Remains found in makeshift tomb identified as man missing for 8 years, CA police say
Detectives found the remains of a California man reported missing nearly eight years ago in a makeshift tomb, authorities said.
Police followed up on a tip about possible human remains at a home on East Davidson Street in San Bernardino on Tuesday, Aug. 23, the San Bernardino Police Department said in a news release on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
After obtaining a search warrant, police said they searched the property and “entered the makeshift tomb and located human remains inside.”
The remains were identified as those of Eric Mercado, according to police.
Mercado was 35 years old when he was reported missing by his family in October 2014, according to the California Attorney General’s Office and police.
Police said Mercado and Trista Spicer, 43, lived at the home together.
Evidence led detectives to suspect “Spicer was responsible for the murder of Mercado,” San Bernardino police said.
Spicer was arrested in Yucaipa on Friday, Sept. 2, and booked into jail on a murder charge, police said.
San Bernardino is about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 3:32 PM with the headline "Remains found in makeshift tomb identified as man missing for 8 years, CA police say."
