Thursday, February 01, 2018

Accused killer of three-year-old Jonathan Munoz-Bilbrey bound over for trial

Leonard Valdez, 21, Joplin, waived his preliminary hearing this morning in Jasper County Circuit Court and was bound over for trial in Division One.

Valdez is charged with second degree murder and felony child abuse in connection with the November 12 death of three-year-old Jonathan Munoz-Bilbrey.

The three-year-old was taken to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City after he suffered brain injuries, facial bruising and a laceration at his home at 1502 S. Michigan Avenue November 10.

The probable cause statement indicates Valdez was the only person supervising the boy at the time the injuries occurred.

The boy died 22 days after the Joplin Police Department arrested Valdez for domestic assault at the same address, 1502 S. Michigan Avenue, where police say the child abuse took place. The victim was the boy's mother, Natasha Michelle Bilbrey, 22, according to the JPD incident report.

The next hearing for Valdez is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, February 26.

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