Indictment: Mother’s boyfriend blamed in Boise boy’s death
BOISE — A grand jury indictment says an 8-year-old Boise boy whose body was found in an irrigation canal was tortured, beaten repeatedly and ultimately killed by his mother’s boyfriend.
A separate Ada County grand jury indictment released Wednesday accuses the mother, 30-year-old Melissa Jenkins, of hiding Robert Manwill’s injuries from government officials who could have intervened.
Jenkins and her live-in boyfriend, 36-year-old Daniel Ehrlick Jr., made their first appearance in court in the death of her son.
The boy was missing for more than a week before his body was found in a canal about 15 canal miles from his home.
His disappearance launched a massive effort by law enforcement and the community to find him.
Jenkins is being held on a $2 million bond, while Ehrlick is being held without bond.