Idaho man pleads guilty to murder of 9-year-old son. What we know about the case
A Meridian man pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of his 9-year-old son Wednesday, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Erik Osuna, 31, entered into a plea agreement with the state, according to a news release from the prosecutor’s office and documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman. Monique Osuna, the boy’s stepmother, also pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is expected to be sentenced along with the father on June 9.
Emrik Osuna died in September 2020 after Meridian police responded to his home for a medical emergency — he was not breathing. When police arrived, they could not detect a heartbeat and reported that they saw signs of abuse. The boy was transported to St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise, where he died early the next day.
Three other children lived in the Osuna home, including an infant, but police previously said they didn’t appear to be abused.
Erik Osuna’s additional charge of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence will be dismissed because of the plea agreement, according to court documents.
Both Erik and Monique Osuna are in custody at the Ada County Jail on $2 million bonds. Erik Osuna is also on a federal hold, which means he cannot bail out. It is unclear what the hold is for. As a part of both their plea agreements, Erik and Monique Osuna will not face the death penalty. Under state law, the maximum punishment for first-degree murder is life in prison.
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 11:04 AM.
