An Idaho mother and her live-in boyfriend have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of an 8-year-old boy who was found dead in a canal more than a week after he was reported missing. Melissa Jenkins, 30, and Daniel Ehrlick Jr., 36, also were charged with failing to report the death of Robert Manwill.Both Jenkins and Ehrlick are being held on $2 million bond.
Thousands of volunteers searched the southwestern Idaho area for Robert before his body was found floating in a canal on August 3. He was last seen leaving his mother's apartment in Boise on July 24.
"Probably no other case in Boise history has touched so many people," Deputy Chief Jim Kerns told reporters. "The turnout of volunteers to search for Robert was unprecedented in this community. The law enforcement effort to find Robert was equally massive and unprecedented."
At the news conference, Kerns also said that an autopsy of Robert showed that his death was not an accident, but he would give no further details.
Robert's father, Charles Manwill of New Plymouth, had custody of him since 2008, but Robert was visiting his mother when he disappeared.
In 2008, Jenkins also lost custody of Robert's infant half brother after she was accused of fracturing his skull. Ehrlick also has a criminal record.
See Also:
Police Say Mother and Her Boyfriend Killed Robert Manwill
Mother, Boyfriend Charged in Death of Idaho Boy Found in Canal
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