March 20, 2010

Teen Confesses to Killing Mendota Toddler

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By KSEE News

Story Published: Nov 4, 2009 at 9:56 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 4, 2009 at 9:58 PM EDT

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Department says the teen accused of killing a Mendota toddler has confessed to the crime.

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14 year old Raul Castro made his first court appearance Wednesday.
He’s accused of molesting, and sodomizing 4 year old Alex Mercado, before murdering him, and stuffing his body in a dryer.

The toddler’s body was found Saturday.

According to court documents, the teen confessed to Fresno County Sheriff’s Detectives Saturday.

Today’s hearing was continued until next Tuesday.

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View Oldest Comments First

Thursday, Nov 12 at 2:09 PM mary wrote ...

Please, I would like to ask parent to take care of our childrens don't let them be hurt as Alex Mercado.Please don't let your childrens unattendet.it's our responsability what happen to uor kids please take of our future because our kids are the future and as parent we are responsable for the education of our kids and most inportant lets make a difference in this world we our kids lets make them a good person caring for others. is our responsability to make a better world for our childrens.

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 6:37 PM Anonymous wrote ...

first of all the 14 year old knew what he was doing, why would a young man put pain on a little guy knowing what pain he recieved before. mom is hiding something, like your x having more victims .

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 6:06 PM Anonymous wrote ...

One must only wonder what the 14 year old had been through. Puberty in males requires care.The sad fact, but should be considered very carefully. Difficult economic times mean working parents leave a child,where males are presient. A child's life is too valueuable. I left my daughter to be cared for by a "nice" family to work. She was molested by their son, a "good boy." My parents left us and we were molested by brothers under my sister's care. Just some food for thought, please consider.

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 4:40 PM G.C wrote ...

Its very sad, what happen to the little child, I pray for the parents for their lost. Also pray for Raul, this young boy also needs the help of doctors and only God can give him hope in the justice to see him as a child. There has to be alot there we don't know how his life at home was for him to react in this matter, Pray for Raul and both families.

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 4:06 PM Kara wrote ...

Like i said before where the H@ll are his parents?

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 4:06 PM ignorance wrote ...

take it easy you blood thirsty animals

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 4:02 PM Anonymous wrote ...

take it easy you blood thirsty animals

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 2:34 PM Cindy wrote ...

He'll get of what he deserves, at 14yrs. old he's old enough to know what he was doing was wrong. Now he wants it to go away like nothing happened, it's not he'll spend the rest of his life in prison.

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 2:07 PM JUDGE AND JURY wrote ...

There is no stopping these monsters, once a molester always a molester! Raul was in the making of a monster, and guess what? HE GRADUATED! There is no cure for this cruel behavior it's like aids, once you have it, thats it! Raul's mom should be blamed for this also, her poor parenting skills, I bet she was a victim of molestation too, she repeated the cycle with her kids and now her kid repeated the cycle. These so called women CHOOSE TO BE WITH THEM! they ARE DUMB! JUST KILL THEM ALL!!

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 10:53 AM a wrote ...

sad that people cant control themselves. The consequences should be eqaul for all parties regardless of age. Death for the 14yr old and let the abusive parents rot in jail. So they can have plenty of time for there regrets.

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 10:29 AM Anonymous wrote ...

No matter what happens to the 14 year old it is not going to bring alex back. I feel bad for the parents of alex, but I will say that he is in heaven with God.

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 10:12 AM Christian Believer wrote ...

Without God in our lives we will continue to witness all this evil. The school is not responsible entirely for this. Raising your child has to start in the home! Bring GOD back into our lives. Bring back old fashion values and see how things turn around.

Wednesday, Nov 11 at 9:16 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Hang him and make the world a better place i have a 15 yr old and if he did this to a baby i would ask the judge to put him down

Tuesday, Nov 10 at 7:07 PM why the blame? wrote ...

Why is the mother blamed? And excuses being created? The 14yr old boy KNEW BETTER than a 4yr old baby! Being abused as a child does not "excuse" this. I was abused as a child and would NEVER hurt a child or anyone else for that matter. THAT IS NO EXCUSE! He should be tried as an adult - can you imagine waht that 4yr old went through? Do you think he did not scream or cry? Did the 14yr old not hear him or something? He may not be a monster but HE MUST PAY FOR HIS CRIME! Alex RIP angel...

Saturday, Nov 7 at 4:57 PM confused wrote ...

not only for the parents of the victims, but for the community and the people of this world. Everyday we read that someone has "gone of the deep end" and has committed such horrifying acts. And yet we are still shocked by the things we see and read. jJust seek salvation in prayer because GOD hates injustice and he is pained more that you or I to know that HIS children are giving to such EVIL!

Saturday, Nov 7 at 4:53 PM confused wrote ...

I don not understnad why people are attacking eachother, This area of interaction is for persons to put their opinions or feelings on this site to share. What is the purposeof bad mouthing one another? Perhaps we are driven by our own convictions. Regardless, this is a disturbing act, and this world is an ugly place. It is unfortunate that we as people feel the need attack one antoher. this whole entire situation is sad disturbing and extremely unfortunate. Not only for the parents of the victo

Friday, Nov 6 at 11:48 PM antirapist wrote ...

I think any person, kid or adult, deserves to be harshly punished for a disturbing crime such as this.

Friday, Nov 6 at 9:09 PM jga wrote ...

I know the mother has alwayes been a little funny.

