The sister of a Utah woman found dread at the bottom of a stairwell says the victim’s boyfriend, who hasn’t been charged, pushed her.
Autumn Mercado, 39, was found deceased on January 13 as per FOX 13 Now. Her coworker contacted the authorities when she didn’t arrive at work, prompting the police to conduct a welfare check, said West Jordan Police Sgt. Andrew Hercules.
“The death appeared suspicious to responding officers,” Hercules said during a news conference.
Carlos Mercado, the victim’s husband, mentioned to investigators that he thought his wife was sleeping, so he covered her with a blanket before leaving the house to purchase beer, the police report revealed.
According to an affidavit, law enforcement officers detected the smell of alcohol on Carlos’ breath and observed his struggle to maintain balance. They also noticed various open alcohol containers in the front room and kitchen area.
He later claimed she fell down the stairs due to vertigo after drinking until the early morning, leading him to think she had fallen asleep at the bottom of the stairs.
Autumn Mercado’s sister, Summer Christiansen, did not accept his explanation, according to what she told NewsNation Now.
“We’re a family. We love hard, and we’re living a nightmare,” Christiansen said.
“If you love them, how do you not pick them up? How do you not put them on a couch? How do you not cuddle them, put them back in bed I don’t believe it.”
Carlos Mercado has since been charged with child abandonment and failure to report a death, which follows several previous legal troubles.
In 2022, a jury found him guilty of assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child. The previous year, he faced similar charges, but prosecutors reportedly did not reach out to the victim, his wife.
In 2019, Carlos Mercado was convicted of third-degree felony aggravated assault against his then-fiancé, Autumn.
“He didn’t protect her at all. We did not know it was to this degree. I mean, she was slashed with a knife. She got her teeth knocked out … we did not know,” Christiansen said.
Meanwhile, Summer Christiansen told NewsNation that the family was not aware of the full extent of the abuse Autumn experienced.
“Now that she is passed, you know, people are coming forward, telling us that Autumn confided in them,” she said.
Autumn Mercado worked as a registered nurse and had ambitions to become a nurse practitioner, a role her family said would have matched her caring nature.
Carlos Mercado remains behind bars without bail at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail
The investigation continues. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Autumn Mercado/GoFundMe]
