Robert Manwill 8, missing 7/24/09 Boise, Idaho (BODY FOUND)

[Fanny Mae]

Thank you PINK, for all the pictures and updates. The whole thing is almost too painful and read, and the pictures so sad and touching. The murder of one small child has brought so much pain to so many people.   

Rest in peace, little Robert Manwell. 

[Leroy]

Funeral services for Robert Manwill open to public
 - The Associated Press
Published: 08/08/09

BOISE, Idaho — The family of an 8-year-old boy who was missing for more than a week before his body was found in a canal is opening up funeral services to the public.

A service for Robert Manwill is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise.

Police say the death is an active homicide investigation and there is no evidence the boy was abducted by a stranger.

The child reportedly disappeared July 24 after leaving his mother's apartment in Boise.

A passerby called emergency workers Monday to report a body in the canal near Kuna about 1:30 p.m.

The boy was visiting his mother the night he vanished. His father, Charles Manwill, lives in New Plymouth and has had custody since 2008.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/531/story/859791.html

[cece]

http://www.ktvb.com/news/nearyou/boise/ktvbn-aug0809-manwill_vigils.bf2e8dc4.html

Robert Manwill's life honored around area

04:20 PM MDT on Saturday, August 8, 2009

KTVB

BOISE -- This weekend the community is remembering Robert Manwill. The public remembrance started Friday night, two weeks to the day since Manwill was last seen alive.

 The 8-year-old was reported missing two weeks ago Friday. His body was found in a canal on Monday.

The first of the events was Friday night's vigil near the apartment complex where Manwill was last seen.

The people behind the vigil didn't know Robert Manwill's family.

But Steve and Nikki Adams took part in the community search efforts when he was reported missing on July 24 and organized the gathering.

"It hit us.  It hit us really hard," they said.

"Me and my wife just sat down on Tuesday and started calling businesses and saying ‘can you please help?’  And I swear to you, there wasn't one business that didn't say, 'we'll help'," said Steve Adams.

Businesses donated everything from pizza to coffee and even balloons for the memorial.

In honor of Manwill, a moment of silence will be held at Meridian Speedway Saturday.

The public is invited to join Robert's family at the races.

Manwill's uncle races super-stock cars and will be racing Saturday night.

The gates open at 4 p.m. and the racing begins at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, a memorial service will be held for Manwill.

Several of the weekend's events are made possible by the generous donations of perfect strangers and their generous out pouring of donations.

At the funeral, the floral arrangements, specially designed green bouquets representing Robert's favorite color will be supplied by "Boise At Its Best". 

 "I'm making arrangements for the funeral service, two of them, one for each side and we're using all the green flowers with accents of white," said Georgia White, who is donating the arrangements. "And then, little boys love bugs so I'm trying to incorporate some butterflies, dragon flies and other little bugs I'm going to put on it."

Robert Manwill's funeral is open to the public.  It will be held at Cloverdale Funeral Home at 2 p.m. You can watch that service live on KTVB.COM.

(There is a video at that site)

[pink angel]

Thank you Leroy and cece for the updates


Robert Manwill's mom followed steps in custody case
The state has a procedure to decide whether a child is reunited with family after possible abuse.
BY ANNA WEBB - awebb@idahostatesman.com
Copyright: © 2009 Idaho Statesman
Published: 08/09/09

The case of 8-year-old Robert Manwill has raised two persistent questions:

® Why did his mother get 30 days in jail, a suspended fine and probation for fracturing the skull of Robert's infant half brother?

® Why was the baby allowed to return to his mother, who was still on probation for harming him?

Robert was found dead on Monday after being missing for more than a week. Boise police say they are investigating his death as a homicide. Robert spent most of his time living with his father in New Plymouth but was visiting his mother in Boise at the time of his disappearance on July 24.

WHY DID MELISSA JENKINS GET THE SENTENCE SHE DID?

