Missing Baton Rouge Teen Ja’Derrius Minnieweather Believed B*aten to D3ath as Police Arrest 51-Year-Old Suspect
Missing Baton Rouge Teen Ja’Derrius Minnieweather Believed B*aten to D3ath as Police Arrest 51-Year-Old Suspect
Search for Missing Teen Ends in Tragic Development
After two weeks of emotional searches and desperate pleas from family members and volunteers, Baton Rouge Police announced Saturday that 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather is believed to have been killed.
Police arrested 51-year-old Maurice Parms following the execution of a search warrant at his residence Saturday morning.
Parms has been booked on a charge of first-degree murder.
Although investigators say they have gathered enough evidence to file the charge, Ja’Derrius’ body has not yet been located.
Teen Had Gone to Visit a Longtime Friend
On Saturday morning, officers executed a search warrant at Parms’ residence, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest.
According to the arrest affidavit, Ja’Derrius rode his bicycle on June 4 to visit a 16-year-old girl described as a longtime friend.
Detectives say the girl had been out getting food with Parms before returning.
Investigators allege a heated confrontation erupted between Minnieweather and Parms over the older man’s behavior toward the teenager.
Witnesses reportedly described seeing a very tall man violently attacking a smaller person for several minutes while a softer voice begged him to stop and leave them alone.
Large suspected bloodstains were later discovered in the area where the altercation allegedly took place.
Surveillance Video Contradicted Suspect’s Story
After Parms was arrested on unrelated charges on June 10, he told investigators he had only briefly been near Minnieweather before returning home and remaining there until work the next morning.
However, detectives say surveillance footage contradicted that account.
According to the affidavit, cameras captured a man matching Parms’ body type riding a child’s bicycle from the scene. Video allegedly showed him dragging a garbage can, discarding a bicycle, mask, gloves and clothing, then later retrieving those items and placing them inside his truck.
Investigators also said the footage showed him wiping down parts of the vehicle.
Blood Evidence Found Inside Truck
Authorities later tested suspected bloodstains found at the scene and inside Parms’ truck.
According to detectives, blood was found in the area where the suspect had allegedly been seen wiping, as well as in other parts of the vehicle.
Investigators believe Minnieweather died during the confrontation and that his body was initially hidden before evidence and possibly the victim’s remains were moved elsewhere.
Police have not revealed where they believe the body may have been taken.
Earlier Arrest Revealed Alleged Relationship With Teen Girl
Parms had already been arrested on June 10 after investigators allegedly discovered messages between him and the 16-year-old girl while searching for Ja’Derrius.
According to court documents, Parms referred to the two as being in a relationship and reportedly told the girl he could not wait until others could see “what they have.”
Police also alleged he referred to his seven-year-old daughter as the teenager’s “stepdaughter.”
Those allegations led to charges of indecent behavior with a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of a minor.
Community Refuses to Stop Searching
Since Ja’Derrius disappeared on June 5, volunteers, law enforcement agencies, Team Texas K9 and the United Cajun Navy had searched tirelessly across Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.
The disappearance captured the attention of the entire community, with rewards offered and officials urging anyone with information to come forward.
Even with the murder charge now filed, authorities say the search for Ja’Derrius continues.
“Our mission now is to bring him home,” Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse said.
Sources
WBRZ
Baton Rouge Police Department
Arrest affidavit
Press conference by Chief T.J. Morse