LAFAYETTE (AP) — A bill of information has been filed against Kerry Wayne Bertrand, stepfather of Skylar Lee Credeur, charging him with manslaughter in her drowning death.

Lafayette Parish District Attorney Mike Harson told The Advertiser (http://bit.ly/1iyOOpS) the bill was filed to ensure that Bertrand will remain incarcerated until a grand jury can indict him.

Harson said initial molestation charges that were filed against Bertrand were dismissed because Credeur was the only eyewitness to the crime. He said the grand jury will not convene until Dec. 17.

Credeur had filed a protective order against Bertrand a week before police said she was drowned inside her Acadia Parish home. Bertrand was found hiding in the attic of the home.

In the protective order submitted to the Acadia Parish court, Credeur said Bertrand had threatened repeatedly to kill her and “hide (her) body in a swamp,” while sexually abusing her over a period of years.

She said Bertrand had sexually abused her until she was 16 by sneaking into her bedroom at night and threatening to kill her if she told anyone, according to the statement.