08/18/2026
Remains Believed to Be Missing Bastrop Teen Recovered From Baton Rouge Landfill
By Bastrop Morehouse News
After more than a month of exhaustive excavation, authorities in Baton Rouge say they have recovered remains believed to be those of 15‑year‑old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather, the Bastrop‑connected teen whose disappearance in early June sparked a massive multi‑agency search. The remains were located in the East Baton Rouge Parish North Landfill, where investigators had long believed the teen’s body was taken after his killing.
Minnieweather, whose father and grandparents live in Bastrop, was last seen on June 5. Baton Rouge Police allege he was beaten to death during an altercation with Maurice Parms, 51, who was arrested in June and charged with first‑degree murder. Parms also faces multiple sex‑crime charges involving a 16‑year‑old girl connected to the case.
Discovery After Weeks of Excavation
The recovery comes after five to six weeks of digging through thousands of tons of waste. Search teams—averaging 70 to 80 personnel per day—processed more than 3,500 tons of landfill material and excavated over 4,200 cubic yards of debris. Clothing found with the remains matches what Minnieweather was wearing when he disappeared, though officials say formal identification will require DNA testing.
The search area was narrowed with help from the FBI, which deployed hazardous‑materials specialists, evidence‑recovery teams, and anthropologists from LSU’s Faces Lab. Investigators believe Minnieweather’s body was transported to the landfill by a Waste Management truck after Parms allegedly disposed of evidence in neighborhood garbage cans.
A Community in Mourning
News of the recovery has deeply affected residents in Morehouse Parish, where Minnieweather’s family has been waiting for answers. The discovery brings a measure of closure but also renewed grief as the community prepares for the next steps in the investigation.
Local leaders and residents have expressed support for the family, praising the persistence of search crews who worked in extreme heat, hazardous conditions, and under immense emotional strain.
Next Steps
The Baton Rouge Police Department is expected to release additional details at a scheduled news conference. DNA testing will determine formal identification, and prosecutors are expected to update charges once results are confirmed.
