ID - Robert Manwill, 8, Boise, 24 July 2009 - #3

[Angel Who Cares]

Robert Manwill's body found in New York Canal
Posted: Aug 4, 2009 08:11 PM EDT
<snipped>
Now that we know eight year old Robert Manwill has been found, the next big step in this investigation is how did the little boy end up in the canal. The boy either accidently fell into the canal, jumped in, or someone put him there. So, if the body went into the canal by his house on Vista - it would have travelled about 14 miles before it got to the south portion of Cloverdale Road.

Project manager Paul Deveau is in charge of the New York Canal and says Robert's body could easily have travelled that far. There is only one grate on the entire system, but it wasn't even down. "If a body goes in the canal in Boise, somewhere between Gowen Road, that's considered Boise, and we figure at least a week before the body gets down here, sometimes it'll take two weeks," said Paul Deveau, Boise Project Board of Control.

It's also possible he went in closer to the spot where he was found. What detectives will try to figure out now, is did the little boy jump in, fall in, or did somebody kill him before he was even in the water. As we first reported, police last week eliminated the canal as an area to search for robert. No word from police, as to why the canal was eliminated as a possible location for the boy.

VIDEO: The Investigation Continues 1:42
http://www.fox12idaho.com/global/vi...lipFormat=flv&clipId1=4016258&at1=News&h1=The Investigation Continues&flvUri=

VIDEO: Body Tentatively ID'd as Robert Manwill 1:43
http://www.fox12idaho.com/global/vi...ipFormat=flv&clipId1=4016244&at1=News&h1=Body Of Missing Boy Tentatively Identified&flvUri=

VIDEO: News Conference Announcing Robert Manwill's Body Identified 6:03
http://www.fox12idaho.com/global/vi...ipFormat=flv&clipId1=4014704&at1=News&h1=News Conference Announcing Robert Manwill's Body Identified&flvUri=

VIDEO: Manwill Vigil 2:53
http://www.fox12idaho.com/global/vi...ormat=flv&clipId1=4012912&at1=News&h1=Manwill Vigil&flvUri=

Article:
http://www.fox12idaho.com/Global/story.asp?S=10848412&nav=menu439_2_1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Community response to Stockdale, Manwill
August 5, 2009
Updated 1 hour 35 minutes ago
<snipped>
A Middleton family the Treasure Valley got to know recently finds itself facing financial difficulties when the patriarch learns his insurance won't cover an expensive potential remedy to a terrible malady.

A young Boise boy is reported missing and there are no clues to his whereabouts.

Two different stories with very different outcomes. Yet two stories which also have one common thread that should make everybody who lives here glad they do.

Ryan Stockdale became well-known in the area in 2007 when his family was given a medically-sound house as part of the popular television series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." His four children all suffer from a rare white blood cell disease.

Late last month, the Boise Police Department asked the public's help in finding 8-year-old Robert Manwill, who had been reported missing the night before. Family members said he had left their home on foot and had not returned.

For the Stockdales, the story had a happy ending. For Manwill's family, it was a tragic conclusion when the coroner tentatively identified the boy's body found in a canal near Kuna.

We've already shown we can &#8212; and will &#8212; do it.

Article:
http://www.idahopress.com/sports/?2009-08-05-Community-response-to-Stockdale-Manwill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Body tentatively identified as Robert Manwill
Story Published: Aug 4, 2009 at 11:20 PM MDT
Story Updated: Aug 4, 2009 at 11:20 PM MDT
<snipped>
While the search may be over, people say their support isn't. They've opened their homes and let this little boy into their hearts.

"She heard Robert's favorite color was green and she wanted her stuff animal to keep him safe," says neighbor, Shelly Bingham.

For 11 days, these neighbors, friends, and family members of missing Robert have remained hopeful he would come home.

The Ada County Coroner says dental records are being evaluated to make a positive identification, but Tuesday, during a press conference, Boise Police said finding Robert is now only the beginning of the investigation into exactly what happened to the little boy.

"Our priority remains finding answers for Robert's family and this community," adds Chief Kerns.

While police ask for patience in this case, they also ask people to continue to keep Robert and his family in their hearts. A request many here say they're listening to.

