MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Authorities have arrested the father of a teenager found dead in a Minnesota landfill, charging him with second-degree murder. The arrest followed weeks of intensive searching after the young boy was reported missing.
Sixteen-year-old Jordan “Manny” Collins Jr. was last seen on May 8, staying with his father in Columbia Heights. His mother reported him missing on May 12 after losing contact. The boy’s body was discovered on June 28 at an Elk River landfill, roughly 30 minutes away.
Officials have identified the father, 38-year-old Jordan Dupree Collins Sr., as the primary suspect. Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise announced the arrest six days following the discovery of the body.
A criminal complaint reveals chilling details about the case, noting evidence of decapitation. Law enforcement discovered incriminating materials during a May 11 search of Collins Sr.’s apartment. Items with blood stains were found in trash bins, alongside “butcher and hunting-style knives.”
The missing pieces of a mattress and carpet added to their suspicion. Collins Sr. claimed his son left to visit his grandmother and girlfriend, though the latter denied such plans. He also stated the knives were intended for butchering animals.
Authorities matched blood found in the apartment to Collins Jr. DNA evidence and cellphone records indicated the son’s phone was briefly activated at the father’s apartment three days after he disappeared.
Video footage suggested the teen’s body had been transported to a landfill via a dumpster. This led to a comprehensive search involving hundreds of officials from numerous agencies, combing through 180,000 cubic feet of waste.
Ashley Berry, Collins Jr.’s mother, expressed her fears during a June interview, voicing doubt that her son was safe. Her worst fears were confirmed when his body was found after an exhaustive search.
Despite no clear motive, Collins Sr. remains held on a $3 million bond at the Anoka County Jail. His court appearance is scheduled for August 4.