Judge To Rule On Suspect In Boy's Dryer Death
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- The trial of a Mendota teen accused of molesting and drowning a 4-year-old neighbor boy in a bathtub has begun with an audio tape in which he describes the killing to investigators.
The Fresno Bee reports that Raul Castro could be heard on the nearly hour-long audio tape saying he unsuccessfully tried to sexually assault Alex Mercado.
On the tape played in court Monday, Castro said the preschooler became frightened and started to cry. He said he didn't know what to do, so he drowned Alex and then put him inside the clothes dryer.
The now-15-year-old Castro is being charged as an adult with five felonies, including murder, kidnapping and lewd acts on a child.
Castro has waived his right to a jury trial, so the case will be decided by a judge.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
