old daughter Monique was released from the Eddy County Detention Center June 3 as the case continues, despite a motion from the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office that he be incarcerated ahead of trial.

Jayden Mendibles, 21, was charged in June with a single count of abandonment or abuse of a child resulting in death, a first-degree felony. Police accused Mendibles of beating his daughter to death in November 2023, after a multimonth investigation and autopsy of the girl.

Records show Mendibles was arrested June 21 and booked at the Eddy County Detention Center, then released about a week and a half later after prosecutors and the defense agreed on release conditions.

Mendibles was released on a $250,000 unsecured appearance bond, and under electronic monitoring during the court proceedings, according to a court order signed by Fifth Judicial District Judge Lisa Riley. He was ordered to maintain contact with his attorney and reside at a home in Albuquerque.

The defendant also must not violate any law, posses any weapons or return to the location of the baby’s death in the 280 block of Kincaid Ranch Road.

Mendibles was also barred from contact with any children younger than 13, except his son when approved by the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), or with any witnesses or anyone who could testify in the case. He can speak with family members who could be witnesses, the order read, but was ordered not to discuss the case.

The June 2 order signed by Riley withdrew a motion by the prosecution to hold Mendible in pretrial detention, after negotiations with his defense attorney.

The withdrawn motion, filed on June 25 argued Mendibles should be held without bail because he “poses a danger to victim and the community.”

Prosecutors cited the severity of the injuries Monique suffered allegedly at the hands of Mendibles, and reports of damage found to a door at the home which “appeared to be smashed in,” read the motion.

“The defendant in this case has shown a pattern of violence,” read the motion. “The evidence in this case supports the State’s request to hold the defendant without bail pending trial.”

Girl suffered ‘severe, violent trauma,’ police say Pediatrician Jennifer Hansen reported Monique’s death was caused by “violent, abusive head trauma,” read a criminal complaint. Other medical reports indicated the injuries were inconsistent with a short fall off the bed, which Mendibles described to officers during the investigation.

Mendibles initially reported he awoke in his bed Nov. 17, 2023, where the girl was also sleeping, to a “smacking sound” of something hitting the ground, the complaint read. He told police he found Monique lying on the floor, the complaint read. Monique was flown to Lubbock for surgery where her brain was reportedly swollen and 60 percent of her skull was removed to lessen the pressure, police said. She went into cardiac arrest but was resuscitated, then died on Nov. 21, 2023.

Medical staff said she suffered three separate skull fractures, a brain bleed and hemorrhages in both eye sockets, read the complaint. The injuries were deemed “nonaccidental trauma” at the hospital, and inconsistent with Mendibles’ testimony to police.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 734-972-6855, achedden@currentargus. com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.store on Main Street.