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Teen says he drowned 4-year-old to protect secret
(CNN) — A 14-year-old California boy told police he drowned his 4-year-old neighbor on Friday because the child had threatened to tell his mother the older boy had molested him, according to an affidavit made public Wednesday.
Raul Renato Castro has been charged in Fresno County as an adult, with special circumstances including murder during a child molestation, sodomy, kidnapping and murder of a witness to prevent testimony, according to the district attorney’s office.
He faces separate felony charges of kidnapping, sodomy and child molestation.
The affidavit, filed by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, says Castro told investigators he lured the victim, Alex Christopher Mercato, into his apartment “by telling the victim he had something to show him.”
Police have said no one else was in the Mendota, California, house at the time.
Castro then talked the boy into entering the bathroom, according to the document. Castro said he then sodomized the toddler, after which “the victim tripped over the carpet, fell, and hit the back of his head on the bathtub,” the affidavit says.
“Castro said the victim started crying and told Castro he was going to tell his mother. Castro said he panicked and decided to kill the victim by drowning him in the bathtub.
“Castro turned on the water to the bathtub and filled it up just enough to put the victim’s face underwater and drowned him. Castro said he held the victim underwater 2-4 minutes. Castro got into the bathtub with the victim, held him down until the victim died.”
“Castro then carried the victim over his left shoulder and put him [in]… the clothes dryer to conceal him.”
The incident occurred Friday afternoon, after Mercato’s parents discovered that their child, who had been playing outside their house, was missing, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims told reporters Monday.
The parents called police, who searched the neighborhood and nearby parks in Mendota, 33 miles west of Fresno, she said. Soon, the FBI was called in.
On Saturday, authorities resumed the search and found the body stuffed inside the dryer in the apartment next door.
An autopsy determined the victim had drowned.
Under California law, a 14-year-old is not eligible for the death penalty or a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. If found guilty, Castro could receive no more than 32 years to life plus 15 years. SOURCE: CNN NEWS NOVEMBER 4, 2009
Oh my gosh, this is so heartbreaking. My heart aches for that little 4 y/o boy
It’s so scary that now this is the 2nd story we’ve heard in less than a couple weeks of a teenager killing a younger child. It’s terrifying to think of what’s going on in teen’s minds these days that they would be able to kill children.
Prayers for all the families involved.
NO NO NO……….my gosh what have we become? Where were the 14 year olds parents?
Has he been alone with other children? This 14 yo is deeply disturbed, there had to be signs, changes in behavior…………what is his background? Could he be repeating what was done to him? (not excusing his vile behavior) just wondering what leads a 14 yo to sodomize and kill a child! My heart is heavy for little Alex……….the horror he endured…….I am truly at a loss for words……..I am saddened, sickened and angry! We are failing our children! :emotion:
wow. what a society we’re living in
This 14 year old killer should spend the rest of his life in prison or be put to death. Even a child that age should know that it is wrong to take a life.
The Fresno District Attorney’s office kicks xxx. They’ll convict this kid without a doubt.
It is horriffic how we hear abot more of this type of crime happening, where a teen or youth violate and even kill a younger child. I feel that (even though many parents would disapprove) we should educate our children in school that it is an ugly and wrong thing to hurt others and explain what the consequences are because many children are not taught this in there home. I have 5 children and I am not going to be so ignorent and just assume my child will always make the right decisions. Children often let you down. I talk to my boys and my girls, ” You can NOT ever forse your self on anyone and take advantage of the power you have over them, never touch a child or anyone because it is wrong and you hurt them at it is an ugly awful sin”. It is just like educating your child about drugs or safe sex. It may be uncomfortable but you have to teach them what is right. Schools should do this and maybe it could save a life. I PRAY FOR THE FAMILY WHO LOST THERE LITTLE BOY. I hope they find the strength to appear at every court date and they speak for the child they lost in such a evil ugly manner. I would never be the same if it was my baby, unfortunatly child molesters get less time than drug dealers and the perpetrator is young so he might get out at an age where he could still harm another child. I hope that he stays incarcerated because I have studied cases like these for class papers and there are high reoccurence rates on crimes like these even when the criminal has been through many years of therapy. I hope that in court the jury and judge forget about the criminals age and think of the victims age and the crime. Unfortunatly that is not going to happen. The boy who did this was manipulative and was only thinking of his perverted urges,he should never be allowed to see the outside world again, and kids should be taught how to deal with there sexual urges so that they dont develop harmful thoughts. But it is not politically correct. God bless Alex and his family. I urge everyone to pray for Alex and all children, because now they cant even be trusted around other children.
They should kill him & all childmolesters/killers. The lives of kids don’t matter much to the justice system. Just go years back and see what happened to Steven Stayners offender. The creap got 6mos. for kidnapping & sodomizing steven for a decade among other kids he kidnapped,raped & sold into God knows what horrible evil. The death penalty is a must for these creaps. The kid planned this, it was calculated, he lured him. Its so sick. Poor little baby. My heart goes out to his parents.
OMG-This child had to see this stuff on the net.What a cruel way for a 4 yr old to die.At 14 many children grow up rough.But dont sodomise am drown a baby 4yrs old is a baby!!!!! Im sorry but if this boy is set free,he may be another serial killer.An accidents one thing,but to out,an out rape,an drown some one.Is cold,an calculated.Lust he could have handled his self at 14,not this!! No excuses,no freedom,the punishment should fit the crime,no matter what the age.THIS WASNT A CHILDS CRIME,OR ACCIDENT=IT WAS OUT RIGHT RAPE,AN MURDER!!!!
DP,you cant reabilitate a sodomizer,an murder,he would do it againPeople this isnt like an accident playing ball,or a accident while swimming.This 14 yr old is a killer==My heart goes out to both families involved.