Remains of California man missing since 2014 found in 'makeshift tomb'; woman arrested

A California woman was arrested after the remains of a man who had been missing since 2014 were discovered inside a makeshift tomb on property where she once lived, officials said.

On Aug. 23, police in San Bernardino, California – located roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles – were tipped off to the possibility of human remains and obtained a search warrant for the residence.

“During the service of the search warrant, investigators observed what appeared to be a makeshift tomb on the property,” the San Bernardino Police Department said in a statement. “Investigators entered the makeshift tomb and located human remains inside.”

Police identified the remains as belonging to Eric Israel Mercado, who had been reported missing by his family nearly seven years ago, police said. Mercado was 35 years old when he was last seen in San Bernardino on Oct. 9, 2014, according to California’s missing persons database.

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Upon further investigation, authorities learned that Mercado had at one point lived on the property with Trista Spicer, 43.

“Based on evidence collected by homicide detectives, it was determined that Spicer was responsible for the murder of Mercado, and an arrest warrant was issued for her,” police said in its statement.

Authorities located Spicer in the nearby city of Yucaipa and arrested her Friday. Jail records show her bail was set at $1 million.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missing California man’s remains found in ‘makeshift tomb,’ police say

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