LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Eliasard Moneus was brought down the hall in shackles and a jail uniform on Thursday to face a judge for the first time since being charged with the death of his 3-month-old son in Lafayette.
Moneus, 28, is now facing murder on top of attempted murder charges in the death of his son, Jacob Moneus. Investigators found baby Jacob's body inside a sealed bucket in the family's apartment in the 3600 block of Brandywine Court early Sunday, Aug. 11.
While using an interpreter to communicate with the judge, Moneus said he understands the charges against him but does not understand why police say he killed someone.
Court documents say Moneus hit his wife with a tire iron or wrench causing her to have a skull fracture. His wife drove herself to the hospital.
The wife said she did not know where baby Jacob was when police asked her at the hospital. A Silver Alert was issued on Saturday, Aug. 10 in an attempt to find Jacob.
When investigators searched the family's apartment a second time, baby Jacob was found in a sealed bucket next to a trash can.
Moneus was arrested by IMPD in Lawrence before being arrested by Lafayette police and brought back to Tippecanoe County. He has been in jail ever since.
A judge has ruled Moneus will stay in jail throughout his court proceedings. He has another hearing set for Sept. 30.