A San Bernardino woman received a 15-year prison sentence after her new boyfriend discovered she had killed her previous partner and buried his body under a staircase for nearly eight years.

Discovery Ends Years of Concealment

San Bernardino police found the remains of Eric Israel Mercado, 42, on August 23, 2022, after receiving a tip about human remains at a residence on East Davidson Street. Officers discovered what they described as a makeshift tomb beneath the staircase where Mercado’s body had been hidden since 2014. Trista Spicer, then 43 years old, was arrested and charged with murder. Mercado’s family had reported him missing in 2014, but the crime remained undetected until Spicer’s new boyfriend contacted authorities.

Boyfriend’s Testimony Reveals Shocking Confession

Waylan Gentry testified that Spicer had confessed to killing Mercado while planning a move to Illinois. According to Gentry’s testimony, Spicer told him she struck Mercado with a frying pan and cut his throat with a box cutter while he slept on a love seat. Spicer mentioned she needed to eliminate her boyfriend before relocating. Gentry initially doubted her claims but contacted police after his mother urged him to report what he had heard. His testimony proved critical in the prosecution’s case against Spicer.

Defense Claims Domestic Violence Sparked Attack

Spicer pleaded not guilty and testified that Mercado became violent after she prepared beans and meat for dinner. She stated he threw the food at her and ordered her to sit naked on the couch. When he demanded coffee, she grabbed a skillet and attacked him instead. Three former acquaintances of Mercado testified they believed he was violent and often avoided contact with him. Despite these claims of domestic abuse, a jury convicted Spicer of second-degree murder in November. Her attorneys have filed an appeal of the conviction, according to court records. The case highlights the complex intersection of domestic violence claims and homicide prosecutions in California courts.