Alejandro Mercado, 51

Sept. 7, 2012

Alejandro Mercado, a 51-year-old Latino, was found dead 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.

When authorities arrived, they discovered the body of Veronica Mercado, a 47-year-old Latina. During a search of the victim’s home in the 8100 block of Radford Street, they discovered her husband, Alejandro Mercado, 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

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Five reader comments

I was married to Jonathan's cousin and I knew Jonathan and his family since I lived with them in the back house. His parents were loving and understanding they both work hard to give his 3 kids a good education. His father would be on his case because his room would smell like marijuana and he did not had a job at his age and Jonathan was not doing anything with his life. His mother was a hard working woman and loving also she cooked and cleaned for her family. Jonathan was an outgoing young man, quiet but he would be be cool most of the time. You would never think a tragedy would occur in a family that seem as normal as they did. My heart goes out to the kids since they went to school with my children also and I was once part of the Mercado family.

— Maggie Mercado Dec. 29, 2016 at 3:28 p.m.

i knew this guy as a person and i have to say he did make a bad decision but something led him to do it and i witnessed the pain behind his eyes he may be a killer but he was once like us loving and regular how would you feel if your parents knew nothing to send you away or treat you as a dog both him and i had alot in common only difference is i could control myself and he was weak he shouldnt have let them get to him he couldve been out of the house right... but he didnt for what... his brother tony n liz how would you feel if you grew up feeling like shit every day and know that your brother and sister are heading down the same path they would feel the same pain only god knows what he really thru his mind so from me true little blue i really wish i could take you back in time jon. family parties were better sitting on the couch right next to you. everything happens for a reason let god in hes looking for you

— little blue May 23, 2015 at 12:59 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Alejandro Mercado, 51

Share a memory or thought about Alejandro Mercado

Five reader comments