The small town of Lafayette, Indiana, was shaken to its core when a three-month-old infant, Jacob Moneus, was found dead on Sunday.
The tragic discovery came just a day after the local police department issued a Silver Alert for the missing child.
According to Newsweek, the Lafayette Police Department had reported Jacob missing around midday on Saturday. The alert, which indicated that the child was in extreme danger and might require medical assistance, was abruptly cancelled on Sunday morning following the heartbreaking discovery of the infant's lifeless body. The police department's Detective Division is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the young child's death.
In a statement, the police department expressed their deep sorrow over the tragic incident, stating, "This is a devastating development, and our thoughts are with Jacob's family during this incredibly difficult time." They further pledged their commitment to conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the events that led to this tragedy.
The child's father, 28-year-old Elisard Moneus, was arrested in Indianapolis on Saturday. He faces charges of domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury, domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, domestic battery committed in the physical presence of a child less than 16, and attempted murder, as per jail records.
Lafayette Police Sgt. Shawn Verma revealed that the mother of the child had sought medical attention at a local hospital after being battered on Saturday. She reported that Elisard Moneus had assaulted her with a tire-iron-like rod. Following her report, officials proceeded to her residence at the Acorn Acres complex to investigate and search for her child.
Despite an initial search yielding no sign of the child, Jacob was found concealed in an unlikely area of the apartment the following day. "He was concealed in an area that an officer would never think to look," Verma said.
The Tippecanoe County Coroner has yet to formally identify the body, with a forensic autopsy scheduled for Monday. Coroner Carrie Costello has stated that she is treating the death investigation as a homicide, and officials plan to question Elisard Moneus regarding his child's death.
Residents of the apartment complex expressed shock, stating that they had never noticed any disturbances or heard any arguments emanating from the apartment. Elisard Moneus is currently being held without bond at the Tippecanoe County Jail in Lafayette.
The Silver Alert, typically used to inform the public about missing persons, particularly elderly individuals with Alzheimer's, dementia or other mental disorders, or children who have not been abducted, was utilized in this case. This differs from AMBER Alerts, which are more commonly used in cases where a child has been abducted.
As the community grapples with this tragic event, the Lafayette Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward. The town of Lafayette, located 63 miles northwest of Indianapolis, is home to over 70,000 residents, all of whom are undoubtedly shaken by this heartbreaking incident.
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