Remains of missing 15-year-old found after crews sift through 3,500 tons of landfill waste

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the exhumed remains of a 15-year-old boy, Ja Derrius Minnieweather, were identified through DNA testing on Wednesday, confirming he was the missing teen who vanished on June 5. The suspect in the case, 51-year-old Maurice Parms, was apprehended on June 22 and charged with first-degree murder. Police alleged that Minnieweather's death was a result of a violent altercation during a dispute over allegations of Parms' inappropriate behavior towards a 16-year-old girl, who was a close friend of the deceased.

It was discovered that Parms had concealed the teen's body and disposed of incriminating evidence before the remains were ultimately taken to the landfill. During the investigation, detectives uncovered additional charges against Parms, including second-degree vaginal rape, trafficking of children for sexual purposes, and indecent behavior with juveniles.

He is currently being held on a combined $600,000 bond. The Baton Rouge Police Department revealed that search teams meticulously combed through 4,265 cubic yards of landfill waste and processed 3,590 tons of debris. The operation's daily productivity surged from around 150 tons to 221 tons.