North Hollywood man pleads no contest to fatally beating his parents
A North Hollywood man pleaded no contest to bludgeoning his parents to death five years ago, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Jonathan Mercado, 30, entered a plea Sept. 26 to two counts of murder for killing Alejandro Mercado, 51, and Veronica Mercado, 47. He also admitted to using a deadly weapon to commit the crime.
On Sept. 7, 2012, Jonathan Mercado brutally beat his mother and father at their family home, authorities said. After the attack, he wrapped his mother’s body in a sheet and placed her in a pickup truck that was found in Sun Valley. Soon after, authorities went to the home and found the father’s body also wrapped in a sheet.
Mercado will be sentenced Jan. 17 to 42 years to life in state prison.
Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @jeromercampbell and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.
Post a comment
Before you post, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:
Remember, all posts are approved by a Times staffer. Profanity and personal attacks will not be approved.