Warrant shows Eli Hart's mother was driven home by police before boy's body was found in car trunk

Eli's mother remains jailed and faces murder charges
Julissa Thaler
Julissa Thaler is charged with second-degree murder Photo credit Hennepin County jail

A solemn memorial Friday night at Westonka Library in Mound, where people gathered to remember the five-year-old boy whose body was found in the trunk of a car a week earlier.

Hart's mother, 28-year-old Julissa Thaler, is jailed and accused of killing the little boy.

Search warrants filed in Hennepin County court show police at first had released Hart's mother from the scene and drove her home, even though she was smeared with blood.

Orono police reportedly had stopped the car because its back window was smashed out and it was driving on the rim of the front driver’s-side tire.

The documents show the woman told police it was her menstrual blood and that she had just picked up deer meat from a butcher.

There were also bullet shells found in the car, and police had also discovered a bullet hole in the rear passenger seat.

Officers found the boy's body in the trunk of the car after Thaler had been taken from the scene.

The court documents show Thaler was arrested at her apartment, and was found wearing different clothes, and that her stained clothes were being laundered.

Police say it appears Thaler was getting ready to leave on foot.

Thaler faces second-degree murder charges.

Her next court appearance is June 21.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Hennepin County jail