Eyewitness News has learned the Boise community is planning a vigil for Robert this Friday night.

VIDEO: Body tentatively identified as Robert Manwill
http://www.kidk.com/news/local/52484967.html?video=YHI&t=a

Article:
http://www.kidk.com/news/local/52484967.html


:angel:

 

[UnderDog]

http://www.idahostatesman.com/mobile_channels/story/855363.html

"We feel tentatively that's him and we need to do the dental identification" Sonnenberg said. "That would be a bizarre situation...another kid the same size."

The report issued Tuesday does not indicate a cause of death, that is "pending investigation." It also says the place of death is "unknown."

"I'm sure a cause of death will be released down the road," Sonnenberg said Tuesday. "Everything has got to be put together to find out just what has happened."

Sonnenberg said water complicates his work.

"You can't assume as much as quickly," he said. "Now you have to add the fact that you have...decomposition in water which greatly complicates the case."


Those two comments got under my skin for some reason. How sad that this lil boy seems to be unrecognizable. That beautiful face. ugh.

I googled decomposition in water. I stumbled across an interesting link about decomposition in water. No pictures, nothing graphic that I saw, just some sort of UK forensic study on the subject. "Bodies recovered from water"

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/forensicmedicine/notes/water.pdf

"It is particularly difficult to distinguish ante mortem from post mortem injuries
because on the one hand water immersion leaches the blood out of antemortem
wounds while on the other hand post mortem wounds tend to bleed more readily
than usual due to the fluidity of the blood (particularly in areas of dependent
lividity e.g. face)".

I pray that they have an amazing forensic team. It really does seem to complicate matters that lil Robert was found in the canal. God rest his soul. I hope he is playing and laughing and skipping all over paradise right now.

We don't know how long the body was in the water. As one "expert" remarked, it's unlikely a "tentative" ID would be announced if the CO couldn't visually recognize the boy.
Hmm..I didn't mean to come across as "snippy" or a wet blanket. I agree with your thoughts, but just wanted to remind everyone that the body may have been moved, even more than once, before being found in the canal. The gasses from decomposition would accumulate in or out of water causing the body to become buoyant.

 

[jnTexas]

I wonder if they will drain the canal to search for evidence such as what was holding him down?

 

[LaLaw2000]

I just had to come back in here tonight and say that I am so glad that little Robert's disappearance did not take on a circus atmosphere - not once. It was a dignified and well turned out search with record numbers of searchers. Just my opinion only, but Boise showed us how it should be done: Dignified and without goofballs jumping in and wanting the limelight.

WTG, Boise PD, SO, and to the FBI agents who worked on this case. I am confident that together, the murderer will be discovered. (just cannot buy accidental drowning) And WTG all searchers who tirelessly searched for Robert. I respect and admire all of you.

Had St. John come rolling into town for her 'blind drives', the circus would have begun. Again, JMO.

I do thank God that Robert has been located. I am so very sorry he was not found alive and well, tho. GB Robert's Dad, brother and the family. Robert will know no more pain, no fear, and will always be safe now. Robert has his wings now.

 

[Idaho-native]

And WTG all searchers who tirelessly searched for Robert. I respect and admire all of you.

When it comes to sticking together this town is a pretty amazing place to be. They asked for 700-1000 volunteers for this search and got over 2000. A week before that the community raised 84k in two days so a man could have a surgery that he needed. There is no limits to what this community will do for their own even if they have never met them.

 

[Idaho-native]

I wonder if they will drain the canal to search for evidence such as what was holding him down?

Something tells me they wont be draining the canal. If I heard correctly the irrigation people didnt even want to drain it to look for a body. Seems they said something like it would take ten days to refill it and that would hurt the crops.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I'm now really confused about them having ruled out the canal or not. I could have sworn that I remembered, at the very beginning, there being talks of searching and possibly even dragging the canal. I know they drained a pond, but seriously thought they were looking at the canal too. So I went searching and found these:

Five dogs are searching the area that includes two large canals and the Boise apartment complex where Robert lives near Vista Avenue.

7/25: http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/845037.html

Charles McClure of the Boise Police department says they've handed out fliers, stopped cars, and searched a canal and a nearby pond trying to find Robert Manwill.....

