Trigger Warning: This article contains references to the alleged child s– abuse that some readers may find distressing.

Weeks of searching through 3,500 tons of trash ended in a tragic confirmation for a Baton Rouge family in Louisiana. Baton Rouge police found the remains of 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather in a landfill after he was beaten to death by 51-year-old Maurice Parms. The body’s identity was confirmed after authorities conducted a DNA test. 

Minnieweather went missing from the “Ghosttown” neighborhood on June 5. During the investigation into his missing case, detectives discovered evidence that suggested Parms had an inappropriate relationship with Minnieweather’s 16-year-old longtime friend. This led to his first arrest on June 10, on charges of indecent behavior with juveniles.

Later, BRPD Chief T.J. Morse said there was ample evidence to connect him to the murder. The arrest affidavit also cites witnesses who saw a man believed to be Parms beating a smaller person and police finding blood on the ground. 

He was arrested again on June 20, but this time for first-degree murder. He was also charged with second-degree r*pe and trafficking of children for se–al purposes. 

Officers believe Parms beat the teenager to death during a confrontation over how the 51-year-old was treating the 16-year-old girl. After killing Minnieweather, Parms allegedly hid his body and disposed of evidence before dumping his remains in a trash can that was later taken to the landfill. 

Surveillance footage showed Parms dragging a trash can containing Minnieweather’s body, which the garbage truck carried to a landfill. The footage also showed Parms riding on a child’s bicycle to get away from the area. 

The work was demanding, with crews processing more than 3,500 tons of landfill in six weeks during extreme heat. The teen’s mother, Aquarius Minniweather, was still hopeful.

Chief Morse said, “I couldn’t imagine a day where I had to go to Ms. Aquarius and say ‘we haven’t found him, and we’re not gonna look anymore,’ that was kind of unimaginable to try to have that conversation, so we kept pushing, and I’m very thankful for everyone that pitched in to make this dig happen.”

Mayor-President Sid Edwards said, “This son of Baton Rouge is coming home.”


Parms is currently in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on October 15.

Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public record.