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

[pink angel]

Timeline of events from the Robert Manwill investigation
Statesman staff - Idaho Statesman
Published: 08/06/09

Friday, July 24:

- 7 to 7:30 p.m. Kimberlly Davidson, a 7-year-old girl who lives in Oak Park Village, says she saw Robert at a playground.

- 10:11 p.m. Robert is reported missing. Police man checkpoint on Vista Avenue to talk to motorists.

Saturday, July 25: The FBI joins the search effort. Search dogs scour Oak Park grounds. Police issue a description of Robert at about 6 a.m. to see if anyone has seen him.

Sunday, July 26: After divers search a pond at Oak Park Village, officials begin draining the pond. Volunteers join the search.

Monday, July 27: An Idaho National Guard helicopter conducts an aerial search, while police and about 100 volunteers search the public areas near Oak Park Village, the banks of the New York Canal, railroad tracks, streets and shopping centers. Robert's family - including his mother, Melissa Jenkins, and her boyfriend, Daniel Ehrlick Jr., attend a press conference calling for help.

Tuesday, July 28: Police and FBI continue a house-to-house search and interview more than 100 registered sex offenders who live within a 2-mile radius. More than 120 volunteers coordinated by Boise police and Idaho Mountain Search & Rescue continue to search near the apartment.

Wednesday, July 29:

- Volunteers and police finish grid search. Boise police announce they are asking for as many as 1,000 volunteers to search July 31.

- A Statesman report reveals that Jenkins is on probation for fracturing the skull of Robert's infant half brother and that Ehrlick Jr. has been convicted of burglary, battery and possession of drug paraphernalia, and is banned by the courts from being alone with Robert's half sister.

Thursday, July 30

- 8:15 p.m. A forensics team searches the apartment where Robert was staying with his mother and Ehrlick Jr. They remove items and tow a vehicle. Police bring in search dogs to sniff around the complex grounds.

Friday, July 31 :

- 9 a.m. The first wave of about 2,300 volunteers joins police in a massive search for Robert.

- Noon Police report that they have evidence indicating Robert may have been injured or could be a "victim of a tragic event."

- 3:15 p.m. An Ada County sheriff's deputy guards a portion of the Hidden Hollow Landfill, right, and makes sure nothing is disturbed from Saturday morning's trash run.

- 5:53 p.m. Ada County sheriff's investigators prepare to search a house and dig up its backyard on the 6600 block of Southdale Avenue, near Five Mile Road. Resident Evan Wallis said he knows Robert's family but doesn't know why police are searching his house. He tells police someone stole his Chevy Suburban July 22.

- Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center confirms that Ehrlick Jr. had been admitted and released from the hospital, but wouldn't say when or for what he was treated.

Saturday, Aug. 1: A makeshift tribute to Robert is created on a sidewalk on Shoshone Street, near Jenkins' apartment.

Monday, Aug. 3: 1:28 p.m. A nearby homeowner and a road crew member call police after seeing a body in the New York Canal near Cloverdale Road in southern Ada County. A sheriff's deputy jumps in and pulls the body out. In contrast with previous press updates, Robert's family does not attend Monday's conference.

Tuesday, Aug. 4

- 9 a.m. A coroner's pathologist begins an autopsy on the body found in the canal.

- 4 p.m. Police report that the Ada County coroner had "tentatively" identified the body as Robert.

- Wednesday, Aug. 5

- 4:22 p.m. The coroner's office says dental records confirm that it was Robert in the canal.

- 6 p.m. Boise police say the autopsy showed Robert's death was "not an accident" and say they are beginning a homicide investigation.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/robertmanwill/story/857386.html

[melisb]

Does anyone know if Robert's father was aware of his exwifes' convicion for fracturing the skull of her baby and that her bf was still in the home with her?  I'm having a hard time understanding why he fought so hard to get Robert but didn't keep him away from her with all her criminal circumstances.

[Tams]

Morning Everyone (if anyone is up yet, that is!) -

Excerpts from Pink's post #1218 in the wee morning hours today, which scream to me:

..."An affidavit that Charles Manwill filed at the time to get temporary custody of Robert states that Jenkins told him she "was being physically abused by her ex-boyfriend (the apparent father of the unborn child)."

