Tragic Twist in Missing Teen Case: Police Believe 15-Year-Old Was Beaten to Death, Arrest Suspect—But the Search Isn’t Over
Heartbreaking Update
Missing Baton Rouge Teen Presumed Dead, Murder Charge Filed
A heartbreaking update has been announced in the case of missing 15-year-old Ja’Derrius Minnieweather of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
On June 20, the Baton Rouge Police Department announced that investigators believe Ja’Derrius is deceased and have arrested 51-year-old Maurice Parms in connection with his death. Parms has been booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a charge of first-degree murder.
According to investigators, Ja’Derrius had been missing since June 5 and was last seen around 2 a.m. in Baton Rouge. Police say evidence suggests the teenager was beaten to death and that his body was removed from the scene afterward. As of Saturday evening, Ja’Derrius’ body had not yet been located.
Court documents state that Ja’Derrius had gone to visit a 16-year-old longtime friend before he disappeared. Detectives allege the friend had been with Parms earlier that day and that a confrontation later occurred between Ja’Derrius and Parms over the way Parms was allegedly behaving toward the 16-year-old.
Investigators wrote in the arrest warrant that witnesses reported seeing a taller man repeatedly assaulting a smaller person for several minutes. Witnesses also allegedly heard a softer voice pleading for the attack to stop and to be left alone. Detectives later found what they described as large suspected bloodstains in the area where the altercation reportedly occurred.
Police also allege surveillance footage showed a person matching Parms’ body type riding a child’s bicycle, discarding items including a mask, gloves, and a T-shirt, and later returning to retrieve them. Investigators further claim Parms was seen wiping areas inside his truck and that blood was later detected both in the vehicle and at the scene.
According to the warrant, investigators believe Parms initially concealed Ja’Derrius’ body, discarded evidence, later returned to recover evidence and possibly the body, and then transported it elsewhere in his vehicle.
Authorities have also stated that evidence uncovered during the missing person investigation led to Parms’ earlier June 10 arrest on charges of indecent behavior with juveniles and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. Detectives further allege they found evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Parms and the 16-year-old friend referenced in the investigation.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Please keep Ja’Derrius’ family and loved ones in your thoughts as they continue searching for answers.