In March, Robert's mother, Melissa Jenkins, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor injury to a child after Robert's half brother, Aidan Ehrlick, then 8 months old, suffered a fractured skull in October and was placed in foster care.

Jenkins claimed she had accidentally hit the baby's head on a table while burping him.

The penalty for misdemeanor injury to a child is up to $1,000 in fines and 60 days in jail. Jenkins' sentence was less than that: 30 days in jail, $75 in court costs and two years' probation.

Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Fafa Alidjani, who handled the case, said the sentence was based on an agreement with Jenkins' lawyer, public defender Ann Cosho.

Alidjani said she made the deal because she didn't have forensic evidence to disprove Jenkins' version of the story beyond a reasonable doubt, which she would have had to do in a trial.

"No one else was there to see it," Alidjani said. "My personal opinion of what happened wouldn't have mattered."

Alidjani said the sentence the lawyers negotiated was the best one for the time and circumstance, and seemed the best to get Jenkins back on track as a parent.

"Your hope is that a sentence provides that no one will be harmed in the future," Alidjani said.

WHY WAS THE BABY RETURNED TO HIS MOTHER?

Jenkins and boyfriend Daniel Ehrlick had been working to get Aidan back since Jenkins' sentencing in March.

Carol Carrillo, their friend and neighbor, said the couple was taking court-ordered parenting and anger-management classes, and that Aidan had been back in the home for about two months at the time of Robert's disappearance.

Jenkins and Ehrlick had earned custody of Aidan in stages, as is common in such cases: first with supervised visits away from their home, then supervised visits at the apartment where they lived.

Ehrlick finished his series of classes before Jenkins, so for a time the baby was able to stay overnight, but only if Jenkins stayed somewhere else, Carrillo said.

"She didn't care. Whatever it took to get the kids back. She said that whatever she and Danny had to do, they would do it."

WHAT'S THE STATE'S PROCESS FOR DECIDING CUSTODY CASES?

The Department of Health and Welfare treats every case of suspected child abuse individually, said department spokeswoman Emily Simnitt. But for any report of child abuse from any source, the state takes the same general steps.

"When we get a referral about a child being abused or neglected, we work with law enforcement to determine whether there's imminent danger to the child.

"If we, and law enforcement, come to the conclusion that child safety is at risk, we work with prosecutors and the court to make the determination of whether that child should be put into foster care," Simnitt said.

If a child is taken into state care, the department develops a case plan for that child. That plan might include living with foster parents or with relatives.

"During that time the case is reviewed by the courts. We do try to work toward reunification when it's possible," Simnitt said.

The court also may order parents to take classes, or be evaluated for drug or mental health issues as part of the case plan, said Matt Hyde, who directs the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, a nonprofit that matches a trained volunteer with every child in foster care.

Many custody cases involving possible child abuse don't go to criminal court and never become public. Even in cases that result in criminal charges, state records involving child custody remain sealed to protect the child.

WHY WAS ROBERT ALLOWED TO VISIT HIS MOTHER'S HOME?

The presence of numerous children in a household naturally complicates custody issues.

In many cases, if one child in a family is abused, all the children in that family are brought into the foster system, Hyde said.

At other times, that doesn't happen, in particular when parents are doing everything the court has told them to do and everything appears to be going well, he added.

"In a case like Jenkins', with both the civil custody case and the criminal case occurring last year, lots of time had passed, and there had been lots of progress. Which is not to defend the actions of the parents," Hyde said.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/860183.html

[pink angel]

Community Continues to Honor Robert Manwill


Before the green flag dropped and the cars were speeding around the track, there was a more somber mood at the Meridian Speedway. Racers and fans had a moment of silence to pay tribute to Robert Manwill and his family. Robert's mother and father were both there. Drivers also put green ribbons on their cars. On Robert's uncle Kyle Burrill's car was a poster of the nephew who used to watch him race. 

"He loves it, he loves racing," aunt Trish Burrill said about Robert. 

