Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr., Twin Cities teen missing since May, found dead
A 16-year-old Twin Cities boy missing since early May has been found dead, authorities said Tuesday.
After nearly a month of searching the Waste Management Landfill in Elk River, authorities found the remains of Jordan Dupree Collins Jr. — known by the nickname Manny — there on Saturday, Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise said.
An autopsy has been completed, but Collins' cause of death remains undetermined, according to Columbia Heights Police Chief Matt Markham.
"Manny's death is a gigantic loss to our community," Markham said.
Collins was last seen May 8 near the 4900 block of University Avenue Northeast in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. He had been living at an apartment building near there with his father since mid-April, according to Collins' mother.
Wise said the search shifted to the landfill on June 4 after authorities "were offered information that led to a video, and that video showed some evidence that would suggest the body might've made its way into a dumpster and into a garbage truck."
"Hundreds of searchers from over 30 different agencies" combed through the landfill to find Collins, Wise said.
"I assure you it's a sobering experience to work in a landfill like that only to discover someone else's child," he added.
The remains came to the landfill from a dumpster in Columbia Heights, Wise said, and Collins likely died between May 8 and May 13.
The sheriff reiterated Tuesday there is a person of interest in the case, though he declined to identify them publicly.
"I want the public to know also that the investigation is not stagnant," Wise said. "We are going to continue to work until we are able to seek justice for Manny's mom."
Anyone with additional information about Collins' death is asked to contact the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
In addition to the agencies already mentioned, the FBI is assisting in the investigation.