..."He added that the hospital "has kept the admission of mother Melissa, and her room number, secret because mother Melissa is concerned that the ex-boyfriend may storm into the hospital and mother Melissa's room and cause extreme trouble."

..."Ehrlick Jr. also has been barred from being around Jenkins' daughter, not from anything he did, but because the father, Raymond Ames, said he didn't like him or want him around the toddler. The girl lived with Melissa Jenkins until Ames got custody last year."

http://www.bradenton.com/news/breaking_news/story/1621456.html

Wow. The picture is becoming clearer that Ehrlick is a violent, drug-addled low life with a criminal history . . . I wonder if MJ (not Michael Jackson, LOL) did cover for bf in the injury of her other baby? If she is a 'battered wife' who is too afraid to try to leave her abuser? Surely makes one wonder, doesn't it?

[no rose colored glasses]

Thanks for the timeline, and Tams your post does make me wonder. Perhaps she did take the blame for what happened to the infant  What a horrible situation, and I'm sick to death of these horrible situations where a child either gets injured or killed because a parent is too brain dead to do the right thing 

[Anna]

Thanks for all the timely updates.

Apologies in advance if this has already been asked and I missed it but does Idaho have the death penalty?  Child under the age of 12 and all that?  I hope so.

[Anna]

Group plans walk in honor of Robert Manwill

Story Updated: Aug 5, 2009 at 3:25 PM MDT
By Scott Logan
BOISE -- While many are remembering eight-year-old Robert Manwill through the sidewalk memorial near his mom's apartment in Boise, still others have new ways to honor his memory.

Some are organzing a walk for Robert Saturday morning at 9 a.m. -- 11 loops from the New York Canal at Vista Avenue around the apartment complex and memorial and back.

"We're considering it 11 laps for the 11 days he was missing before we found him," said Monica Dalton, co-organizer of the walk for Robert.

Those interested in taking part can meet by the Jackson's at the top of the hill near Vista Avenue.

http://www.2news.tv/news/local/52546027.html

The route of this walk seems to speak volumes, at least to me.  Almost as though they are re-enacting the crime?  Like a neon, flashing sign pointing to the mother and her bf.  At least that is how it appears IMO.  I think some people are very upset and angry about this as well they should be.  And aren't we all!

 

[Anna]

Morning Everyone (if anyone is up yet, that is!) -

Excerpts from Pink's post #1218 in the wee morning hours today, which scream to me:

..."An affidavit that Charles Manwill filed at the time to get temporary custody of Robert states that Jenkins told him she "was being physically abused by her ex-boyfriend (the apparent father of the unborn child)."

..."He added that the hospital "has kept the admission of mother Melissa, and her room number, secret because mother Melissa is concerned that the ex-boyfriend may storm into the hospital and mother Melissa's room and cause extreme trouble."

..."Ehrlick Jr. also has been barred from being around Jenkins' daughter, not from anything he did, but because the father, Raymond Ames, said he didn't like him or want him around the toddler. The girl lived with Melissa Jenkins until Ames got custody last year."

http://www.bradenton.com/news/breaking_news/story/1621456.html

Wow. The picture is becoming clearer that Ehrlick is a violent, drug-addled low life with a criminal history . . . I wonder if MJ (not Michael Jackson, LOL) did cover for bf in the injury of her other baby? If she is a 'battered wife' who is too afraid to try to leave her abuser? Surely makes one wonder, doesn't it?

And I hope someone has told Mr. Boyfriend that an insanity defense is only knowing right from wrong and concealment of the remains indicates knowing what was done was totally wrong. 

I try VERY hard not to ever say anything about any family unless an arrest is made.  It's what works best for me because of all the lies told about Natalee Holloway's mother but this one may require I sit on my hands to keep from speculating.

But how many times do we have to see this kind of thing before these women wake up to the danger of leaving their children with wackos and sociopaths and even know sex offenders?

