The search for the remains of a 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy is underway at the Baton Rouge North Landfill. Baton Rouge Police say 51-year-old Maurice Parms beat Je’Derrius Minnieweather to death and dumped his body in a trash can that was picked up during garbage collection. Minniweather’s grandmother, Jawanna Brooks, is looking for answers.
“We need closure. We’re not asking for much. But when you don’t sleep at night, we don’t get any rest. I know if I don’t, his mom doesn’t,” Brooks said.
The FBI is helping with the search. Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp says investigators have narrowed the search area to about one acre, but there are massive amounts of debris to sift through.
“We need to sift through 8,200 to 11,000 cubic yards of material. Our rotating teams will comb through roughly a little over 40 yards of material at a time,” Tapp explained.
Parms has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of the teen. Arrest records say Minnieweather went to see a 16-year-old friend on June 5th. Investigators say he got into an argument with Parms over the way Parms was treating the girl. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says finding Minnieweather’s remains is crucial for two reasons:
“Not only to bring him home; but also, if possible, to receive evidence that can be used at a trial in this matter,” Moore said.