Idaho 9-year-old found dead covered in vomit, bruises was starved, had to sleep in closet, stepmother arrested
MERIDIAN, IDAHO: Emrik Osuna was pronounced dead on Wednesday morning, September 2, after his parents called emergency services who found the child not breathing. Officials found the nine-year-old's dead body covered in bruises and vomit. Emrik had been allegedly "tortured" by his step-mother Monique Osuna, 27, who has now been charged with murder. Emrik's father has also been charged with felony injury of a child, as reports indicate that he was aware of Emrik's abuse but did not do anything to stop it.
Emrik was pronounced dead in the wee morning hours of Wednesday, when paramedics had found his body in his parents' home in Meridian, Idaho. He was found not breathing, and according to the Mirror and many other publications, the child was inflicted with bruises and had vomit coming out of his mouth. EMS had also found that Emrik was malnourished which was later proven through a medical examination and was rushed to the pediatric ICU at St. Luke's Meridian Medical Centre where he was later pronounced dead. The victim's father Erik Osuna-Gutierrez, 29 has also been charged with "felony injury to a child, infliction of great bodily harm and destruction of evidence."
According to The Mirror, young Emrik "suffered unspeakable neglect and horrific torture” by Monique which was clearly detailed during her court appearance that occurred on Thursday, September 3. The torture Emrik suffered included being locked in closets at night, jumping jacks and wall sits as punishment with Erik adding to lawyers that the boy was only given rice and water for nourishment in the weeks prior to his death. Prosecutor Tamara Kelly had detailed to the presiding judge the exact state in which Emrik was found saying, "The little boy had bruises all over his body, specifically on his buttocks, groin, legs, and torso. Some of the bruises were extremely large and essentially covered the back of his body.” According to the publication, the prosecution said that Monique had also revealed to cops that she had hit her step-son with a "frying pan, a belt, and a dog leash" along with allegedly admitting to kicking Emrik in the groin.
The details provided by court records and publications combined revealed that on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, Erik had nervously texted Monique expressing that he was "scared" and that Emrik needed to be taken to the hospital. While the couple did end up calling 911 at the Meridian Police Department, they did so at 9:40 pm, hours after Erik had expressed his concern. When emergency responded to the call from Rushmore Apartments off W. Broadway Avenue, they found Emrik not breathing, without a pulse. While CPR was attempted on Emrik before he was taken to St. Luke's Meridian Medical Centre, the young boy had succumbed to his abuse as a "prisoner" in his parents' home. Mail Online reported that Emrik was pronounced dead at the Medical Centre.
“In combination with this physical abuse, this defendant admitted to what is essentially torture of E.O. by locking him in a small closet at night to sleep, withholding food, making him do physical strenuous punishments while she was working," said prosecutor Tamara Kelly. The couple is also parents to three other children who are aged nine, four, and four months -- all three have been placed under the custody of Idaho Health and Welfare and are unable to be in contact with the parents. Monique and Erik have been ordered to be held on a $4 million bond -- $2 million each.