[Anna]

PinkAngel and all, keep up the updates!  Will be checking back later when I hope I am not so emotional about this but being the mother of boys, it just hurts to know someone did this.  I can see my own at that age, etc.


Good job on reporting the coverage by all on this thread.  I expect an arrest at any time now.

[Leroy]

Thanks for all the timely updates.

Apologies in advance if this has already been asked and I missed it but does Idaho have the death penalty?  Child under the age of 12 and all that?  I hope so.

Idaho is a Death Penalty state and I hope whoever gets convicted of this crime will be sitting on death row!  Here is a link for current death row inmates (though i'm not sure when it was last updated)

http://www.corr.state.id.us/facts/death_row.htm

[Nut44x4]

THIS MAY HAVE BEEN POSTED>>>>>..

'10 days for a body to float to Cloverdale Road'

Story Updated: Aug 6, 2009 at 10:42 AM MDT
BOISE – The question of how Robert’s body ended up in the New York canal is still a mystery.

Paul Devau, project manager for Boise Project Board of Control, says it is possible for a body to float the 14 miles from where Robert was last seen at his mother’s home, to where his body was found.

‘It takes about 10 days for a body to get from Boise to Cloverdale Road,” Devau said.

Ten days is the time from when Robert was last seen to when his body was pulled from the water near Cloverdale Road.

Devau also said there is only one set of body gates at Cloverdale Road and they were never dropped.

Boise Police originally searched the canals two days after Robert’s disappearance, but then told Devau they had other leads and began to search elsewhere.

They searched a home off Southdale Avenue in Boise.

The details of their findings have not been released.

The home is just two miles from where Robert’s body was found in the canal.

Devau believes if the body was severely decomposed, it would have been in the water a long time.

"The body would have been underwater for most of the time," Devau said.

Devau also said a body in the canal would not get tangled or stuck in any debris.

Unnoticed, it could have just kept on floating downstream.

http://www.2news.tv/news/52589612.html

[Northern Rose]

Police say Robert Manwill was Murdered

Posted: Aug 5, 2009 10:07 PM MDT

Boise, Idaho -- Police have now determined that 8-year-old Robert Manwill was murdered.

They made the announcement Wednesday, Aug. 5, during a press conference.

Manwill went missing on Friday, July 24. His body was found Monday, Aug. 3, in the New York Canal in Kuna. Now with a positive identification, deputy chief Jim Kerns says things are changing very fast.

"This is now a criminal investigation," said Kerns.

The reason -- Kerns says there are clear signs the boy was murdered.

"Preliminary results for the autopsy give us reason to believe that 8-year-old Robert Manwill's death was not an accident," Kerns said.

It may not be too long before a suspect is in custody, considering police seem to have a good bead on either who did or did not kill Manwill.

"There remains no evidence that Robert was abducted by a stranger," said Kerns.

Clearly, it's a statement that indicates there are signs of some sort that the boy was murdered by someone he knew -- an acquaintance, a friend, or even a family member.

And according to Kerns, "Justice will not be denied for Robert Manwill."

http://www.fox12idaho.com/Global/story.asp?S=10856556&nav=menu439_4

Sorry if this has been posted before but this is so very sad that no one had been looking after Little Man's safety and best interests when there was ample opportunity based on bio mom and B/f's previous interaction with children.

[pink angel]

Does anyone know if Robert's father was aware of his exwifes' convicion for fracturing the skull of her baby and that her bf was still in the home with her?  I'm having a hard time understanding why he fought so hard to get Robert but didn't keep him away from her with all her criminal circumstances.

I am sure he was aware and fought hard. The judge awarded unsupervised visitation with mom despite it. Robert's dad would have been violating a court order, had he not let Robert visit his mom.

Sadly, it happens all the time. In cases where mom's get custody and try to keep their children away from their abusive husbands and in this case where a dad tried to keep his son away from his abusive mother. The system that is in place to protect our children often is the one that puts them back in situations where they are at risk. All in the spirit of "reuniting the family". Best interest of the child, my ass.

Sorry for the language but I am angry.