The link has since been updated but it was originally (around 7/26) from: http://www.670kboi.com/Article.asp?id=1429312&spid=18042

The New York Canal is about two blocks south of the apartment complex where Robert lives.

Also from 7/26: http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/846262.html
http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/845037.html

From an Idaho National Guard helicopter, police scanned the New York Canal and nearby railroad tracks and pools.

7/28: http://www.idahostatesman.com/boise/story/847786.html


And the one I was REALLY looking for!

They've also skimmed any standing water or canals in the area.

7/27: http://www.fox12idaho.com/Global/story.asp?S=10800341&nav=menu439_2_1

It seems like they DID search the canal. Maybe they ruled it out after initial searches? I guess I misheard, or wanted to hear that they dragged the canal. Looks like they just skimmed it. But it seems like it was definately searched.

 

[Salem]

Fly with the Angels, Robert.

Prayers to your family and especially your big brother and dad. They are going to be lost without you.

Salem

 

[RJA00]

Sandra,nevaeh,caylee
now have a big brother to look over them
sandra nevaeh, caylee and Robert
RIP Robert


i pray every night to Sandra and caylee and nevaeh to help us find adj and Haleigh

maybe all four of them together can put us in the right direction
I pray every night to find them all safe or to at least know there in gods arms safe and snug

 

[UnderDog]

I'm now really confused about them having ruled out the canal or not. I could have sworn that I remembered, at the very beginning, there being talks of searching and possibly even dragging the canal. I know they drained a pond, but seriously thought they were looking at the canal too. So I went searching and found these:



7/25: http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/845037.html




The link has since been updated but it was originally (around 7/26) from: http://www.670kboi.com/Article.asp?id=1429312&spid=18042




Also from 7/26: http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/846262.html
http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/845037.html




7/28: http://www.idahostatesman.com/boise/story/847786.html


And the one I was REALLY looking for!



7/27: http://www.fox12idaho.com/Global/story.asp?S=10800341&nav=menu439_2_1

It seems like they DID search the canal. Maybe they ruled it out after initial searches? I guess I misheard, or wanted to hear that they dragged the canal. Looks like they just skimmed it. But it seems like it was definately searched.

When the search began, the canal and the pond were both high profile areas in the reports I watched or googled. My immediate impression was the search was for a victim, not a runaway. What if Ehrlich, jr was telling the truth, sort of, when he said his Dad had taken Robert? As in, someone had taken Robert's body to the Southdale house? There, they prepared the anchors and placed the body in a rural area of the canal (which LE had publicly given low priority)? The items used to transport the body were taken to the landfill with items used in the general cleanup of the apartment? Just speculation, but the interview with senior seems more revealing everytime I read it.

"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.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/852598.html

 

[musictheatredoc]

I know criminals are stupid and even more stupid when under the influence of drugs of some kind, but for the life of me I cant understand how they can be as stupid as they are. Anyone who lives around here knows that the NY canal doesnt have water in it all year. Eventually it does dry up. Eventually a body would be recovered from the canal. What honestly drives these kinds of people to think they can get away with things that a clear mind would no better then to do

Who knows? Panic..wanting to make it look like an accident? I live in Nampa, just up the road from Boise. Every year there are both child and adult accidental deaths in these canals. My daughter's new school is being built just adjacent to the NY Canal as it flows through Nampa. My husband and I were just discussing yesterday, the fact that there are no protections around the canals..fences...etc, anyone can walk up to them. And whomever did this, knew this fact and was banking on the fact that when the body was found, it would be seen as an accident.

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Coroner: Body is Manwill
August 5, 2009
Updated 45 minutes ago
<snipped>
Officials identified a boy's body found floating in a Southwest Ada County canal as that of 8-year-old Robert Manwill, who had been missing since July 24.

Although Ada County Coroner Erwin Sonnenberg made the tentative identification, he said a positive finding will be released as soon as his office receives dental records and a forensic odontologist compares the findings.

A cause of death has not yet been determined, according to authorities.

He said the public should not expect easy answers, cautioning against speculation.

"For Robert's sake, the sake of his family, the answers we provide must reflect the answers that can only come from a thorough investigation," he said. "That investigation is still very much under way."

Kerns said Robert's family remains in close contact with police.

