Overview
- Officials confirmed late Tuesday that DNA testing identified remains recovered from the East Baton Rouge Parish North Landfill as 15‑year‑old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather.
- The identification followed a search that began July 13 with help from the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and involved LSU’s FACES lab and the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.
- Search teams excavated about 4,265 cubic yards of landfill and processed roughly 3,590 tons of waste in sustained heat above 100°F to recover remains and evidence.
- Maurice Parms was arrested in late June on a first‑degree murder charge and prosecutors added counts on Aug. 14 for second‑degree vaginal rape, trafficking of children for sexual purposes, and indecent behavior with juveniles with a combined bond of $600,000.
- Minnieweather’s family has launched a fundraiser for burial costs and officials say ongoing forensic work will be used to support the criminal case and forthcoming court proceedings.