The husband knowledgeable police he found his partner on the bottom of the steps after waking up and thought she was asleep, sooner than he took a ride-share to buy beer at a gas station, leaving their two youthful kids residence alone collectively along with her physique.
Police in West Jordan, Utah are investigating a mysterious dying after a lady’s physique was found on the bottom of the steps in her residence, collectively along with her husband telling them he thought she was asleep. Her sister Summer season season Christiansen (above correct), nonetheless, is simply not purchasing for his story the least bit.
The husband is just not the one who contacted police about his partner’s dying, no matter being the first one to see her. Officers have been dispatched after a concerned coworker reached out when Autumn Mercado, 39 (above left), didn’t current up for work. A welfare look at carried out on January 13 uncovered her tragic future.
Carlos’ Rationalization for Autumn’s Physique
When police first arrived on the residence, they’ve been greeted by Carlos Mercado, 47, who knowledgeable them he was practically to call them. He knowledgeable them he woke as a lot as uncover his partner on the bottom of the steps and assumed she was asleep, per the arrest affidavit seen by Fox affiliate KSTU.
He knowledgeable police that he tried to wake her, nevertheless when she didn’t response, he lined his partner with a blanket, leaving her the place she was on the bottom of the steps.
He then ordered a ride-share and left to buy additional beer at a gas station, leaving their two youthful kids, aged 4 and 1, at residence alone with their mother’s physique.
Consistent with NewsNation, Carlos knowledgeable police he believes Autumn fell down the steps ensuing from vertigo after the couple had been consuming into the wee hours of the morning, which is why he thought she was merely asleep on the bottom of the steps.

Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
Woman Charged After Alleged Capturing Spree of Children’s Fathers in Two States
View Story
Upon preliminary investigation “the dying appeared suspicious to responding officers,” talked about West Jordan Police Sgt. Andrew Hercules in a press conference lined by KLS Data.
“Officers might scent the odor of alcohol coming from Carlos’ breath and seen he had a troublesome time sustaining his steadiness,” talked about the affidavit of what they witnessed upon arrival, per Fox Data. “Numerous open containers of alcohol have been observed all by the doorway room and kitchen area.”
Fox 13 tales that the two youthful kids have been found throughout the residence, with out clothes and standing near their mother’s physique.
Carlos was arrested and booked into Salt Lake County Jail. He has been charged with two felony counts of child abandonment and a misdemeanor rely of failure to report a dull physique. He has not been charged in relation to his partner’s dying.
A search of Salt Lake County reserving data current he’s not in custody. Investigators are persevering with to look into Autumn’s dying in coordination with the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Autumn’s Sister Not Looking for It
Speaking this week with NewsNation, Summer season season Christiansen-Ward talked about she’s not purchasing for Carlos’ story for numerous causes.
“Must you love them, how do you not select them up? How do you not put them on a settee? How do you not cuddle them, put them once more in mattress?” she requested on Banfield. “I don’t think about it.”
She was moreover horrified on the revelation that Carlos had left their youthful kids within the dwelling alone with their mother’s physique, saying merely the thought-about them discovering her “made me must throw up as soon as I found.”
Christiansen-Ward shared that since her sister’s dying, totally different people have come forward with tales the family not at all knew about what Autumn allegedly endured in her marriage with Carlos.

Luzerne County Correctional Facility
Chilling Texts & Habits of Former Trooper Accused of Killing Ex’s New Man Revealed: Police
View Story
She talked about she believed her sister was making an attempt to protect her family from the reality of her life with tales like that she’d fallen off a bike whereas utilizing or had gotten harm in an accident.
“He didn’t protect her the least bit. We didn’t perceive it was to this diploma. I indicate, she was slashed with a knife. She acquired her tooth knocked out,” talked about Christiansen-Ward. “We didn’t know.”
When requested if anyone had knowledgeable the family that Carlos had ever pushed his partner down the steps earlier to this incident, Christiansen-Ward replied, “The reply is bound.” She added, “You start to listen to certain points, and you then positively start to think about.”
Carlos has a historic previous of dwelling violence factors with the native police, as properly. In 2019 he was found accountable of third diploma felony aggravated assault in the direction of Autumn, his fiancée on the time.
In 2021 after which as soon as extra in 2022, he was charged with assault and residential violence throughout the presence of a child, with the sufferer acknowledged as Autumn. The ’21 case was dismissed, as a result of the sufferer was not contacted, nevertheless he was found accountable in ’22.

Comal County Authorized District Lawyer’s Office
Texas Man Instructed 911 He Felt ‘F–king Good’ After Killing Dad Who Wouldn’t Stop Working ‘His F–ing Mouth’: DA
View Story
Autumn was a registered nurse with aspirations to someday become a nurse practitioner, in response to her obituary. “I bear in mind when she was a toddler she wished to go feed the homeless or help people who didn’t have a spot to dwell,” Christiansen-Ward knowledgeable KSTU. “She was on a regular basis making an attempt to help folks.”
She moreover talked about that her sister beloved being a mom, assuring that her kids are safe and away from the house the place she died. She started a GoFundMe “for her shocking funeral costs and to help her kids in rebuilding their lives.”
“We have to give them, not a model new life, nevertheless one factor increased,” she outlined. “And guarantee they knew who their mom was. It’s not truthful. She left too rapidly. Nonetheless she was great.”
“We’re a family,” she added. “We love onerous and we’re dwelling a nightmare.”
In the event you’re experiencing dwelling violence, identify the Nationwide Dwelling Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. The hotline is obtainable 24/7 in further than 170 languages; Calls are confidential and toll-free.