California Woman Allegedly Killed Sleeping Boyfriend with Frying Pan, Box Cutter, Hid Body in 'Makeshift Tomb'

A California woman is set to face trial for the gruesome murder of her boyfriend, who vanished mysteriously in 2014. 

His body was unearthed years later in 2022, hidden in what authorities described as a "makeshift tomb" at her residence.

Last Friday, the San Bernardino court released new details surrounding the alleged murder of Eric Israel Mercado. 

Mercado’s disappearance, initially reported by his family a decade ago, grabbed headlines in August 2022 when his girlfriend was formally charged with his murder. 

During a preliminary hearing, his former girlfriend and primary suspect, Trista Ann Spicer, was confronted with damning testimony from her former roommate.

The breakthrough came when police, acting on a tip-off about possible human remains, executed a search warrant at her home. 

They discovered a makeshift tomb on the property, which contained Mercado’s remains.

New revelations surfaced in court when Waylan Gentry, who met Spicer in 2019 and later moved in with her, testified. 

Although The San Bernardino Sun described Gentry as Spicer’s "most recent boyfriend," he clarified they were merely roommates with a shared drug habit. 

Gentry recounted that in 2022, Spicer spoke of relocating to Illinois to be with family.

But she confided in him that she needed to "take care of something" before leaving.

She sought Gentry's assistance in disposing of her boyfriend’s body, claiming he was buried under the stairs.

Gentry alleged that Spicer confessed to killing Mercado by hitting him on the head with a frying pan while he slept.

She then slashed his throat with a box cutter. 

San Bernardino Police Detective Tiffany Montez testified that Mercado’s eye socket appeared shattered.

This indicated that the blows to his head would have resulted in immediate death.

Initially, Gentry did not believe Spicer’s story. 

However, eight months later, his mother advised  him to "do the right thing," by informing yhe authorities. 

It was at this point that he reluctantly reported the conversation to the police. 

Subsequently, Mercado’s body was recovered from a room measuring approximately "3 feet deep, 8 feet wide, and 6 feet high."

Despite these testimonies, prosecutors are yet to present any physical evidence linking Spicer to the crime. 

She has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court on July 12.

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