Fourteen-year-old charged with murder over 4-year-old’s dryer death

Published Wednesday, November 04, 2009

By AP

Prosecutors have filed murder and other charges against a 14-year-old central California boy accused in the death of a 4-year-old neighbor, whose body was found in a clothes dryer at the teen’s home.

Fresno County District Attorney Elizabeth Egan says the 14-year-old was charged as an adult on Tuesday. Egan says the teen also is facing charges of sodomy, kidnapping and murder of a witness to prevent testimony.

He is due to be arraigned Wednesday morning. Prosecutors say if eventually convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims says the body of 4-year-old Alex Christopher Mercado was found Saturday in the 14-year-old’s family home in Mendota. Earlier Tuesday, Fresno County authorities said Alex was drowned before being stuffed in the dryer.

Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the Emirates Business 24|7 daily newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.

The page was last updated on: 14 January 2016 21:48