Article:
http://www.idahopress.com/news/?2009-08-05-Coroner-Body-is-Manwill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*NOTE: Much more NEW info included this article!

Who was the last to see Robert Manwill alive?
A 7-year-old neighbor girl says she sat on the swings with him on the playground the night he disappeared.
Published: 08/05/09
<snipped>
But one person says she is certain she saw him that night.

K.D., 7, who lives with her parents at the Oak Park Village apartments off Vista Avenue in Boise, said she was with Robert on the playground next to the pool, which has apartments overlooking it on three sides.

"I was on the green swing, and he was on the red swing," she told the Statesman.

At some point, K.D. said, Robert jumped off to play on a playground motorcycle, next to the swings, then soon after went up to his mom's apartment. She went to her own family's apartment.

K.D.'s parents say they believe she came inside at about 7:30 p.m. - around the same time as their other kids changed and went down to the pool to go swimming. The pool was filled with kids that night, they said.

A resident in the building who did not want to be identified said Ehrlick Jr. told her that Robert was in the hot tub and pool the night he went missing. She said he told her a heavy-set couple, including a man with a mustache, had invited the boy to a birthday party, and he'd gone to ask Ehrlick Jr. for permission several times.

But the Davidsons said no one saw the boy in the hot tub or pool.

2ND HEADLINE
AFTER HE WAS GONE
As soon as the Davidson family heard Robert was missing that Friday night, they grabbed flashlights and joined dozens of neighbors in searching for the boy. They were out looking until 2 a.m. Saturday.

"The parents around here are always looking out for each other's kids," Jim Davidson said. "Kids can run up to any apartment, go inside and get help."

There are often adults sitting outside their apartments in lawn chairs, and some leave pool-side doors open.

They spoke with FBI agents every day for about a week - agents were interested in Kimberlly's account, among other things - and allowed searches of their apartment and garage.

It took four or five officers to sift through boxes in their garage.

A neighbor of Jenkins and Ehrlick said that that night, she heard a police officer helping Jenkins search her apartment for the boy. She said she heard the officer also wanted to search Jenkins' car - a red Blazer - but she told him she wasn't home at the time the boy went missing.

K. Davidson, 30, and her husband Jim, 34, are neighbors in the apartment complex where 8-year-old Robert Manwill's mother, Melissa Scott Jenkins, lives and said their daughter was playing with Robert on the playground Friday evening around 7:30 p.m. a few hours before Robert became missing.

Article:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/856161.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teachers say Robert Manwill was affectionate, quick to learn
Robert Manwill, 8, believed to be the boy found dead in a canal Monday, made a good impression in a short time in New Plymouth.
Published: 08/05/09
<snipped>
Every day at school, Robert hugged his teachers. He freely embraced his best buddies, including some who felt they were getting too grown up for such unsolicited displays of affection.

"He was a sweet, sweet boy, always wanting hugs, and hugging other kids," said Christy Morales, who was Robert's second-grade teacher.

Robert lived in both halves of a broken home, spending most of the past year and a half of his life with his dad, Charles Manwill, in New Plymouth, and occasionally visiting his mom, Melissa Jenkins, in Boise.

He's remembered as a tiny kid, who liked superhero T-shirts and wore too-big brown loafers. He is described as funny, often making silly comments or telling funny stories.

Morales said he had a cute, quirky way of answering questions.

"He'd throw out his hands and say, 'Wellllll ... ,'" she said.

"He was very verbal that way. For his age, he was very verbal. He'd go into these explanations."

Tammy Schlett, a teaching assistant at New Plymouth, tutored Robert and other kids in his class in math every day.

"He'd lean his head on you, and say, 'I love you,'" Schlett said. Robert gave her a hug on the way out of the lunchroom every day.

Article:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/robertmanwill/story/856164.html

:angel:

 

[Kimster]

Oh Angel! That last article with the interview of his teacher just broke my heart - AGAIN!

 

[Angel Who Cares]

The article about who was the last to see Robert does back-up one of our new members posts of what she has told us, about Robert being at the playground earlier in the evening. Reading it I now am thinking the perp/s hid Robert in the red Blazer & later moved his body. I'm starting to think his body was than transported to the other guys house & whoever than used his truck to take poor little Robert to the canal. I'm thinking they did this in case they were seen at the canal or in the area that this was done so that if they were seen they wouldn't say....yeah a seen a red blazer near the canal. Not realizing that somehow LE did find out about the other link to the other house.