Friday, Nov 6 at 4:38 PM lusi(THUG) wrote ...

my heart goes out to alex mom. your in my prayers

Friday, Nov 6 at 1:11 PM SAM wrote ...

But I thought 14 year olds weren't responsible for their actions. isnt' that what people say about a 14 y/o having consensual sex with a 19 y/o. Double Standards there?? Why when it's a crime, their responsible, but not when they choose to have sex? Quit blaming the parents. I blame society and schools telling our kids to do as they feel there's no such thing as right or wrong, then they arrest them when they turn 19 for doing the same thing. put the blame on society, not always the parents.

Friday, Nov 6 at 2:41 AM leave it in gods hands wrote ...

The fourteen year old teenager had a step father who did the same to his family but not the murder he should have been in some therapy because of the step father. The teenager is insane. He should plea insanity.

Thursday, Nov 5 at 11:19 PM anonomys wrote ...

i think the entire community of mendota has been affected by this horrible crime

Thursday, Nov 5 at 7:10 PM catch22 wrote ...

Of course the 14yr old knew what he was doing. He held him down in a tub to drown him, checked his pulse?? moved his arms to be sure he was dead?? Uh, that sounds like he knew what he was doing.And AGarcia, sorry but that could never be me! Not sure about you and who you are! I do have the right to judge and say what I think the 14yr old should pay for his crime.He knew exactly what he was doing. We need the good old days, find the tallest oak tree, hang him high and gather the whole town to see

Thursday, Nov 5 at 6:38 PM yort wrote ...

Execute the 14 year old. Why waste our time and money. This is truly evil and should not be tolerated.

Thursday, Nov 5 at 6:35 PM mother of 3 wrote ...

AMEN to the justice system for trying him as an ADULT!!Even if Raul was molested as a child,hopefully his mother would have had enough sense to get him therapy & keep him in it to STOP the cycle of abuse!Instead an innocent victim lost his life at 4 yrs old for knowing to do the right thing,tell his mommy,which is exactly what ended his life!If a 4yr old knows right from wrong,how can anyone argue that a 14yr old doesn't know right from wrong??Raul knew exactly what he was doing to Alex!!

Thursday, Nov 5 at 5:12 PM mcarr22 wrote ...

The mother should be arrested and charged too as she has failed her son. This whole thing is absolutely evil and demonic!

Thursday, Nov 5 at 4:33 PM Anonymous wrote ...

i believe that this is terrible and horrific for both parties/families. The society we live in glorifies violence, and sex and sexual deeds and our kids witness this stuff and want to practice or carry out what they see. We as adults are responsible for the impression we make on each child. he should be punished but he alone is not to blame. God help both of these families in this time. We need God!!

Thursday, Nov 5 at 3:33 PM Anonymous wrote ...

this is just sad and wierd stuff..

Thursday, Nov 5 at 3:05 PM some1 wrote ...

maybe this 14yr old was molested or raped by his own father who is a sex offender. Still is a sad, shocking news for both families. Both families will have to live with both loses.

Thursday, Nov 5 at 2:49 PM aj wrote ...

maybe the 14yr old was absued him self who news he mite just be like his dad

Thursday, Nov 5 at 1:01 PM J.C. wrote ...

HOW CAN PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY FEEL BAD FOR THE MOTHER OF THE 14YROLD WHEN WE SHOULD BE FEELING SAD FOR THE MOTHER OF ALEX BX SHE IS THE ONE THAT HAS SUFFERED THE LOSS OF HER LITTLE ANGEL.I AM WITH BABY ALEX MOTHER BX I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO LOSE A FAMILY MEMBER.I LOST MY OWN BROTHER 2YRS AGO AND ONLY THE PERSONS THAT HAVE WENT THROUGH THIS UNDERSTANDS.

Thursday, Nov 5 at 11:52 AM AGarcia wrote ...

rip alex: and stop using dehumanizing language yourself!! Did you ever consider that perhaps b/c the 14 y/o made the toddler to be something less than a human, this could have given him the reationale to committ.You and I are as human as the 14 y/o, NO DIFFERENT!! And you and I are capable of committing such crimes, if not worse (only that we are fortunate enough not to be in those circumstances because of our choices). But don't think that can't be you, (or me) in his place.

Thursday, Nov 5 at 11:42 AM AGarcia wrote ...

rip alex: I think it would do you well to think about what you comment. First of all, the alleged perpetrator of this crime is not a monster, but a human being, no matter how heinous his crime. Second, what do you know about his mother to blame her so offensively. I would venture to say that any mother who discovers such news about her own son suffers perhaps the same shock and disbelief as much as the parents of the victim toddler. I would advise you to stop using judgemental language..

Thursday, Nov 5 at 1:15 AM rip alex wrote ...

that monsters mother knows what she has raised, and should b responsible for it, the truth will come out and if not she and her demon will have to face God.

Thursday, Nov 5 at 12:29 AM so sad wrote ...

This is one of the saddest things I have ever heard. I began praying for little Alex the minute I heard he was missing and I have cried alot of tears for him and his family. Butnow I am very sad for Raul's mom too.Please folks she didn't do this don't blame her.Her heart is broke too. Nothing compares to what alex's family is going through may we all just keep these poor families in our prayers.

Wednesday, Nov 4 at 11:57 PM Sad wrote ...

We really need to take a look at our society when this type of crime is committed by a 14 year old. What can we do to change things?

Wednesday, Nov 4 at 10:04 PM thought so wrote ...

Why is the hearing continued, maybe the truth is coming out, has this 14 boy has been horribly abused and his mother knew??

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