BOISE - Police say they know who is responsible for killing Robert Manwill: his mother and her boyfriend.
Melissa Scott Jenkins, 30 and Daniel Edward Ehrlick, 36 were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon - both are charged with first-degree murder. Ehrlick is also charged with failure to report a death to law enforcement, while Jenkins is charged as an accessory for failing to report Manwill's death to law enforcement.
Manwill's body was found in a Kuna canal on August 10th. Police said the boy was a victim of homicide and vowed to find his killer.
The indictment handed down by an Ada County Grand Jury accuses that the pair "tortured and murdered Manwill by inflicting extreme or prolonged pain with intent to cause suffering or to satisfy some sadistic inclination by inflicting repeated acts of blunt force trauma or abdomen and/or head with his hands, knees, fists and/or feet."
The indictment also accuses Ehrlick and Jenkins of lying to police about the events surrounding Manwill's death
The boy was reported missing to police on July 24th. The community quickly responded, with posters featuring the boy's face popping up all over town, and volunteers spending spare time searching for the child.
During an arraignment Wednesday morning, Jenkins appeared tearful and could be heard sniffling.
Judge Deborah Bail asked both Jenkins and Ehrlick wether they intended to plead guilty or not-guilty. The judge outlined the rights and loss of rights tied to each choice.
Pleas were not entered in the case, instead being delayed until September 1st so that the newly appointed attorney in the case could get up to speed.
Both defendants could face the death penalty in the case, though Ada County Prosecutor Greg Bower said a decision has not been made to that end. His office has 60 days to make that decision.
"We have assigned a veteran team of prosecutors to this case," Ada County Prosecutor Greg Bower said.
The prosecutor said it was not yet clear if the pair would be tried together or separately.
Boise Police Deputy Chief Jim Kerns asked for the public's additional help offering any details of the activities of Jenkins or Ehrlick in the week leading up to July 24th.
Kerns did not take questions at the news briefing, which did not give the media a chance to ask follow up questions that may better illustrate particulars of the case - including why they believe Ehrlick and Jenkins are responsible.
"Probably no other case in Boise history has touched so many people," Boise Police Deputy Chief Jim Kerns said Tuesday night.
The case started to rapidly change on Thursday July 30th. That night, police began searching the Jenkins' Boise Bench apartment, removing materials from the home, including cabinets, computers and more. Police also towed a vehicle from the complex.
The pair has now been indicted by an Ada County grand jury, and are being booked into the Ada County Jail on the charges. Ehrlick will be held without bond, while Jenkins will be held on a $2 million bond.
Ehrlick and Jenkins appeared behind Kerns at each news conference until the day after Jenkins' home was searched. Ehrlick has not been seen in public since. Jenkins was at the boy's funeral and at a news event the day her son's body was identified.
Jenkins has a past criminal history that involves hurting children.
On October 19, 2008 police said a baby boy had been injured. Jenkins was arrested and charged with felony injury to a child. The child suffered serious head injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The child was taken into the custody of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Court documents say Jenkins hit her 9-month-old son's head on a surface. The infant suffered a fractured skull that caused not only physical pain, but mental suffering as well.
Since the boy's disappearance and before his arrest, Ehrlick had been in and out of the hospital for unspecified treatments, according to family.
Kerns said the investigation into Manwill's death continues - and says if anyone has information that may help them, to call Boise Police Dispatch at 377-6790.
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter issued a statement reacting to the charges Tuesday night.
"While the presumption of innocence must be maintained, I hope and have faith that justice will be served in this case and that our citizens who have shown incredible compassion in the face of tragedy, can begin to mend from the loss of Robert Manwill," Bieter said.
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