I hope this somewhat is making sense....I was laying down to go to sleep & just couldn't stop trying to put the pieces of the puzzle of what happened together. I had to post what I was thinking of what happened & how much poor Robert's loved ones are grieving tonight.

Kimster ITA the article about what his teachers described about his personality really got to me too. :cry: So much love to give in the future & it has all been taken away from him. He is now sharing them hugs with Caylee, Nevaeh, Sandra & too many to name them all......it is so sad that all their names would fill pages & pages here. When is this going to stop & all of our little ones can be safe in this world??? :shakehead:
He sounds so much like my grandson who is 11 & does the same kind of things. If another classmate is upset he has told his teacher or their parent....don't worry I'll take care of them.

raying: for Robert's loved ones!

:angel:

 

[eyes4crime]

From post #292

Who was the last to see Robert Manwill alive?
A 7-year-old neighbor girl says she sat on the swings with him on the playground the night he disappeared.
Published: 08/05/09
Bolded my me

7:30pm the girl went back to mom and dad..child Robert went to his mom's apt.

Just a few of son Ehrlick's attempted set-ups that we know of:

1. Daniel accused his dad, Erhlick Sr. of taking child Robert
2. Daniel said child Robert was in the pool and hot tub
3. Daniel said a fat man with a mustache and a woman at the pool invited child Robert to a birthday party (so this is where the BD Party came from - this must be what he told Melissa. Also a setup for a sex offender kidnap.)
4. Daniel told police child Robert likes to investigate small places and is curious (set-up for finding child Robert in the water)
5. Was Evan Wallis also a set-up?
6. How about Melissa? Did you try to set her up to make her a willing accomplice?

Seems Daniel's MO is to setup scenarios to cover for his criminal behavior. I hope with all my heart that mom Melissa stops covering for sleaze ball Daniel Ehrlick!

My heartfelt condolences to the family of little Robert Manwill Jr. And to Robert Manwill Sr. I say: no parent should ever have to lose one child...losing two children in one lifetime is a double tragedy and is beyond what I can comprehend. I wish to Robert Sr. the strength to get through this impossible time.

 

[Idaho-native]

The article about who was the last to see Robert does back-up one of our new members posts of what she has told us, about Robert being at the playground earlier in the evening.

WOW! I was scrolling down and had to take a double take when I saw that photo. I just feel so bad for everything my niece has gone through. To have to be questioned so much and have the pressure on you that you were the last one to see Robert. My concern is this little girl will have to testify in court. Court can be a scary place for adults so I cant imagine a little girl

 

[SailorMoon]

Okay....I'm ready to jump on the vigilante form of justice here!! This has got to stop. Poor Robert. My lil 7yo gives everyone hugs too!! BF is in it beyond his eyeballs. Let me start wth him!!!

 

[Angel Who Cares]

PDF: Coroner's Report For Robert Manwill
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/04/coroners.report.pdf

:angel:

 

[Salem]

I can't believe they named the little girl and her parents!!!!! THIS IS A MURDER INVESTIGATION! Naming witnesses should be an absolute NO NO until an arrest is made and the monster(s) are behind bars.

Idaho-Native, I'm sending prayers to your niece and her parents. May the Angels protect them and guide them as this investigation continues.

Salem

 

[doobiedoo52]

I'm beginning to wonder if Ehrlick wasn't also the one who fractured his own baby's skull and MJ took the blame. These are all just my personal thoughts, but there are women out there who will do anything for their man--including take a rap if they think it will keep him with her. He is the one with the history of domestic violence. He isn't allowed to be alone with MJ's daughter. The injured baby was taken away. I think it is entirely possible that she doesn't know what happened to Robert if she just got home from work at 9:00 or 9:30. That should be easy to find out from work records. It seems the boyfriend is also responsible for the birthday party story. If he told MJ that story as well, she may have been searching on her own and trying to figure out who was new
in the building. That could easily explain the hour or so before LE was called. Kind of up in the air yet on her involvement.