Court drama after bail hearing in murder case of pregnant teenager

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. (Court TV) – A bailiff had to briefly lock the courtroom as the victim's family left an emotional bail hearing for the 20-year-old accused of luring and then killing the pregnant teenage mother of his unborn child.

Less than a week earlier, a judge had ruled there was enough evidence to try Jesus Monroy for the murder of 16-year-old Mia Campos. A detective testified about cellphone evidence taken from Monroy and Mia's phones that placed Monroy at the exact location where Mia's body was found at the time the state believes the murders occurred. At that point, no bail had been set since Monroy was arrested on July 17 for lying to police. Six days later, murder charges were filed.

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The outburst came shortly after Judge Karen E. Beyers set bail for the defendant at $50,000, $25,000 less than the defense had requested.

After the court adjourned, the bailiff told everyone to remain seated while the victim's family was escorted out of the courtroom. As they left the courtroom, a member of the Campos family reportedly made threatening comments and gestures toward the defendant's family, causing several people to stand up in anger. As the family exited the courtroom through the doors, there was even more commotion, and the bailiff shouted, “Don't move. Don't move. I heard him.”

Every seat in the courtroom was taken, with most of those present supporting the defendant. Campos' family was also represented. Her family members wore white T-shirts with Mia's angelic photo on the front and an ultrasound picture of Mia's unborn child, Sebastian, on the back.

Prosecutor Katie Loraine Fite-Magyar argued that bail should be denied due to the “personal offense” of strangling a “heavily pregnant” young girl. Fite-Magyar also revealed that after finding Mia's body with her father, Edward Campos, he used his cellphone to send text messages to two other women showing a close-up of the police car's blue lights. He told them he had been in a drunk driving accident, which he later recanted.

Mia's father issued a statement saying he believes Monroy should be denied bail because he could flee to Mexico or Texas, where he has family.

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Monroy's public defender, Brandon Delfunt, again disputed the state's arguments at Monroy's bail hearing. He called the state's evidence “mere allegations” and said prosecutors had “virtually no physical evidence.” Delfunt then revealed that he had evidence of his own that would prove Monroy's innocence.

Jesus Monroy sits next to his defense attorney Brandon Delfunt during a bail hearing in the Supreme Court of Georgia on August 28, 2024. (Court TV)

Delfunt called Jesus' 22-year-old brother Enrique Monroy to the stand. He testified that his brother lived with four siblings, ages 7 to 22, in his parents' home in Snellville, Georgia. Enrique said Jesus worked in his father's landscaping business and that his brother had never been arrested or gotten into trouble. “He's shy. He's not a particularly violent person,” his brother said.

Delfunt asked the judge to release his client on $75,000 bail and agreed to house arrest, witness protection, ankle bracelets and surrender of his passport.

The state rejected its original argument, adding that when Mia's parents found out she was pregnant, they wanted to press rape charges because Mia was fifteen at the time of conception. By that time, the state argued, Monroy had begun attending doctor's appointments and showing interest in Mia's life.

The hearing ended with Judge Beyers setting bail at $50,000 and ordering Monroy to wear a 24-hour GPS ankle monitor that would allow him to stay at his home address and only leave for medical and legal appointments. Monroy was also required to surrender his passport, which Delfunt immediately surrendered to the state.