GUILTY CA - Alex Mercado, 4, Mendota, 30 Oct 2009

[Knox]

Alex is Flying with Angels. My thoughts are with his family, may time heal their broken hearts.

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1701953.html

 

[Texas Mist]

Knox, what a touching post to make for your 1000th.

((hugs))

 

[CHICANA]

Ugghh, thanks Bamagirl, guess that answers my question. In that case his Mom should have been doubly vigilant

I'm thinking Raul was molested by the older brother.

 

[CarrieBean]

http://www.kmjnow.com/pages/landing...ily-Facing-More-Lo=1&blockID=87778&feedID=806

Geezus, it's no wonder the kid is so screwed up. :furious:

 

[Knox]

Mendota teen's arraignment delayed
Published online on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009

3:19 p.m.: The arraignment of a 14-year-old Mendota boy on murder charges in connection with the slaying of a 4-year-old neighbor has been delayed until Tuesday.Raul Renato Castro, wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, made two brief appearances in Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jon Nick Kapetan’s courtroom.

In the morning, the Public Defender’s Office announced it could not defend Castro because of a conflict. In the afternoon, Kapetan appointed Fresno attorney Barbara O’Neill to defend Castro, who is accused of first-degree murder in the death of Alex Christopher Mercado. O’Neill asked to delay Castro’s arraignment because she wanted time to read the investigative reports before her client enters a plea.

http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/1705433.html

 

[Knox]

Mendota Teen Pleads Not Guilty In 4-Year-Old's Death
A Mendota teen, accused of murdering his four-year-old neighbor, entered a not guilty plea inside a Fresno County Courtroom on Tuesday.

http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=11524232

 

[Texas Mist]

Mendota Teen Pleads Not Guilty In 4-Year-Old's Death
A Mendota teen, accused of murdering his four-year-old neighbor, entered a not guilty plea inside a Fresno County Courtroom on Tuesday.

http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=11524232

thanks, Knox for keeping us updated on this case.

 

[Texas Mist]

was thinking of Alex tonite & found this

Mendota teen faces murder trial in killing of boy, 4

Posted at 10:14 AM on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010
By Pablo Lopez / The Fresno Bee

In a surprising move Wednesday, the attorney for a 14-year-old accused of molesting and killing a 4-year-old Mendota boy in October waived the teen's right to a preliminary hearing in Fresno County Superior Court.

A shackled Raul Renato Castro agreed with the legal maneuver by his attorney, Barbara O'Neill. Prosecutor Robert Romanacce didn't object.

Castro is accused of murdering Alex Mercado by drowning the youngster in a bathtub Oct. 30.

The preliminary hearing would have determined whether there is enough evidence for Castro to stand trial as an adult. With the waiver, Judge Jon Nick Kapetan automatically ordered Castro to stand trial on a charge of first-degree murder and special allegations, including kidnapping.

more here

http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/02/25/1834969/mendota-teen-faces-murder-trial.html

 

[MorenoI]

4-year-old murder victim's mother breaks silence on case

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8082970

Mendota teen's murder confession played in court

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8078668

 

[MsFacetious]

The case of a Valley teen accused of murdering his four-year-old neighbor is now in the hands of a judge.

Judge Jonathan Conklin is expected to rule on the murder case as early as Friday morning.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8087512


Elsa Castro has always believed her son did not kill their 4-year-old neighbor, Alex Mercado, even after finding the body in her own clothes dryer. But her faith was clearly shaken Monday when she heard her son admit to the crime for the first time.

She cried through the confession, and later told Action News she feels the pain of two mothers.

"I know it's hard for them," Elsa Castro said. "But it's especially harder for me because I saw what I saw and then my son's over here [on trial]." :sick: :banghead:

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8078668


"It's hard, but I'm trying not to cry, just try to hang in there the best that I can," Elsa Castro, Raul Castro's mom, said. I'm going through a lot, but I'm here, hanging in there," she said.

http://www.kmph.com/story/14470185/mendota-teen-says-he-had-urges-to-kill-before-4-year-olds-murder


Mercado says her 4-year-old son lived for the very thing that killed him. "He had a thrill for water," she said. "He really loved water and it just breaks my heart that [water] caused his death."

Coroners say the little boy's cause of death was drowning. Dr. Michael Chambliss says Mercado also suffered blunt force trauma, leaving six bruises on his head -- and not all from the same fall.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8082970

 

[Daisyjane]

http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/22/2360432/teen-found-guilty-of-molesting.html#storylink=mirelated Posted at 09:44 AM on Friday, Apr. 22, 2011
The Associated

FRESNO, Calif. -- A Fresno County teenager accused of molesting and drowning a 4-year-old neighbor boy has been convicted of first-degree murder. A judge found 15-year-old Raul Castro guilty of murder Friday, as well as lewd and lascivious conduct and sodomy. The judge, however, found Castro not guilty of kidnapping. Castro was tried as an adult in the October 2009 killing of Alex Mercado. Castro was 14 when he drowned the preschooler in a bathtub after the child said he would tell his mother about the sexual assault. Castro hid the body inside a clothes dryer. The teen confessed in taped interviews with detectives.Castro's attorney had argued the teen was mentally ill and did not intend to kill Alex. The case was decided by a judge after Castro waived his right to a jury trial.

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/22...esting.html#storylink=mirelated#ixzz1KGytnXkV

 

[MsFacetious]

GUILTY of murder.

A Fresno County Judge found Raul Castro guilty of first degree murder.

http://www.cbs47.tv/news/local/story/Teen-Guilty-of-1st-Degree-Murder/9IdoLPaN5kW0BQw8O-QdAw.cspx


He was also found guilty of forcible sodomy and forcible lewd act on a child.

The judge found Castro not guilty of kidnapping a minor and kidnapping to commit sodomy.

http://www.kmph.com/story/14497623/mendota-teenager-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder


Teen found guilty of molesting, drowning boy

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_17908780?nclick_check=1

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...HsIDLw?docId=f5dceab550ff407babd1a06bc3607f31

 

[MsFacetious]

Justice for you Alex

Family photos

http://www.cbsnews.com

http://articles.nydailynews.com

http://articles.sfgate.com

http://www.fresnobee.com

 

[Missizzy]

Prayers for little Alex and his family. He was a brave boy. He was going to tell. This one hurts terribly.....

 

[Cubby]

Teen gets prison in murder of boy stuffed in dryer

The Associated Press
Posted: 06/24/2011 01:18:54 PM PDT
Updated: 06/24/2011 03:08:56 PM PDT




FRESNO, Calif.—A Central California teenager has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of molesting and drowning his 4-year-old neighbor, then hiding the boy's body in a clothes dryer.

A Fresno County judge sentenced 15-year-old Raul Castro to 33 years to life in prison Friday, three months after the teen was found guilty of first-degree murder.


full article at link:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18347282