KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | 14-Year-Old Charged As Adult In 4 Year-Old's Murder

14-Year-Old Charged As Adult In 4 Year-Old's Murder

A 14-year-old Mendota boy, accused of killing his 4-year-old neighbor and stuffing his body in a dryer, will be charged as an adult.

Fresno County District Attorney Elizabeth Egan announced the decision on Tuesday, along with the full list of charges the boy is facing.

The teen, identified as Raul Renato Castro, has been charged with the First Degree Murder of 4-year-old Alex Mercado. He has also been charged with four special circumstances associated with the murder. Those circumstances include murder during a child molestation, sodomy, kidnapping; and murder of a witness to prevent testimony.

Castro also faces separate felony charges of kidnapping, sodomy and child molestation.

The body of little Alex Mercado was found Saturday evening after a lengthy search through the town. Mercado was first reported missing by his family Friday at four p.m. and after searching  nearby canals and fields deputies returned to his housing project where his body was discovered in a neighbors home. The 14-year-old was immediatly arrested for the crime.

On Monday it was revealed that Mercado's cause of death was drowning.

Castro is not eligible for the death penalty or a sentence of Life-Without-the-Possibility of Parole. The maximum penalty he could face is 32 years to life, plus 15 years.

The teen is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday.

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