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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Luzerne County prosecutors have elected not to seek the death penalty for Reynaldo Mercado, charged in the robbery and killing of Fred Boote in September.</p><p>Assistant District Attorney Tony Ross did not file a petition of aggravating circumstances and did not inform Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough that he will seek the death penalty for Mercado, 31.</p><p>Mercado and Louisa A. Reyes, 14, both of Wilkes-Barre, are charged with an open count of criminal homicide, burglary, robbery, abuse of corpse and conspiracy in Boote&#8217;s slaying inside his home on Donald Court in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>Because Boote, 58, was killed during an alleged robbery and burglary, prosecutors had the option to seek the death penalty against Mercado.</p><p>During brief court appearances Wednesday, Mercado and Reyes, who is charged as an adult, pleaded not guilty when they were formally arraigned by Vough.</p><p>The judge will schedule a trial at a later date.</p><p>Reyes&#8217; attorney, Frank McCabe, had filed a petition seeking to decertify the adult charges against Reyes. If Vough decides to do that, Reyes will be prosecuted in juvenile court.</p><p>Boote&#8217;s bloody and partially burned body was found in the early morning hours of Sept. 14 when a police officer returning a stray dog discovered the scene.</p><p>According to criminal complaints:</p><p>Reyes&#8217; mother, Carmen Cardy, had a relationship with Boote for several months, but he asked her and her children to move out in July. Soon after, they moved in with Mercado on Maffett Street in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>During an interview with investigators, Reyes claimed Mercado became desperate for cash after losing his job and became concerned he was not able to provide for Cardy and her children.</p><p>Mercado told Reyes he planned on committing burglaries to make money and suggested they ransack Boote&#8217;s house.</p><p>Reyes led Mercado to Boote&#8217;s residence and helped him gain entry.</p><p>Reyes went to the front door and Mercado waited outside. Boote allowed Reyes to enter, and she left the door unlocked behind her.</p><p>Boote and Reyes then headed upstairs when Mercado entered. As Boote was texting Cardy with plans to drive her home, Mercado rushed upstairs and attacked Boote.</p><p>Reyes obtained a knife from the kitchen that Mercado grabbed from her. Mercado then stabbed Boote multiple times in a bedroom where his body was found.</p><p>Mercado told investigators that he took a container of gasoline from the garage and attempted to burn Boote&#8217;s body.</p><p>Investigators say a surveillance camera recorded Mercado and Reyes entering Boote&#8217;s home around 1 a.m. Sept. 14.</p><p>Afterward, Mercado and Reyes fled to West New York, N.J,, where they were found two days later on Sept. 16.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_shotsfortots-3-Copy-1-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Boote </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_shotsfortots-3-Copy-1-1-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Boote </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_Louisa-Reyes-12192018-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Louisa A. Reyes, 14, is escorted from the Luzerne County Courthouse on Wednesday.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_Louisa-Reyes-12192018-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Louisa A. Reyes, 14, is escorted from the Luzerne County Courthouse on Wednesday.  </caption1><photoCredit1>Anjelica Singer photo </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_TTL092218Mercado_2-1-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Reynaldo Mercado is led out of district court after he was arrested and charged with fatally stabbing a Wilkes-Barre man in September. Mercado entered a not guilty plea during a Wednesday court appearance. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_TTL092218Mercado_2-1-1-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Reynaldo Mercado is led out of district court after he was arrested and charged with fatally stabbing a Wilkes-Barre man in September. Mercado entered a not guilty plea during a Wednesday court appearance. </caption2><photoCredit2>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Suspects plead not guilty in WB man&#8217;s homicide</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p><p>By Anjelica Singer</p></bylineMeta></div>

Prosecutors won’t seek death penalty in Wilkes-Barre man’s homicide