Javier Moncada, a 43-year-old Hispanic male, was found deceased on the evening of August 30, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa. A welfare check led police to the 1900 block of Hartford Avenue, near the south bank of the Des Moines River, where they discovered his body. An autopsy later confirmed that Moncada had sustained a fatal gunshot wound, and his death was subsequently ruled a homicide.
He was remembered as a loving father of six children.
The investigation into Moncada's death progressed over several months. In September 2021, the Des Moines Police Department publicly identified two persons of interest, siblings Jasmin and Jonathan Bautista. Law enforcement sought the public's help in locating the brother and sister, believing they had crucial information regarding the case. The search for the Bautistas continued into the new year.
In January 2022, a significant breakthrough occurred in the case when 20-year-old Jasmin Bautista and her 18-year-old brother, Jonathan Bautista, were arrested during a traffic stop in West Des Moines. Following their apprehension, both were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Javier Moncada.
Throughout the investigation, authorities indicated they were also looking for a third individual who might have been involved or have information about the homicide. However, details about this third person have not been publicly disclosed, and it remains unclear if another suspect was ever identified or taken into custody. The case against the Bautista siblings represents a significant step towards closure for the family of Javier Moncada, though the search for complete answers continues.
