August 19, 2009 in Idaho

Indictment: Mother’s boyfriend blamed in Boise boy’s death

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Associated Press photo

Daniel Ehrlick Jr., 36, is shown in this photo provided Tuesday Aug. 18, 2009, by the Ada County Jail. Ehrlick was indicted on suspicion of first-degree murder by an Ada County grand jury in the death of his girlfriend’s 8-year-old son, Robert Manwill.
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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.

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