Robert Manwill
July 26, 2002 - July 15, 2002
On July 24, 2009 at about 9:30pm, a little
boy was reported missing.
Robert Manwill was supposedly gone and
his mother had no idea where
he could be. This story is very close
to home, only about 40 miles from
where I live. Once again, the story had
an ending that would shock everyone when police arrested his mother and
her boyfriend for his murder.
On August 19, 2009, Daniel Ehrlick Jr.
and Melissa Scott Jenkins were
in court in Ada County, in Boise Idaho,
for an arraignment hearing. Both
of these people had been arrested the
day before on first degree murder
charges in the death of Robert Manwill.
Melissa Scott Jenkins was no stranger to
legal trouble when it came to
her children. In October of 2008, after
hitting her baby sons head on a
hard surface, deliberately, she was charged
with a misdemeanor of injury to a child. The baby's skull was fractured
and for her crime, Melissa was fined $75.50 and given a 29 day sentence
of work release as well as being put on probation for two years. At that
time, someone had the
good sense to take the baby away from
her, she lost custody of her son.
The father of that baby, Daniel Edward
Ehrlick, had also had his troubles
with the law. Charges of burglary and
possession of drug paraphernalia
landed him in prison. Daniel was also
not allowed to be alone with
Robert's half sister.
Charles Manwill, Robert's biological father,
has had custody of him since
January of 2008. Melissa had not been
able to care for him, though she
did have visitation rights and Robert
was with her the night he went
missing.
Police had taken possession of vehicles
and other evidence from the
home stating that all appearances were
pointing to Robert having been
the victim of a "tragic event". The yard
of another South Boise home,
which was a rental and occupied by a friend
of Daniel Ehrlick, was
searched.
On August 3, 2009, the body of a child
was found floating in the New
York Canal in Boise, Idaho, on August
5, 2009, the child's body was
positively identified as Robert Manwill.
Robert was described as a "hugger" who
had no problem hugging his
teachers and friends:
"He was a sweet, sweet boy, always
wanting hugs, and
hugging other kids"
Christy Morales -Robert's second
grade teacher
Robert spent most of his time in New Plymouth,
Idaho, with his father,
Charles Manwill, though he also spent
time with his mother in Boise. A
child who loved to wear super hero T-shirts
and loafers that were too big
for him, he was funny and was full of
funny stories and comments. Christy
said that he had a "quirky" way of answering
questions:
"He'd throw out his hands and say, 'Wellllll
...He was very verbal that way. For his age, he was very verbal. He'd go
into these explanations"
At his school in New Plymouth, a teaching
assistant who helped Robert
and some of his classmates with math said
Robert gave her a hug when
he left the lunch room, every day:
"He'd lean his head on you, and say,
'I love you"
At the Meridian Speedway in Meridian, Idaho,
there was a moment of
silence for Robert and his family, before
the cars started racing for the
day. Drivers had put green ribbons on
their cars and Robert's Uncle,
Kyle Burrill had a picture of him on his
car. Robert used to watch his
Uncle race there.
"He loves it, he loves racing"
Trish Burrill - Robert's Aunt
Just a few hours earlier, people had walked
from the apartment
complex where Robert had last been seen
alive, to the Vista Avenue
bridge, in memory of Robert. They walked
over the New York Canal, a few miles from where Robert had been found.
The walk was done 11
times, one for each day that Robert had
been missing. The walkers said
they wanted to show their support for
Robert's family:
"We talked to the aunt and uncle
yesterday, and the mom. I
t was really hard but we wanted
to show them that we're
doing this for you"
Heather Fieseler
"It's sadness for me, but it's also
closure for the community"
Michelle Walker
On September 3, 2009, Daniel Ehrlick and
Melissa Jenkins both plead
not guilty to first degree murder in the
death of Robert Manwill. Each of
the defendants didn't say a word during
their hearing, not guilty pleas
were entered for them, by their lawyers.
Judge Darla Williamson heard
the pleas as both of them came before
her, separately.
The Grand Jury wrote that Daniel was accused
of severely beating
Robert while Melissa watched, doing nothing
to stop him and then lied
to cover up what had taken place. The
Grand Jury also found that Robert
had been subjected to "escalating physical
violence" which eventually caused his death. Also in the findings was information
stating that
Daniel had become violent towards Robert
as early as June of 2009,
and that Melissa his Robert from Government
authorities and would not
let him be seen by anyone so that they
could not see he was hurt.
The Grand Jury stated that Daniel
killed Robert by the "intentional
application of torture" and by "inflicting
extreme or prolonged pain with
the intent to cause suffering, to execute
vengeance, or to satisfy some
sadistic inclination, by inflicting repeated
acts of blunt force trauma to the
abdomen and/or head of Robert Manwill."
In their findings, they listed
that Melissa had left Robert with Daniel
even though she knew what he
was doing to him.
The state had until October of 2009 to
decide if they will seek the death
penalty against Daniel and Melissa. A
hearing was set for November 5,
2009 which was when a trial date would
most likely be set. Daniel and
Melissa waived their rights to a speedy
trial.
Read
about memorials and Robert's funeral
For information about preventing
child abuse in the state of Idaho, click the links below. If they can't
help you, ask for someone who can. NEVER give up looking for help
for an abused child!
 ......
Call this number to report
child abuse ANY WHERE in the United States!
1-800-4-A-Child
1-800-422-4453
  
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