Indiana dad arrested after infant son is found dead in sealed bucket filled with laundry detergent

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (TCN) -- A 28-year-old man is in custody after he allegedly beat his wife with a tire iron and kidnapped their 3-month-old son, who was later found deceased in a bucket.

On Aug. 10, the Lafayette Police Department issued a Silver Alert after Jacob Moneus went missing, saying he was believed to be in "extreme danger and may require medical assistance." The boy was last seen that day at around noon. The department canceled the Silver Alert the next day because he was found deceased following an "extensive search effort." Investigators located his body at an apartment at around 5:25 a.m. on Aug. 11.

The Tippecanoe County Coroner said in a news release that Jacob Moneus' preliminary cause of death was asphyxia and his manner of death was homicide.

Jacob Moneus' father, Eliasard Moneus, was arrested on charges of domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury, domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, domestic battery committed in physical presence of child less than 16, and attempted murder.

According to court documents cited by the Lafayette Journal & Courier, on Saturday, Aug. 10, Eliasard Moneus allegedly went into a bedroom where Jacob Moneus and his mother were watching a church service and took the little boy. He reportedly left with the baby, then returned and attacked his wife with a tire iron. She sustained a skull fracture and cuts on her body. She drove herself to a hospital after Eliasard Moneus fled.

The couple had reportedly gotten into a fight on Aug. 5 and had not spoken in several days.

The Lafayette Journal & Courier reports Eliasard Moneus was located in Indianapolis and brought back to Lafayette. He allegedly told police he hit his wife and wanted her to die from her injuries. He also said he did not know where his son was, but he was safe.

An officer searched Eliasard Moneus' parents' apartment and reportedly noticed a large bucket next to the trash can. The officer opened the bucket and reportedly found Jacob Moneus deceased in the detergent.

A judge ordered Eliasard Moneus not to have any contact with his wife.