Autumn Ray Christiansen Mercado (Obituary).
A mother of three died in Utah earlier this month and while police have yet to charge anyone in connection with her death, the woman’s husband has been questioned about what he did after the fact.
On Jan. 13, Autumn Ray Christiansen Mercado, 39, died at her own home in West Jordan, a large southern suburb of Salt Lake City.
That same day, a coworker called police to request a welfare check. Officers arrived at the residence on Iron Core Lane at around 2:30 p.m. and the scene immediately set off alarm bells. The coworker in question called law enforcement after not being able to contact the woman for a significant period of time, police say. The coworker also said Autumn Mercado had a past with domestic violence.
The woman’s lifeless body was found at the bottom of the stairs.
“The death appeared suspicious to responding officers who took one adult male into for further investigation,” West Jordan Police Sgt. Andrew Hercules said during a press conference.
Carlos Mercado, 47, now stands accused of one count of failure to report a death and two counts of child abandonment.
The defendant answered the door and told police he was just about to call them about his wife’s death, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Salt Lake City-based Fox affiliate KSTU and CBS affiliate KUTV.
Carlos Mercado had a bit more to say, according to law enforcement.
Police say the defendant reeked of booze and had trouble maintaining his balance during that initial interview — with multiple open alcohol containers in plain sight throughout the kitchen and front room.
“Carlos stated he was just about to call the police when officers arrived,” the affidavit reads. “Carlos invited the responding officers into the residence, where they noticed Autumn lying deceased at the bottom of the stairs.”
Carlos Mercado allegedly said he and his wife had been drinking the day before and that he fell asleep around 4 or 5 a.m., according to court documents. Upon waking up, he thought his wife was simply asleep at the foot of the stairwell. The husband allegedly told police he believed she had fallen due to her having vertigo, tried to rouse her but could not do so, covered her in a blanket, then hailed a ride share so he could go out to get more beer from a gas station.
Police say Autumn Mercado’s body had signs of rigor mortis — which suggests she had been dead for hours before being discovered that morning, according to the affidavit. The defendant allegedly said he noticed his wife’s body at around 8:39 a.m. that morning. Surveillance footage from the gas station, showed Carlos Mercado shopping roughly an hour later, police say.
During the beer run, the man allegedly admittedly left the couple’s two children — who are 1 and 4 years old — alone inside the house.
The children are now safe, Hercules said during the press conference.
Autumn Mercado worked as a registered nurse and hoped to some day become a nurse practitioner, according to her obituary.
The memorial remembers her fondly:
Autumn graced her 39 years on this earth with a boundless energy, a radiant smile, and a heart full of love. Autumn’s zest for life was evident from an early age, especially on the gymnastics floor. A fierce competitor, she collected countless first-place trophies and top all-around wins, showcasing her remarkable determination and drive. Her love for the sport and her grit left an impression on everyone who watched her compete.
“I remember when she was a kid she wanted to go feed the homeless or help people who didn’t have a place to live,” her sister, Summer Christiansen, told KSTU. “She was always trying to help individuals.”
A GoFundMe was started by Christiansen to raise money to help support the deceased woman’s three children and for funeral costs.
“Not only was she beautiful but inside of her soul was huge. Her heart was ginormous,” her sister told the TV station. “I want people to remember Autumn as the daughter, the sister, and the mother that she was and the everlasting effects she has on everyone that she’s left behind.”
In 2019, Carlos Mercado was found guilty of felony aggravated assault in the third degree against then-fiancee Autumn, according to KUTV. He was later charged with assault and domestic violence against Autumn Mercado in the presence of a child for an incident that occurred in 2021, the TV station reports — though that case was dismissed. In 2022, was found guilty of assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child, according to KUTV.
Law&Crime reached out to the West Jordan Police Department for additional details on this story but no response was immediately forthcoming at the time of publication.
