The remains of Jordan Dupree Collins Jr., a 16-year-old Minnesota teenager who disappeared on May 8, 2025, were discovered at a Waste Management Landfill in Elk River after nearly a month of intensive searching by multiple law enforcement agencies.
Collins, known by the nickname “Manny,” was last seen near the 4900 block of University Avenue Northeast in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. He had been living at an apartment building with his father since mid-April and was scheduled to return to his mother, Ashley Berry, in June.
On July 7, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 38-year-old Jordan Dupree Collins Sr. of Columbia Heights in connection with the death of his son.
Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise announced that authorities found the boy’s remains on Saturday, June 29, 2025, following an extensive search operation. The search had shifted to the landfill on June 4 after investigators obtained information leading to video evidence suggesting the body may have been placed in a dumpster and transported by garbage truck.
Sheriff Wise indicated that hundreds of searchers from over 30 different agencies combed through a section of the landfill roughly the size of a football field and approximately four feet deep. The remains originated from a dumpster in Columbia Heights, and authorities believe Collins likely died between May 8 and May 13, 2025.
An autopsy has been completed, but Collins’ cause of death remains undetermined according to Columbia Heights Police Chief Matt Markham.
The FBI joined the investigation and deployed their Evidence Response Team, along with the Laboratory Evidence Response Team Unit and Technical Hazardous Response Unit from Quantico, Virginia. The federal agency expressed condolences to the family and emphasized their commitment to pursuing justice in the case.
During the initial investigation, authorities noted several concerning factors that suggested Collins had not left voluntarily. His cellphone had only been activated once for three minutes since his disappearance, he had not contacted family members or his girlfriend, and he had not accessed his social media accounts or claimed his allowance through CashApp – all behaviors that were highly unusual for the teenager.
Berry had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to her son’s return and had been actively searching for him while distributing flyers throughout the community. She described her son as someone who typically contacted her daily, making his extended silence particularly alarming.
The search effort involved multiple agencies including the Columbia Heights Police Department, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, FBI, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Northstar Search and Rescue.
Following the discovery of Collins’ remains, dozens of community members gathered for a vigil in Columbia Heights on Thursday, July 4, 2025. Family members, friends, and supporters formed a circle around Berry, offering condolences and solidarity during the difficult time.
Berry expressed gratitude for the community support throughout the search efforts, stating she wished she could send thank you cards to everyone who helped. Collins’ great-grandmother, Mary Berry, indicated the family would need to remain strong to support Collins’ mother through the grieving process.
Authorities continue to request assistance from the public, asking anyone with information about Collins’ death to contact the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 1-877-996-6222 or by email at bca.tips@state.mn.us. Business owners and residents with surveillance cameras in the area were previously asked to review footage from May 8 through May 12 for any relevant information.
The case has drawn significant attention across Minnesota and the United States as an example of the dangers facing missing and exploited children and the complexities involved in multi-agency investigations. The FBI’s involvement typically indicates concerns about potential broader criminal activity and the need for advanced forensic and investigative resources.
