Utah Tragedy: Mom Found Dead at Bottom of Stairs, Husband Arrested After Leaving Body

A tragic incident in Salt Lake City has left a mother of three dead and her husband facing charges. Autumn Mercado, 39, a nurse, was discovered deceased at the bottom of the stairs in her home on Monday following a welfare check initiated by a concerned coworker. Her husband, Carlos Mercado, 47, has been arrested in connection with the investigation.

Police were alerted when Autumn failed to show up for work, and her coworker, unable to reach her, called for a welfare check. Upon arrival, officers found Autumn’s body at the bottom of the stairs, covered by a blanket. According to FOX13, Carlos Mercado told officers that he had discovered his wife after she had fallen. He claimed she passed out due to vertigo and then tumbled down the stairs. After covering her body with a blanket, he reportedly left the house with their young children inside and went out for beers.

An affidavit obtained by KSLTV stated that officers noticed Autumn’s body had signs of rigor mortis and her feet were discolored. Carlos appeared to be intoxicated, with alcohol on his breath and difficulty maintaining his balance. Inside the home, two young children, aged one and four, were found unsupervised, standing near their deceased mother.

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Carlos told officers that he and Autumn had been drinking the night before, and he fell asleep in the late afternoon. He claimed to have found her after waking up, but instead of seeking help, he decided to leave the home, leaving his children and wife behind. The situation took a further dark turn when it was revealed that he had booked a rideshare to go out for more drinks.

Carlos Mercado has been arrested on charges of failure to report a death and child abandonment, but he has not been charged in connection with his wife’s death. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of her death with the Office of the Medical Examiner.

Autumn’s sister, Summer Christiansen-Ward, shared an emotional tribute on Facebook, expressing heartbreak over the loss: “I will forever love you, sister. I promise we will take care of your kids. I am brokenhearted.” Christiansen-Ward has also set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with funeral costs and support the family in their time of need.

Court records reveal that Carlos Mercado has a criminal history, including a 2022 conviction for assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child, among other charges.

As of Friday, Carlos Mercado had been released from custody, according to Salt Lake County booking records. The investigation into Autumn Mercado’s death is ongoing.

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keelee-mccain

Keelee McCain is a junior at Weber High School. This is her second year on staff, this year as Assistant to the Chief. She does have a life (probably) but she can't think of anything to write in here, so she's probably just going to ramble now. She has an orange cat who she likes better than any human. If you see her being quiet or not sitting on top of a desk, there is something very wrong. In her free time she enjoys harassing her favorite teachers and sleeping. Her life plans include making it through high school and leaving. Happy lifeing.

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