Hours before racers were peeling out at the speedway, a group of people hit the rain soaked streets of Boise to honor the murdered 8-year-old. They walked from the apartment complex where Robert was last seen alive to the Vista Avenue bridge over the New York Canal. That point along the canal is several miles upstream from where Robert's body was found August 3rd. The group made the trip 11 times, one for each day Robert was missing. The walk's organizers say they want to continue to show support for the Manwill family. 

"We talked to the aunt and uncle yesterday, and the mom," said Heather Fieseler, who helped organize the event. "It was really hard but we wanted to show them that we're doing this for you."

Both events had their own meaning to everyone who took part in them.

"It's sadness for me, but it's also closure for the community," said Michelle Walker, who participated in the walk.

But until the community knows exactly who, or what killed Robert, they likely won't be able to put this case behind them.
http://www.kivitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10872528

[pink angel]

Neighbors walk 11 laps for Robert

Story Updated: Aug 8, 2009 at 7:26 PM MDT
By Jen Wahl

BOISE - The search for Robert Manwill is over, but the community is still reaching out in full force.

Neighbors Monica Dalton and Heather Fieseler weren't able to join any of the searches for Robert. But they still wanted to do something for the little boy and his family.

"Anybody can stand up in the community and show their support to anything," Fieseler said. "It doesn't have to be someone who knows the family."

Despite early morning puddles, Dalton, Fieseler and a few friends circled the same loop around Robert's apartment up to the top of Vista Ave. in Boise, 11 times.

"We picked this canal," Dalton said. "We live right down the street and we're just going to Targee, the Park Apartments, his memorial and back up."

The laps represented the 11 days Robert Manwill was missing and was away from his family.

"This is something serious that some people just brush off like it happens every day - but us, it really hurt us," she said.

One stop along the route was the boy's memorial, where volunteers were still cleaning and getting ready to donate Robert's toys to the Ronald McDonald House.

While heading back to Jackons, getting ready to start the fourth lap for Robert, Fieseler says although remembering the little boy is their number one priority, they also want to remind all parents to keep a close on eye on their little ones.
http://www.2news.tv/news/local/52798047.html
video at the link

[pink angel]

Lighting a candle and saying a prayer for little man and his family.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=rob%20m

[Gypsy DD]

When I see the pictures of Robert's mother she truly looks like she is in deep grief for his loss.  Now I am beginning to wonder if it was the BF that did this on his own unbeknowst to her.  It would appear he is not there supporting her..and weren't there rumors he was out of the hospital now. 

Just so sad if she covered for him in the incident with the baby..instead of running away from him then and taking her kids. 

I pray that closure comes quickly with the apprehension of Robert's murderer.

[sunshine12]

im saying prayers for robert today as he is laid to rest.

i have read from a local who is aquantences with the family that the boyfriend is still at the mental hospital and that all family members were told to call 911 if they see him immediately.  i'm thinking they are gonna wait to arrest him until tomorow so they dont take any attention away from roberts special day today

[pink angel]

im saying prayers for robert today as he is laid to rest.

i have read from a local who is aquantences with the family that the boyfriend is still at the mental hospital and that all family members were told to call 911 if they see him immediately.  i'm thinking they are gonna wait to arrest him until tomorow so they dont take any attention away from roberts special day today

He probably thinks he is safe hiding there. He isn't. They can go in and arrest anytime they want. He doesn't need to be released before an arrest is made.

[pink angel]

Robert Grant Manwill
2001 - 2009

Robert was born in June of 2001 in Boise, Idaho to Melissa Scott Jenkins and Charles Lee Manwill. His parents married in July of 2001. They made their home in Boise for a year. They then decided that they were just not meant to be together. Since both loved Robert with all their hearts they decided to part as friends and always put Robert first in the relationship and doing what was best for Robert. So until Robert was of age for school they split custody 50/50. Robert was extremely happy because he was able to spend equal time between both of his parent’s homes. They always showed the courtesy to each other that the other parent deserved. This helped Robert because Robert loved both of his parents more than anyone else in the world. When Robert started school he went to stay with his mom more so he was able to attend Head Start in Boise. Robert lived primarily with his mother until his mother experienced complications with the pregnancy of Robert’s little brother. So his mom decided to send him to live with his dad. Robert completed the first grade in New Plymouth. He also attended the second grade at the same school where he excelled in almost every subject and captured the hearts of a whole new community.

