Suspect in 16-year-old’s Disappearance Arrested in Utah, Awaiting Extradition

by Elizabeth Warmerdam , October 19, 2012

A suspect in the disappearance and alleged murder of a teenager in Sanger earlier this year was arrested on other charges in Utah and now faces extradition to Fresno County.

Ernie Chanmany

Authorities in Severe County, Utah arrested 21-year-old Ernie Chanmany during a drug bust on Oct. 6. Chanmany was initially pulled over for improper signaling, but then Utah investigators found more than 100 pounds of marijuana in his car trunk. They say he was transporting the pot from California to Northern Colorado.

Chanmany is scheduled to be extradited next week on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and weapons charges in connection to the disappearance of 16-year-old Sammy Mercado of Sanger.

On April 12, Mercado and some of his friends were trying to steal marijuana from an illegal grow site near Sanger when two men began chasing them. One of the men began shooting at the boys. While his two friends escaped, Mercado was left behind and has not been seen since and no body has been discovered.

A week later, two trucks that had been seen by witnesses at the grow site when Mercado disappeared were discovered in an orchard. The trucks ultimately led the sheriff’s department to naming Chanmany as a suspect in the case.

KMPH: Man Wanted for Murder Arrested in Utah with Pot

Fresno Bee: Suspect in Sanger Teen’s Disappearance Arrested in Utah

Suspect in 16-year-old’s Disappearance Arrested in Utah, Awaiting Extradition was last modified: January 11th, 2019 by admin

Categories: Fresno

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About Author

Elizabeth Warmerdam

Beth Warmerdam is a freelance journalist based out of Reedley. She graduated from Fresno State in 2004 with a BA in print journalism and has worked for several newspapers and magazines. In addition to writing, Beth enjoys being a stay-at-home mom, trying to keep up with her 2-year-old son, Zachary.