Suspicious death of Utah woman under investigation
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Pat Reavy, KSL.com
WEST JORDAN, Utah (KSL.com) — West Jordan police are investigating a suspicious death after finding a woman dead at the bottom of a stairwell and already showing signs of rigor mortis.
Carlos Mercado, 47, was arrested for investigation of abuse or desecration of a dead body and two counts of child abandonment.
The investigation began Monday when West Jordan police were asked to perform a welfare check on Autumn Mercado, 39, who had failed to show up for work. The caller also told police there was “a past with domestic violence and wanted to make sure she was OK,” according to a police booking affidavit.
When officers arrived at the home near 7800 South and 7100 West, Carlos Mercado answered the door and claimed he was just about to call police, the affidavit states.
“Carlos invited the responding officers into the residence, where they noticed Autumn lying deceased at the bottom of the stairs. Autumn’s feet were discolored, and signs of rigor mortis appeared to be present,” the affidavit alleges.
“Carlos had an excited utterance saying he thought Autumn was ‘passed out’ due to her having vertigo and falling down the stairs. Carlos did not specify when the victim fell down the stairs. Officers could smell the odor of alcohol coming from Carlos’ breath and noticed he had a hard time maintaining his balance. Multiple open containers of alcohol were observed throughout the front room and kitchen area,” the affidavit says.
Two children, ages 4 and 1, were also inside the home.
When questioned by detectives, Carlos Mercado said he and Autumn Mercado had been heavily drinking the night before. He said he woke up about 8:40 a.m. on Monday to find her at the bottom of the stairs and believed she was asleep, the affidavit states.
“Carlos said he was unable to wake Autumn up or get any reaction from her. Carlos said he covered Autumn with a blanket and left her at the bottom of the stairs,” according to police.
Carlos Mercado says he then got a ride-share service to take him to a gas station to buy more beer, leaving the two children unsupervised “in the living room in close proximity to Autumn, where she remained unresponsive and incapacitated, in a condition that Autumn was not able to care for the children in Carlos’ absence. Autumn was later confirmed to be deceased by police,” the affidavit states.
West Jordan police said Tuesday that Mercado was arrested on suspicion of the charges that are based on the evidence currently collected. Detectives are working in conjunction with the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office to determine if additional charges, such as murder, should be screened with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
According to court records, police have been called several times to the house for domestic violence issues between the couple.