The Esthenex-boyfriend of a pregnant Georgia teenager found slain by family in a wooded area last week now stands accused in her death, police say.
Jesus Monroy, 17, is charged with malice murder, felony murder, feticide, and aggravated assault in the killing of 16-year-old Mia Campos, the Gwinnett County Police Department reported Tuesday.
Relatives found the teen dead the morning of July 15 in Loganville, a city about 35 miles east of Atlanta.
According to court records, Monroy is from Snellville, a city about 7 miles east of where Campos' body was found.
The department originally arrested Monroy on a charge of making false statements to police in connection to the case on July 17, two days after the girl's body was found.
Court records show Monroy is represented by Attorney Brandon Delfunt. USA TODAY has reached out to the court-appointed lawyer.
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According to police, on the day Campos' body was found at about 1 a.m., the girl's family called 911 to report finding her body in a rural, wooded area off a roadway.
Family told detectives the night before her death, Campos left the house with an unknown person, police wrote in a news release.
"When she did not return home, her family used a cell phone application to find her body," police said.
Detectives, crime scene investigators, and the county medical examiner’s office responded to the scene and spoke with witnesses.
An autopsy revealed Campos’ manner of death was a homicide, according to the medical examiner.
An arrest warrant, obtained by KOLO-TV revealed Campos was lured into woods by her home and died as a result of asphyxiation.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Gwinnett police.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
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