A three-month-old baby, Jacob Moneus, was found dead just one day after Indiana officials issued a Silver Alert for him. The alert was issued by the Lafayette Police Department after Jacob was reported missing around noon on Saturday. The child was considered to be in extreme danger and in need of medical assistance. The alert was canceled on Sunday after Jacob was found deceased. The Lafayette Police Department’s Detective Division is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Jacob’s death, expressing condolences to his family and committing to a thorough investigation.
The child’s father, Elisard Moneus, was identified as the suspect by the Lafayette Journal & Courier and was arrested in Indianapolis on Saturday. Elisard Moneus is facing multiple charges related to domestic violence, including domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury, domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, and attempted murder. He will be questioned about his son’s death as part of the ongoing investigation. The mother of Jacob Moneus went to a local hospital after being battered on Saturday, alleging that Elisard Moneus attacked her with a tire-iron-like rod. Officials discovered Jacob’s body at their apartment on Sunday morning.
The Tippecanoe County Coroner is treating Jacob Moneus’ death as a homicide and officials plan to question Elisard Moneus further about the incident. Neighbors expressed shock and disbelief, stating that they never noticed any issues at the apartment and were unaware of any disturbances. Elisard Moneus is currently being held without bond at the Tippecanoe County Jail in Lafayette. The Lafayette Police Department is urging anyone with information about the case to contact them.
A Silver Alert is a notification system used to inform the public about missing persons, typically focusing on elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other mental disorders, as well as missing children who have not been abducted. Unlike AMBER Alerts, which are more commonly used in cases of child abductions, Silver Alerts are broadcast on radio, television, and road signs in many states. The purpose of these alerts is to enlist the help of the public in locating missing individuals who may be in danger. If you have any information that could help in this case or if you have a story that you believe Newsweek should be covering, you can contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
