Coroner identifies 9-year-old Meridian boy killed in suspected abuse case
The Ada County Coroner’s Office has identified a 9-year-old boy who died Wednesday in what police believe to be a case of abuse.
Emrik Osuna was pronounced dead shortly before 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Meridian, according to the coroner’s report. The cause and manner of the boy’s death are still under investigation. The coroner’s office reported that the boy was in the pediatric intensive care unit when he died.
Meridian Police arrested Emrik Osuna’s father and stepmother on Wednesday.
According to the Meridian Police Department, at around 9:39 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a residence in the 1000 block of West Broadway Avenue to assist Emergency Medical Services with a 9-year-old male victim who was not breathing.
When officers arrived, the child did not have a heartbeat. Officers said the boy showed signs of abuse. He was transported to a hospital, but efforts to save him were unsuccessful.
According to police, officers developed enough probable cause to arrest the father, Erik Osuna-Gutierez, 29, and stepmother, Monique Osuna, 27. Both were booked into the Ada County Jail on suspicion of one count of felony injury to child.
Three other children, ages 9, 4, and 4 months, were placed into protective custody with Health and Welfare.
This is an ongoing investigation, and detectives ask community members to contact the Meridian Police Department if they have any further information regarding this case.
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 5:21 PM.
