The man accused of killing a 16-year-old girl and their unborn son was granted bond for the second time Friday morning.
Jesus Monroy, 20, was already out on a $50,000 bond tied to murder and feticide charges when a grand jury returned five new felony counts in February, including statutory rape, child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes. He was taken back into custody after the new indictment.
The charges stem form the killing of Mia Campos, his ex-girlfriend who was seven months pregnant.
Following a bond hearing Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Tuwanda Rush Williams issued an order allowing Monroy’s release on the new charges if he could post a $150,000 bond. According to the bond order, he must remain under house arrest, wear an ankle monitor, and have no contact with the victim’s family or witnesses.
In a statement, Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson expressed disappointment with the ruling.
“As a result of defendant being granted bond again, even with additional charges, the District Attorney’s Office will continue to fight to bring justice and accountability to the Defendant because of the heinous offense of killing a pregnant teenaged mother and her child,” Austin-Gatson said Friday morning. “We do not agree with the granting of bond in such cases as this, but we present the issues to the court, and the court gives her ruling.
“We assure the family that the District Attorney’s Office will fight and achieve justice in this case. The defendant has a legal right and is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We will prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Campos was found dead in a wooded area near her Loganville home in July. Prosecutors allege Monroy lured her out of the house late at night, strangled her and left her body in the woods. DNA tests later confirmed Monroy as the father of the unborn child, Sebastian.
During the hearing, Campos’ older brother, Alexis, described the grief his family still carries.
“I visit her grave and sit and talk to her about what’s going on in our lives,” he told the court. “I tell her I wish it was me instead of her.”
Prosecutor Megan Matteucci urged the court to deny bond, calling Monroy a danger to the community and a threat to the case.
“He told Mia to delete the messages on her phone. He told her to empty the trash. He deleted the messages himself and lied to law enforcement,” Matteucci said. “He molested a 15-year-old girl, got her pregnant and then killed her and her unborn baby.”
Matteucci pointed to Monroy’s own words, recorded on police body camera, where he said: “I thought it was a drone … I ain’t going back to jail.”
But defense attorney Brandon Delfunt argued Monroy followed every rule while out on his original bond.
“For six months, Mr. Monroy was on bond … not one violation ever,” Delfunt said.
As of Friday evening, Monroy had yet to post his bond. A murder trial date has not yet been set.
