Insets, from left: Maurice Parms and Ja'Derrius Minnieweather. Background: Cops in Louisiana search a landfill after Parms allegedly killed Ja'Derrius (Baton Rouge Police Department).
Authorities in Louisiana discovered the body of a teen boy in a landfill two months after he was allegedly beaten to death by a man over mistreating a 16-year-old girl.
Maurice Parms, 51, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old Ja'Derrius Minnieweather, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department.
Cops also accuse Parms of having an "inappropriate relationship" with the girl whom he was purportedly defending when he beat Ja'Derrius to death. He faces charges of second-degree rape, trafficking of children for sexual purposes and indecent behavior with juveniles.
The case began when Ja'Derrius went missing on June 5. Cops arrested Parms about two weeks later after determining that the boy "was beaten to death and that his body was disposed of after the attack."
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Baton Rouge Advocate, witnesses told cops they saw a man believed to be Parms beating a smaller person believed to be Ja'Derrius. Cops later found blood soaked into the ground.
Detectives also obtained video footage that showed Parms dragging a trash can to the side of the road and then riding a child's bicycle away from the area.
Parms reportedly admitted to meeting Ja'Derrius at the 16-year-old girl's home after the boy rode his bicycle there a day before he went missing but has been otherwise uncooperative. Ja'Derrius and the girl were friends.
Garbage collectors unwittingly picked up the victim's body in the trash can and dumped the remains in the city landfill.
Investigators spent the next six weeks processing more than 3,500 tons of landfill waste.
Police Chief T.J. Morse said at a press conference they recovered Ja'Derrius' body on Tuesday. A DNA test will have to confirm the remains are Ja'Derrius', but they are confident they are his based on the clothing on the body.
Morse said they were determined to find Ja'Derrius.
"I couldn't imagine a day where I had to go to Ms. Aquarius and say 'we haven't found him, and were 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," Morse said, referring to the teen's mother, Aquarius Minniweather.
Added Mayor-President Sid Edwards: "This son of Baton Rouge is coming home."
Parms remains in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison without bond. His next court date is scheduled for Oct. 15.
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