A tragic incident unfolded in West Jordan, Utah, earlier this month when a mother of three was found dead in her home. The deceased, identified as 39-year-old Autumn Ray Christiansen Mercado, was discovered by police officers who were called to the residence for a welfare check on January 13. The call was made by a coworker who had been unable to reach Mercado for an extended period and was aware of her history with domestic violence.
Upon arrival at the Iron Core Lane residence around 2:30 p.m., officers found Mercado’s lifeless body at the bottom of the stairs. The circumstances surrounding her death raised suspicions, leading to the detention of an adult male for further investigation, according to West Jordan Police Sgt. Andrew Hercules.
The man in question, Carlos Mercado, 47, is now facing charges of failing to report a death and two counts of child abandonment. When officers arrived at the residence, Mercado allegedly told them he was about to report his wife’s death. However, police noted that he appeared intoxicated and had difficulty maintaining his balance. Multiple open alcohol containers were visible in the kitchen and front room.
According to court documents, Mercado claimed that he and his wife had been drinking the previous day and that he had fallen asleep around 4 or 5 a.m. Upon waking, he found his wife at the foot of the stairs, assumed she was asleep, and covered her with a blanket before leaving the house to buy more beer. He left the couple’s two young children, aged 1 and 4, alone in the house during this time.
Autopsy reports suggest that Mercado had been dead for several hours before her body was discovered, showing signs of rigor mortis. Surveillance footage from the gas station where Mercado went to buy beer showed him shopping approximately an hour after he claimed to have found his wife’s body.
Autumn Mercado, a registered nurse with aspirations of becoming a nurse practitioner, is remembered for her boundless energy, radiant smile, and loving heart. Her sister, Summer Christiansen, has set up a GoFundMe to support Mercado’s three children and cover funeral costs.
Carlos Mercado has a history of domestic violence charges. In 2019, he was found guilty of felony aggravated assault against Autumn, his then-fiancée. He was also charged with assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child in 2021, although that case was dismissed. In 2022, he was again found guilty of assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child.