[pink angel]

Morning Everyone (if anyone is up yet, that is!) -

Excerpts from Pink's post #1218 in the wee morning hours today, which scream to me:

..."An affidavit that Charles Manwill filed at the time to get temporary custody of Robert states that Jenkins told him she "was being physically abused by her ex-boyfriend (the apparent father of the unborn child)."

..."He added that the hospital "has kept the admission of mother Melissa, and her room number, secret because mother Melissa is concerned that the ex-boyfriend may storm into the hospital and mother Melissa's room and cause extreme trouble."

..."Ehrlick Jr. also has been barred from being around Jenkins' daughter, not from anything he did, but because the father, Raymond Ames, said he didn't like him or want him around the toddler. The girl lived with Melissa Jenkins until Ames got custody last year."

http://www.bradenton.com/news/breaking_news/story/1621456.html

Wow. The picture is becoming clearer that Ehrlick is a violent, drug-addled low life with a criminal history . . . I wonder if MJ (not Michael Jackson, LOL) did cover for bf in the injury of her other baby? If she is a 'battered wife' who is too afraid to try to leave her abuser? Surely makes one wonder, doesn't it?

Tams, I said this a few pages back, and Leroy and I were sharing a brain at the time.  We wondered the same thing.

He made her take the wrap because of his convictions already and that she would get a "lesser" sentence than he would. She being scared and because she "loved" him, covered for him. She has been absent from the press conferences and from any interviews but perhaps LE did that for her protection and to help keep the focus on Robert. It does make your wonder.

Thank you Leroy, Ms. Nut. and NorthernRose and all for the updates.

[pink angel]

Morning Everyone (if anyone is up yet, that is!) -

Excerpts from Pink's post #1218 in the wee morning hours today, which scream to me:

..."An affidavit that Charles Manwill filed at the time to get temporary custody of Robert states that Jenkins told him she "was being physically abused by her ex-boyfriend (the apparent father of the unborn child)."

..."He added that the hospital "has kept the admission of mother Melissa, and her room number, secret because mother Melissa is concerned that the ex-boyfriend may storm into the hospital and mother Melissa's room and cause extreme trouble."

..."Ehrlick Jr. also has been barred from being around Jenkins' daughter, not from anything he did, but because the father, Raymond Ames, said he didn't like him or want him around the toddler. The girl lived with Melissa Jenkins until Ames got custody last year."

http://www.bradenton.com/news/breaking_news/story/1621456.html

Wow. The picture is becoming clearer that Ehrlick is a violent, drug-addled low life with a criminal history . . . I wonder if MJ (not Michael Jackson, LOL) did cover for bf in the injury of her other baby? If she is a 'battered wife' who is too afraid to try to leave her abuser? Surely makes one wonder, doesn't it?

And I hope someone has told Mr. Boyfriend that an insanity defense is only knowing right from wrong and concealment of the remains indicates knowing what was done was totally wrong. 

I try VERY hard not to ever say anything about any family unless an arrest is made.  It's what works best for me because of all the lies told about Natalee Holloway's mother but this one may require I sit on my hands to keep from speculating.

But how many times do we have to see this kind of thing before these women wake up to the danger of leaving their children with wackos and sociopaths and even know sex offenders?

Afternoon Anna,

It always boggles my mind the mindset a woman has when she chooses a man (the company of one, having him in her and her child's life) over a the safety of her child/children.

Each time I read a story like that, I just want to grab the woman, shake the stuffing out of her and ask her what the h@ll was she thinking?

They are desperate for love, attention, low in self-esteem and often come from abusive homes their selves but they do all have free will.

[pink angel]

What we need to do is have all middle school children take "life skills" classes. Make them be year long. Mandatory for all. Educated them about internet safety. Educate them about birth control. Educate them on domestic abuse and violence, how to get yourself out of a bad situation, how to manage anger, how to properly parent your child, how your children should always come first. If we empower more of these young people and educate them, perhaps we can stop some of this.

Clearly they are not learning this information from home, it needs to be taught in school.

[pink angel]

Remember "Grandpops" statement that he was with son David all day? What if David was the one that had borrowed Wallis's truck on Wednesday? Just so he'd have transportation to kick around in, while he knew his friend was gone.

