Justice Lee Moncibaiz (Taylor County Jail).
Justice Lee Moncibaiz has been charged with abandoning a child with the intent to return, as per court documents. Information from a criminal complaint, sourced from local ABC affiliate KTXS, reveals that on September 20, Abilene police were called to a Hartford Street apartment complex. Neighbors had discovered a toddler alone at the bottom of a staircase, wearing a soiled diaper.
The police traced the child back to an apartment with an unlocked door, but nobody was inside. Fortunately, the child was unharmed. Officers found mail addressed to Moncibaiz, identifying her as the resident. She arrived approximately 40 minutes after being contacted, according to the complaint.
Moncibaiz allegedly claimed she had left her child with a relative, yet failed to provide any contact details. Other family members were unfamiliar with the individual she mentioned, with some asserting that this relative hadn’t been around for years, as noted in the complaint.
A few days later, during an interview with detectives, Moncibaiz reportedly admitted to leaving the child alone, stating she went bar-hopping with a friend because she needed a break. The police have not disclosed why it took over three months to detain Moncibaiz.
In an interview with detectives a few days later, Moncibaiz allegedly confessed to leaving behind the child. She said she just “needed a night out” and went to a few bars with one of her friends. Cops did not say why they waited more than three months to arrest Moncibaiz.
She was arrested on Wednesday and taken to the Taylor County Jail where she posted a $5,000 bond the following day. It’s unclear when she is next slated to appear in court.
