California woman who kept her boyfriend’s body wrapped in an air mattress for years after smashing his head with a kitchen utensil and cutting his throat will go on trial

California – A California woman faces trial for the brutal murder of her ex-boyfriend, a case that lay dormant until recently. The 44-year-old woman, identified as T. Spicer, is charged with the murder of her then-boyfriend, 42-year-old E. Mercado, whose disappearance in 2014 ended tragically with his remains found buried on Spicer’s property in 2022.

On August 23, 2022, authorities, acting on a tip, conducted a follow-up investigation that led them to Spicer’s residence. During the search, authorities uncovered what was described as a “makeshift tomb.” Inside, they found the remains of Eric Mercado, confirming fears held by his family since his report as missing eight years earlier. The grim discovery on the property where Spicer and Mercado once lived together unraveled a dark secret hidden for years.

Judge W. Powell ruled that Spicer will stand trial on one count of murder with an enhancement for using a deadly weapon. The allegations are severe: prosecutors claim Spicer ended Mercado’s life by hitting his head with a frying pan and cutting his throat with a box cutter before concealing his body beneath her residence.

During a preliminary hearing, new details emerged from the testimony of W. Gentry, Spicer’s boyfriend, who was the tipster to police about Spicer killing Mercado. Gentry testified that Spicer asked him for help “to get rid” of her ex-boyfriend, who was buried under the stairs. Following Spicer’s confession, Gentry decided to speak to the police.Authorities then obtained a search warrant for the property and searched the home, where they found Mercado’s body wrapped inside a sliced air mattress in a hidden storage compartment.

Police stated in a press release, “During the service of the search warrant, investigators observed what appeared to be a makeshift tomb on the property. Investigators entered the makeshift tomb and located human remains inside. Homicide investigators identified pertinent information and learned that Trista Spicer and the decedent, Eric Mercado, lived at the residence together. Investigators learned that Mercado had been reported missing by his family in 2014 and had not been seen since.”

According to investigators, the evidence collected during the investigation pointed at Spicer as the primary suspect in Mercado’s death. Spicer was arrested nearly two years ago, in September 2022. She is scheduled to appear in court next month, on July 12, according to court records.