Danny called him on Friday when something bad happened to Robert and said bro you gotta help me...

[Tina Bee]

Nancy has yet to cover Robert's case in depth, but it the body has been confirmed as Robert's so

Right now NG is covering a case of an exhausted mother dealing with an unruly child inside of a store. If every single moment of my life was recorded by cameras I'd be in jail myself for some of things I've done.

I'm not a parent, but children are exhausting. I've had people cut their eyes at me when I wouldn't quiet one of my nieces inside of a store (that was already noisy). Sometimes you just give up, like this mother did. I don't think she should've been arrested.

That's just my opinion. I don't condone child abuse, but IMO this wasn't child abuse. Not even close.

There are alternatives to dragging a child along on the floor with a leash.
Couldn't the Mother has used a shopping cart to put the little boy in?

In the mom's defense the boy was in a monkey backpack leash and she was at a Verizon Wireless store so I don't think there were carts around.

I just hate when NG prosecutes someone who might just be having a bad day. Now when she does it to Tot Mama it's understandable.

It annoys me to no end when Nancy acts like she's super mom.

[pink angel]

The Manwill family will talk live with the media @ 6 PM MDT
http://www.ktvb.com will carry it live.

[Tina Bee]

Interesting article. Thought I'd add it to the mix.

EHRLICH'S FATHER: MY SON ACCUSED ME

A man Robert called "Grandpa" said Friday that he has been questioned repeatedly by investigators after his older son accused him of taking Robert and told investigators the same thing.

Daniel Ehrlick Sr., a former Marine who served in Vietnam, said he thought he saw Robert on the day he was reported missing when he stopped by Ehrlick Jr.'s apartment to drop off money to help pay bills.

"(Ehrlick Jr.) told me that Robert was down in the back. When I came to the door, I don't know if it was then that I spotted it, or I spotted it before, but I spotted another boy that looked just like Robert with a white T-shirt on," Ehrlick Sr. said.

Investigators have said Robert was wearing a blue Superman T-shirt at the time of his disappearance.

"I haven't talked to him since he accused me Sunday. I haven't talked to him," Ehrlick Sr. said. "I don't know if (Jenkins and Ehrlick Jr. have) been real truthful with me."

David Ehrlick, Ehrlick Sr.'s youngest son, said he was with his father the entire day on Friday.

Ehrlick Sr. said he used to pick up Robert at his father's house in New Plymouth and bring him to Boise. He teared up as he discussed the missing child while smoking a cigarette in his front yard.

Ehrlick Sr. and his youngest son, David, told a story of a boy that was constantly in trouble with his mother for the pettiest of infractions. David Ehrlick said that Robert was not allowed to go outside and play during a recent birthday party.

"It was scary around her with her children. Robert would get in trouble for everything. It didn't matter if it was asking a question, he'd get grounded. He'd have to sit on his hands," said David Ehrlick. "He's just a little boy."

Said Ehrlick Sr.: "That's why I was afraid to even say, 'Robert, let's go fishing.'"

They said that they told investigators their concern when Jenkins was investigated for injuring her infant in October 2008.

Ehrlick Sr. praised the volunteers and investigators.

"People have been awesome. I just wish there was something I could do for all the people involved," he said. "In my opinion, the Boise police are doing a good job."




http://www.idahostatesman.com/273/story/852598.html

[Leroy]

Remember "Grandpops" statement that he was with son David all day? What if David was the one that had borrowed Wallis's truck on Wednesday? Just so he'd have transportation to kick around in, while he knew his friend was gone.

Danny called him on Friday when something bad happened to Robert and said bro you gotta help me...

Ok, now you've got me thinking about David...afterall, he is closer to Wallis than Danny right?  So, yea, he knows his buddy is out of town and knows he could get in the house and take the keys to use the SUV.  Maybe he saw Robert walking down the street (IF the going to the party story is true) and picked him up along the way.  Robert would probably go with him since he knows him.  Maybe *something bad happened* in the SUV and/or backyard of Wallis at the hands of David and not Danny??

Far fetched I'm sure....and I guess it would depend on what time David & "grandpops" were together till.