If you would like to learn more about Robert’s Life please visit his My Space Page at http://www.myspace.com/meetrobertmanwill

Robert was a well loved little boy. He is survived by his mother, Melissa Jenkins and her children Aidan and RayLynn of Boise Idaho; Melissa’s parents, Jeff and Dori Jenkins of Carlsbad, New Mexico; his father, Charles Manwill and his wife, Afton Manwill, and their children, Kenneth, Miranda, and Hailee; Afton’s parents, Mike and Jaylene Branson, all of New Plymouth, Idaho; and Charles’s mother, Joan Manwill, of Boise, Idaho. Robert also has numerous aunts, uncles and cousins all over the United States.

Although Robert’s life was cut short and he will be severely missed, Robert will not be alone. He has left us behind and gone into the loving arms of his paternal grandpa, Meryl, and his big brother, Michael. We know he will be taken care of in the next life because he will be with ones that will watch over and love him the way he deserves.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm, Sunday, August 9, 2009 at Cloverdale Funeral Home with Pastor George Sova officiating.  Graveside internment services will follow at Cloverdale Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made in Robert’s name to the Crime Victims Compensation Program, the Boise Police Department, or the Ronald McDonald House.

http://www.cloverdalefuneralhome.com/obituary.jsp?site=0502&id=48023
Guestbook to leave messages for the family.

[pink angel]

It it just me or did that whole first paragraph seem weird? It's more about Robert's parents and their relationship than Robert. I wonder who wrote it.

[can]

It it just me or did that whole first paragraph seem weird? It's more about Robert's parents and their relationship than Robert. I wonder who wrote it.

pink angel I don't know, but possibly Robert's Dad, or someone on that side of the family since it mentions his older brother and Grandpa. I think the Dad lost a son during his first marriage.

R. I. P. little Robert.

[pink angel]

http://www.ktvb.com/video/?nvid=57412&live=yes

Funeral now streaming live.

[can]

It it just me or did that whole first paragraph seem weird? It's more about Robert's parents and their relationship than Robert. I wonder who wrote it.

pink angel I don't know, but possibly Robert's Dad, or someone on that side of the family since it mentions his older brother and Grandpa. I think the Dad lost a son during his first marriage.

R. I. P. little Robert.

edit - older brother and Grandpa who are both deceased.

[can]

http://www.ktvb.com/video/?nvid=57412&live=yes

Funeral now streaming live.

Thank you for the link.

[pink angel]

 

The pastor speaking.
Said this shouldn't have happened. Wish we could have protected Robert.
Whoever done this had free will. Even homicidal minds have free will.

Robert's ashes.

Music so far. Amazing Grace.

The pastor is now reading letters from mom and dad.
Mom remembering the way he loved to eat ice cream and never made a mess.

Dad wants to kill the SOB who did this to Robert and mommy Afton has had to hold him back. He knows there is a special place in hell for anyone that could hurt a special little soul like Robert. He is with Grandpa and brother Michael. Little man was a gift.

[N2WISHN]

This has got to be one of the saddest funerals I've ever viewed. I hate to add this, but the letters the parents wrote were very disturbing.......

[pink angel]

Teacher talking about what a wonderful little boy Robert was. He was thoughtful and loving and funny. He was a ray of sunshine. In his death he has become everyone's child.

My video has frozen, I still have sound.

[no rose colored glasses]

This has got to be one of the saddest funerals I've ever viewed. I hate to add this, but the letters the parents wrote were very disturbing.......

I'm sorry I just got on the thread now, do you mean the obituary or something else, letters that were being read at the funeral?