this family personally, you can not assume either.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 11:42 PM oh yeah...another crime wrote ...

i don't care who is at fault. I recommend the DA to prosecute the 14 as adult. He or she deserves it. The suspect shall spend the rest of his or her life in jail.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 11:16 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Is there a fund set up for the family to help with the services?

Sunday, Nov 1 at 10:26 PM Jennifer wrote ...

No on really knows the facts. Whats scary is a 14 year old is in custody. But really what does this say about society and how brutal we have become. We should be asking ourselves, what can we do as a society to make real change. I can only imagine the horrible loss for the parents. My love goes out to them....

Sunday, Nov 1 at 9:09 PM Breynard wrote ...

Get REAL people ! when someone dies they do NOT go to heaven !

Sunday, Nov 1 at 9:02 PM Cold War wrote ...

Give unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's, give unto God that which is God's.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 8:25 PM momma jo wrote ...

how sad, maybe the 4yrold went inside the dryer, maybe it was the sister who was supposed to watch over him. Wow in a dryer dose not even go into details I realy wonder what had happened that they blamed a diffrent child.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 7:54 PM Anonymous wrote ...

This should be a lesson for all the parents out there trust no one and always keep an eye on your kids.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 7:26 PM David wrote ...

As a former law enforcement officer I hesitate to make a rash judgment.The public does not know the whole story yet.Just because the 14 year old was arrested, does not necessarily mean that there are not other issues or suspects to be considered.Once the investigation is complete and the DA makes a finding they will release the necessary information, but since the suspect is a juvenile, much of that info will stay confined to the file and later the court.Let's wait to pass judgement

Sunday, Nov 1 at 6:59 PM anonymous wrote ...

why is every 1 quick tosay this 14 yr old is evil, maybe had been an accident and didn't know how to react to it who knows i havn't heard the hole story yet, it is sad that the 4 yr olds life was cut so short, i feel for the family, and for the 14 yrolds family to, our pprayer r out to all of them

Sunday, Nov 1 at 6:53 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I'm not sure what this world is coming to. What would possess anyone of any age to do something so sinister as to take another's life. My heart and my prayers go out to both boys families, even though the 14 year old's actions where highly unethical I pray to God for him and that God eases the hearts of that poor little one, a loved one can't be replaced but by the love of God I pray that everything will be okay and that justice will be served. "No man can Judge but God."

Sunday, Nov 1 at 6:49 PM Nicole wrote ...

wow this is just a senseless act of pure evil. Regardless of what a little small 4 year old child could possible do they are just innocent. There is nothing this 14 year old who is a teenager who Should KNOW right from wrong do something like this to a baby. This child was a little angel and even though his life was cut short off of this earth he is with his TRUE Father in Heaven. May this 14 year find who he was meant to be but only will if he turns to the Lord.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 6:35 PM francis & June wrote ...

he should be tried as an adult that 14 year old boy must have something wrong in his head

Sunday, Nov 1 at 6:17 PM Frances Cazares wrote ...

my prayers go out to the familys of both children. I pray that the 14 year understands what he did was no joke.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 6:15 PM mad in madera wrote ...

why didnt that 14 year old pick on someone his own size see if he didnt get a beating..I hope he gets tried as an adult ..he'll get what he deserves in prison"

Sunday, Nov 1 at 5:42 PM Anonymous wrote ...

why & what would make a 14 year old do that to a small 4 year old?!

Sunday, Nov 1 at 5:38 PM Anonymous wrote ...

They should stuff the 14 year old in the dryer.

Sunday, Nov 1 at 4:29 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I hope he can be tried as an adult.

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