Search for missing Boise boy takes grim turn

Editor's note: We have been experiencing technical difficulties today. To bring you the story, we are presenting this stripped down version of KTVB.COM

UPDATE - 10:01am: Police resumed a search at a home on Southdale St. in south Ada County. Crews began working in the backyard at about 7 a.m. after shutting down late Friday night.

Investigators carefully dug up an area they were probing last night. That dirt was sifted, then removed. They then brought in the Boise Fire Department and drained a small above-ground pool nearby. Investigators then removed the pool and began probing in that area.

Crews are expected to be on scene throughout the day.

A news conference is scheduled to be held at noon. Stay with KTVB.COM for updates.

UPDATE - 10:04pm: Ada County Sheriff's Deputies and Boise Police Officers spent Friday evening searching a home on Southdale St. near Five Mile and Lake Hazel. Officials received a search warrant, and began looking through the scene at 6:15 p.m.

The people who rented the home spoke exclusively to KTVB and said they knew the Manwill family, but would not elaborate further.

Officers began searching the backyard of the home, including an RV and car. The search also focused on an area of disturbed earth. Equipment from Boise State University was brought in - which was said to be sonar.

Later, a group of seven people used a series of four foot rods and went through the area. They also used shovels to probe the dirt.

They then marked off the area with red evidence flags. The work wrapped up just before 10 p.m. Friday night. It is not known what was found - if anything.

Police will resume the search Saturday morning.

UPDATE - 9:50pm: Police say more than 2,300 volunteers helped search for Manwill Friday

Earlier story

Jessie Bonner/ Associated Press

A Boise search for a missing 8-year-old took a grim turn as police suggested he may be hurt - or worse - and searched the apartment of his mother, who has a history of harming another child.

Police and FBI detectives Friday coordinated more than 2,300 volunteers in a massive search for Robert Manwill, who reportedly disappeared July 24 after leaving his mother's apartment on the southwest side of Idaho's capitol city.

Early in the week, investigators said they had no evidence suggesting foul play.

But Deputy Chief Jim Kerns changed course Friday, saying new evidence recovered in a Thursday night search of the apartment of the boy's mother, Melissa Scott Jenkins, has detectives tracking new leads.

"The evidence we've uncovered shows that there are suspicious circumstances surrounding Robert's disappearance," Kerns said during a press conference. "Volunteers assisting in the search today are being given the information by search team officers that Robert may indeed be injured or the victim of a tragic event."

So far, police say there are no arrests or suspects in the case. Investigators were seen taking an SUV and other items during the search of Jenkins' apartment Thursday night.

Jenkins has been at previous press conferences, but didn't attend Friday. Police wouldn't say where she was.

The boy was visiting her the night he disappeared. His father, Charles Manwill, has had custody since 2008 and lives in New Plymouth, about 45 miles northwest of Boise.

Court records show a history of family tragedies involving young children.

Jenkins pleaded guilty in March to a misdemeanor charge of injury to a child following an October 2008 incident that fractured her infant son's skull.

Jenkins "did willfully inflict" the injury to her other son "by striking the child's head on a surface, causing a fracture to the child's skull," on Oct. 19, 2008. She was sentenced to 29 days of work release, fined $75.50 and put on probation for two years, according to court documents.

That child is the son of Jenkins' boyfriend, Daniel Edward Ehrlick. The boy was in the care of the state Department of Health and Welfare through at least February, according to court documents. The agency will not release his whereabouts, citing policy.

Jenkins has a third child, a 2-year-old daughter fathered by a third man, who has custody of her. Jenkins has visitation rights. Ehrlick, who has been convicted of burglary, battery and possession of drug paraphernalia, is banned from being alone with the girl, but court documents don't say why.

In another case, Charles Manwill's former wife stabbed their 4-year-old son, Michael, in the chest in 1993, killing him. Silke Fatma Manwill pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, was sentenced to federal prison and released in 2002.

Charles Manwill was among family members who flanked chief Kerns as he spoke to reporters Friday.

"We want everyone not to give up hope," said Trisha Burrill, the boy's aunt. "Please help us bring Robert home."

Boise police spokeswoman Lynn Hightower said volunteers on Friday covered a 1 1/2-mile to 2-mile radius around the scene where the boy was reported missing.

The search is believed to be the biggest attempt to find a missing person in the city's history, Hightower said.

Boise Police Department Sgt. P.D. Burch supervised a volunteer post at South Junior High School, and said 200 volunteers from New Plymouth, where the boy was supposed to enroll in third grade next month, were being bused to Boise to help in the search.

Family members gathered under a tent at the edge of the high school football field, where a 31-year-old mother of two from Meridian approached the group and asked if she could bring them lunch.

"We wanted to do something," said Randee Fratto, who walked away clutching her 4-month-old daughter, Olivia, and a handful of missing posters with pictures of Robert Manwill wearing a shy smile.

"It breaks your heart," Fratto said. "It makes you want to hug your babies and never let go."

Earlier: Police search Manwill's mother's home

Background: Mother, step-dad of boy have criminal backgrounds

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