Veronica Mercado, 47

Veronica Mercado, a 47-year-old Latina, died Friday, Sept. 7, in the 8100 block of Radford Street in Sun Valley, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Police responded to a 911 call reporting a woman wrapped in a sheet placed in an abandoned pickup truck on Webb Avenue near Cantara Street in Sun Valley.

Authorities discovered the body of Veronica Mercado. During a search of the victim’s home in the 8100 block of Radford Street, they discovered her husband, Alejandro Mercado, a 51-year-old Latino, dead in the bedroom. His body was also wrapped in a sheet.

Both victims died of blunt-force trauma, LAPD detectives said.

Soon after the discoveries, officials arrested the couple's son, Jonathan Mercado, a 25-year-old Latino.

On Tuesday, Jonathan Mercado was charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office with two counts of murder with the special circumstance of multiple murders.

Prosecutors said they would not make an immediate determination whether to seek the death penalty.

Jonathan Mercado is being held on no bail at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 25 at the Van Nuys Municipal Court.

Anyone with additional details about the killings is asked to contact LAPD Foothill homicide Detectives Jones and Santana at (818) 834-3115. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times