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

Melissa Jenkins, 30, is shown in this photo provided Tuesday Aug. 18, 2009 by the Ada County Jail, Jenkins, the mother of Robert Manwill, was indicted on suspicion of first-degree murder by an Ada County grand jury in the death of her 8-year-old son. (Associated Press)
Associated Press
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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